Great Wall. In c. 220 B.C., under Qin Shi Huang, the first Chinese emperor ever, sections of earlier fortifications were joined together to form a united defense system against invasions from the north. Construction continued up to the Ming dynasty (1368-1644), when the Great Wall became the world's largest military structure. The great Wall is the world's longest manmade structure approximately 6,400 km (4,000 miles) long. The Great Wall is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987.
With a history of more than 2000 years, many sections of the great wall are now in ruins or entirely disappeared due to natural deterioration or destruction by people. However, it is still one of the most popular attractions on the planet for its architectural grandeur and historical significance.
The Great Wall we can see today was mostly built during the Ming Dynasty, an era of tremendous construction. It starts from Shanhaiguan Pass in the east, right facing the surging Pacific Ocean, to Jiayuguan Pass in the west in the desolated Gobi desert.
"You are not a true man until you have been to the Great Wall." You really have to see this fantastic, amazing and breath-taking scenery once in your life. Yet there are more than 1 choice of where to go, for there are many sections with different characteristics and accessibilities.
Beijing is the first choice to visit Great Wall, although many other cities provide side trips to Great Wall nearby. For Great Wall in Beijing, it runs across the northern part of Beijing for over six hundred kilometers with various passes and towers. The mainly sections include Badaling, Juyongguan, Mutianyu, Simatai, Jinshanling. We will bring you to the NO. 1 wonder of the New 7 wonders of the world, and offer you once-in-a-life-time experience!
Accessibility:
1.5 hours high-way drive from the city
Scenery:
Massive wall and mountains, crowded (especially in May & October). Since it is the 1st section where the government built facilities for tourists, Badaling Great Wall is the section that Chinese people hear the first and the most as a tourist attraction. No doubt you can see great Great Wall here. However, it is also the first choice for most domestic travelers, making it very crowded in peak season. Not so crowded from late November to April next year.
Accessibility:
1.5 hours high-way drive from the city
Scenery:
Great Wall circling a valley, less crowded. The wall here is shorter and less impressive (for people who have seen many other sections), but due to its strategic importance in the long history, and good vegetation of cypress and pine trees, this site was Top 8 Attractions of Peking in the old times. Many temples scattered in the valley are free of charge. And a 1000-year-old marble stone terrace (Cloud Terrace) is carved with fine Buddha images and Buddhism Classics in 8 languages, some of which are lost due to the elimination or assimilation of the ethnical races. There is also a nice hotel in the center of the valley, Juyongguan Hotel, located in traditional quadrangles, which used to be the property of the Ming Military Base here. Or you can stay the night in Commune by the Great Wall, western style villas about 3 km from here.
Accessibility:
2.5 hours drive from the city, high-way and country road. The drive on the country road is very pleasing, with lovely mountains and random villages passing by.
Scenery:
Massive wall and mountains, wide open view, not crowded. Mutianyu Great Wall is famous for the breath-taking beautiful scenery. Woods cover over 96% of the whole area. The wall presents different aspects of beauty in four seasons. Flowers bloom all over the mountains in spring. Grasses and trees dress the hillside green in summer. Trees are laden with sweet fruits in autumn, chestnut, walnut, persimmon, hawthorn, etc. Especially in October, leaves are turning red or yellow to various degrees, dressing the mountains with beautiful colors. In winter, the wall is covered by snow, making it more magnificent.
Accessibility:
3.5 hours drive from the city, high-way and country road. There is often some traffic on this section of country road for it is the main route for goods transfer between Beijing and Hebei Province (to the north of Beijing). There would be about 1 hour drive on bumpy road too. Actually we will get out of Beijing Area, and enter Hebei Province.
Scenery:
Massive wall and mountains, wide open view. Jinshanling and Simatai are actually 2 sections on 1 continuous piece of Great Wall, about 20 kilometers (12 miles). This part of the Great Wall has some of the most dramatic angles and the least restored portions in the area. The Great Wall will show you its real face with many original features. Some walls and towers are still standing there after hundreds of years, while some collapsed onto the bottom of the wall, rocks, limestone, and broken brick lying silently; very often you can see half tower collapsed, while the other half still standing in the wind. You can visit either Jinshanling, or Simatai, or, if you like, spend 1 day hiking from 1 to the other (10 km in 4-5 hours), since it is the most popular Great Wall Hiking route in China.
