The Great Wall of China

travel time: October 2024

Mutianyu section of the Great Wall

Early in the morning, we arranged for a driver to take us to the village of Xizhaizi, intending to hike from Jiankou to Mutianyu. Unfortunately, just before reaching the village, we encountered a barrier and a couple of guards ensuring that no one passes, as it is forbidden to climb the Great Wall at that point. They explained that the section is unrestored and remains under natural preservation, so they didn’t allow us through. So, with our hiking dreams dashed, we had no choice but to change our plans and head straight to Mutianyu.

We quickly purchased our tickets online and opted to take the shuttle bus and cable car up the mountain to avoid losing more time. Upon reaching the top, we found the Great Wall packed with visitors. Clearly, it wasn’t just us with the great idea to visit that day. So, we speed-walked along the wall, hoping to escape the masses and find a quieter spot.

We turned left and headed towards Tower No. 20. The further we got from the starting point, the fewer people we encountered, allowing us to fully appreciate the stunning views of the Great Wall. After hiking all the way to the final watchtower, we took in the spectacular views and the vibrant autumn colours of the surrounding forest. 

The Great Wall in Autumn

Great Wall of China

Autumn Forest at the Great Wall

We then made our way back, continuing past our starting point to the other end of the Mutianyu section, all the way to the corner watchtower near Tower No. 2. By that point, it was late afternoon, and the Wall was almost empty—finally, we had it (mostly) to ourselves. Exhausted but thrilled, we finished off our adventure with a fun toboggan ride back down the mountain, before catching the local bus back to Beijing, our legs tired but our spirits high.

Jinshanling section of the Great Wall

To visit the Jinshanling section of the Great Wall, we booked a tour that covered everything: transportation, entry tickets, and even a shuttle bus and cable car to get us from the parking lot to the site. Upon arrival, we immediately noticed something refreshing—compared to the other section we visited, this place was blissfully quiet. Sure, there were a few souvenir stalls, but barely any other tourists in sight.

The cable car ride was its own kind of adventure, with tiny cabins moving at a leisurely pace up the mountain. As Austrians we definitely noticed the difference to a Doppelmayr cable car 😜 . Once we made it to the Wall, we turned left towards a mostly unrestored section, still in its rugged, original state. And wow, it did not disappoint—breathtaking views, a nearly deserted wall, and perfect hiking weather. It felt like we had stumbled upon a hidden gem.

On our tour, we met Peter, a friendly Chinese guy who joined us for part of the hike. He shared some great tips for our upcoming adventures, and chatting with him was a lovely way to pass the time. That said, we had to keep an eye on the clock to make sure we didn’t miss the bus back to the city.

All in all, we highly recommend the Jinshanling section of the Great Wall. It’s farther from the city, yes, but the two-hour bus ride is a small price to pay for what awaits you—peace, relaxing nature, and an authentic slice of history.