City Tours Package - Beijing

There are three major sections of the Great Wall open to tourists near Beijing:
Badaling, Mutianyu, Simatai. All three are built on steep terrain so it is a good idea to wear comfortable shoes and bring water. This advice holds especially true When going to the Simatai section or to the "Wild Wall" sections that haven't been restored. Many ex-pats enjoy hiking along the "Wild Wal", but it is not for the faint of heart: climbing conditions can be arduous and there are no signposts, so hikers will need a good map or a guide.

Whatever section you choose to visit, the simplest way to get there is to hire a car and driver for the day .Depending on the type of vehicle and the distance to be covered, expect to pay anywhere from RMB 800 to 1000,an additional RMB400 for an English-speaking guide.Another option is to join a guided tour, these cost around RMB250 to 400 per person. Both private cars and tour bus reservations can be booked through hotels and travel agencies.

Badaling section:

Only 70km away by superhighway, Badaling is the closest section of the Great Wall to Beijing and can be visited in half a day. Moreover, its proximity to the Ming Tombs means both sites can be seen in a single outing. Badaling was completely restored after 1957. It has a chairlift and fast food restaurants and can be very crowded with hawkers and tourists, but all that fades away once you leave the parking area and begin to walk along the Wall.

Mutianyu section:

Mutianyu is located some 90km north of Beijing, and like Badaling, is a recently renovated section that's very popular. Mutianyu lies in rugged territory and reaching the Wall from the main gate involves a strenuous climb up a steep stairway, but fortunately there's a chairlift. Once on top, the views of the Wall undulating down wooded canyons and up mountain ridges are breathtaking.

Simatai section:

The Simatai section is a dramatic testimony to Ming engineering skills with one section as steep as 85 degrees. Only partially restored, Simatai allows athletic visitors who climb past the first watchtowers to see the Wall in its wild. crumbling state. Less intrepid visitors can take a gondola. Simatai is 110km northwest of Beijing.