Beijing, the capital of the People’s Republic of China with a history spanning three millennia, has an intense mix of both the modern world and a number of ancient sites. Follow us to discover The Great Wall of China , one of the most appealing attractions of Beijing owing to its architectural grandeur and historical significance.

History

Great Wall of China, one of the greatest wonders of the world, was listed as a World Heritage by UNESCO in 1987. Just like a gigantic dragon, it winds up and down across deserts, grasslands, mountains and plateaus, stretching approximately 21,196 kilometers from east to west of China.

With a history of about 2,700 years, it’s a series of fortifications made of stone, brick, tamped earth, wood, and other materials, generally built along an east-to-west line across the historical northern borders of China. Apart from defense, other purposes of the Great Wall have included border controls as well as served as a transportation corridor.

The Great Wall’s famous sites and how to get there from Beijing ?

Badaling and Mutianyu are best sections to see neat and complete walls and beacon towers; located in the suburban areas, not far from downtown Beijing, around 1-2 hours driving away. You can get there by public transport, private cars, or private tours; however, public transport is a nice choice for budget travellers.

Among them, Badaling is the best-preserved, and famous for its deep-rooted culture, magnificent sights and complete military facilities. Mutianyu may be a better destination as Badaling is always flocked with visitors. To make your trip easier and save a lot of time, a private car and driver will be more reasonable choice. But driver may not speak English is disadvantage, so set down the pick-up time and place beforehand.

Joining a private day tour is a perfect choice for first-time visitors and those who have limited time or worry about language barriers. It saves your time and makes your trip safer and easier.

When is the best time to visit ?

The ideal months for the Great Wall walking and hiking are spring, early summer and autumn - later: March, April, May, June, September, October and early November. The ideal months for the camping are late spring, summer and early autumn: May, June, July, August, September and October.

If you have taken advantage of some cheap flights to Beijing,

In autumn, entire stretches of the hills at the Great Wall turn a golden bronze as the leaves turn varying shades of red. Admittedly, the Great Wall seems to go without saying on a list of cool things about Beijing, where you can see expat hiking groups along the Wall and get a glimpse of life in China outside of hectic Beijing.