How to visit the great wall of china

© Tohoku-Pacific Ocean Earthquake（MOFA, Japan) (Flickr) taiwan_02
© Tohoku-Pacific Ocean Earthquake（MOFA, Japan) (Flickr)

The Great Wall of China has stood for many centuries guarding the country from invasion from the north. Just an hour’s drive from Beijing are two areas of this magnificent site and easily accessible from the city. Use an organized tour arranged by your hotel or hostel.

This is by far the easiest option, pay your fee at the hotel and they will organize everything for you.

You will be met at your hotel by an English speaking guide and they will escort you throughout your day and return you to your hotel once the tour is over. One disadvantage of this type of tour is you are limited by how long you actually spend at the wall. Many of these tours will take you to visit jade factories or outlet stores before you arrive at the wall, they will however give you a lunch meal included in the price.

Hire a private driver/guide.

This is similar to the above but you decide where and when you wish to go but with the benefit of a guide to take you to those places. Use public transport.

Everyday hundreds of tour buses escort tourists to the site, for a fraction of the price of an organized tour. Local buses (number 932 or 919) leave as soon as the bus is full from Dongzhimen in Beijing. These buses will take you directly to the Great Wall, when returning to Beijing again they leave when the bus is full. In the height of summer this is every few minutes. Train.

Trains leave Beijing North Railway Station for the Great Wall, it takes about an hour and is a pleasant ride as the train climbs its way through the mountains for the last few miles of the journey. The price is comparable to that of the local bus. Once you arrive at the train station or bus drop off point close to the wall you will have to walk about 15 minutes to reach the wall itself, directions are well signposted in English.