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TRAVEL
264
October14
It’s a wall steeped in legend,
myths and, well… shockingly steep
inclines. It’s also one of the biggest
tourist attractions in the world.
SEE
Popular sections of the Great Wall
include:
•
Badaling
– the most visited section of
theWall. Just 80 kilometres away, it’s the
closest to Beijing, completely renovated
(for better or worse) and outfitted with
wide, well-paved granite paths and
handrails, making it easier to climb
than most sections. It’s also the spot
of choice for big tour operators (which
are known tomake frequent pit-stops at
souvenir factories along the way).
•
Mutianyu
– Less crowded than
Badaling, though still popular with
independent travellers and smaller
tour companies. Cable cars shuttle
tourists from the base to the top of
the mountain for spectacular views.
To get down, you can hike, jump back
on the cable cars or opt for a wind-in-
your-hair toboggan ride, which will ruin
forever the thrill of the luge on Sentosa.
mutianyugreatwall.net
•
Simatai
– The two-hour-plus drive
from Beijing deters most tourists, as
do the plunging cliffs, jagged ridges
and super-steep watch towers. The
charm of this section of the wall is that
it’s largely un-renovated, though major
parts of this section are now closed
exactly for this reason.
•
Jinshanling
– Starting point for a steep
7kmhike toSimatai that takes from three
to four hours for the reasonably fit.
•
Huanghuacheng
and
Jiankou
– These
sections are strictly for those with
hiking boots and a healthy relationship
with heights; stretches are steeper
and bricks are looser along these
unrestored parts of the wall.
•
Other parts
– a group called Beijing
Hikers (beijinghikers.com) organises
tours to more remote parts of the wall.
This is a decent option for strong-backed
tourists who loathe weak-backed ones.
STAY
HOW LONG?
If you have limited time, then
a day trip is your only option. However,
while you’ll check the box and get plenty
of photos to splash across social media
on a one-day visit, we recommend
staying overnight at the Wall, if possible.
This allows you to go to different parts
of the structure at different times of the
day to fully experience this great historic
landmark.
THE GREAT WALL