With the Great Wall of China being one of the Seven Wonders of the World, I had very high expectations of my trip to the Muitianyu section. With the help of China Tours, I was able to book a day visit which picked me up directly from my Beijing Hotel and took me the 70km journey to the wall by airconditioned coach. Muitianyu is considered the most preserved section of the Great Wall of China and is less crammed with tourists compared to Badaling.
About the Muitianyu Great Wall
The Mutitianyu Great Wall was first built in the 6th Century AD, making it the oldest part of the Wall. It was later rebuilt in 1569 to which most parts are still in excellent condition, making it the best quality of all the sections of the Great Wall of China. US President Bill Clinton visited this part of the wall in 1998, stating “The Great Wall here is very beautiful, very grand, more beautiful and grander than what I imagined”. So it that is anything to go by, it makes it a must see for Chinese culture enthusiasts.
Getting up and down the Great Wall
You can get up to the wall by either cable car or by walking. If you intend to walk, there a lots of steep stairs to climb which can get very tiring and require several breaks inbetween to take in the views and catch your breath.
The wall itself is 3km long, consisting of 22 watchtowers which you can climb to the top of to get a better view. The wall is surrounded by forests and streams with views of distant mountains.
Once you get up to the top of the wall, you can either walk, take the cable car, or use the novelty toboggan slide down.
Things worth noting
If you intend on walking up or down the wall, wearing comfortable shoes is a must. The last thing you want is to be preoccupied with plasters whilst trying to enjoy your day.
Bring some spending money. Getting onto the wall requires a small fee (45RMB for adults and 25RMB for students who produce a valid Student ID) and the cable cars and toboggan slide require a little bit more. There are many street stalls selling a wide variety of traditional chinese goods and fruit and is a perfect way to test your haggling technique in preparation for the silk market.
Charge your camera up the night before. On visiting the wall myself, I took around 200 photographs so be prepared to get some beautiful scenic photographs. You can also spot the Chinese men dressed in tradition Chinese armour and get a photograph with them for a small donation.
So if you plan on taking a Beijing tour, the Mutitianyu Great Wall is a must see. It is an experience that I will always remember thanks to my excellent photographs, Chinese memorabilia and the blisters on my feet due to my lack of preparation!
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