Great Wall of China (best bit)

rubberduck

rubberduck

rubberduck

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Hi

Am in Beijing, have a whole day to devote to seeing some of the great wall, would appreciate opinions on which is the 'best' bit to visit... I realise 'best' is difficult to quantify but do your best :)
 
Guessing this might be a little late for you now, but just in case : I've visited at mutianyu and simatai. Both are further and harder to get to than badaling, but it's worth it to avoid the crowds. Was almost no one as far as the eye could see in mutianyu, though I was there just after Chinese new year, so a quiet week after the tourist hoards. Preferred simatai, but having just looked it up, it appears to be closed for renovation. May no longer be the case, check with your hotel/guesthouse. If not, I'd definitely say mutianyu over badaling if going from Beijing.
 
Dunno which bit I went to, but we just took a cab out from Beijing.

It was extremely windy and as you know, the Chinese do spit a lot.

This woman hocked up a huge wad of phlegm and spat it out. The wind picked it up and it half went back in her face and half on the back of some poor sod.
..and that was my parting memory of China.
 
Marzipanogram said:
The bit without any tourists.
The bit you can see from the moon.
The bit your break off the wall and put in your bag as a souvenir.
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that's none of it then.

if you're in Beijing there's a bus which collects you from the north west-ish of the city - look on the lonely planet website and it'll give you ALL the details.

Don't go if Beijing is smoggy because the wall will likely be the same as Beijing and you won't be able to see very far, which kind'a eliminates the purpose, as we found out to our disappointment. see below:

APmNFUr.jpg


B@
 
I really enjoyed the Gubeikou section of the wall, completely unrestored "wild" wall. Far less people than the restored sections, amazing views as you move through the mountains.

Simitai was absolutely awesome too, however most of the unrestored section of the "Heavenly Ladder" is now blocked off as far as I'm aware after a few people fell to their deaths. I did it at the crack of dawn, made it to the top of the 1000 or so steps just as the sun was rising - was a great experience.
 
I also walked the Gubeikou section. The only people we met were two locals who were impressed that we'd managed to navigate all the way out to the village without knowing any Chinese :)

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Bit with the cash machine on.. No seriously though i don't know always wanted to go though as its one of them things to see once but maybe not again :')
 
I used to work in China a lot, and spent many many days in Beijing. I regret not going to see the wall ever. I had the opportunity several times, but always just went on a bender instead, thinking I'll go the next time.

Don't work in China anymore :(
 
Feef said:
Guessing this might be a little late for you now, but just in case : I've visited at mutianyu and simatai. Both are further and harder to get to than badaling, but it's worth it to avoid the crowds. Was almost no one as far as the eye could see in mutianyu, though I was there just after Chinese new year, so a quiet week after the tourist hoards. Preferred simatai, but having just looked it up, it appears to be closed for renovation. May no longer be the case, check with your hotel/guesthouse. If not, I'd definitely say mutianyu over badaling if going from Beijing.
Click to expand...


Hi again, i'm now looking at walking from Jinshanling to Simitai (which has reopened).

Quite looking forward to it now :) Fingers crossed on the smog :eek:
 
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