The Great Wall

From Shanhaiguan, northeast of Qinhuangdao City in Hebei Province on the east coast, the Great Wall (長城) rises and falls with the contours of the mountains westwards, crossing nine provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions over 6,700 kilometers, to end at Jiayuguan, southwest of Jiayuguan City in Gansu Province.

Building of the wall began during the Spring and Autumn period (770-476 BC) and the Warring States period (475-221 BC) of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty. The Great Wall comprises walls, passes, watchtowers, castles and fortresses. The walls are made of large stone blocks. From east to west, the sections at Shanhaiguan, Jinshanling, Mutianyu, Badaling and Jiayuguan have become popular tourist attractions.

As one of the most magnificent ancient defensive works, the Great Wall was listed as a World Cultural Heritage site in 1987.

(1) Badaling Great Wall

Add: Yanqing County, 70 km from Beijing's city proper;

Tel: +86-10-69121235/69121338

Admission: 45 yuan;

Getting There:

By Bus: Tourist Bus No.s 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5; or Bus No. 919 from Deshengmen Bus Station;

By Car: Drive along the Badaling Expressway via Madian Overpass;

(2) Juyongguan Great Wall

Add: North of Changping, government seat of Changping District;

Tel: +86-10-69771665

Admission: 45 yuan;

Getting There:

By Bus: Bus No. 919 from Deshengmen; or Tourist Bus No.s 1-5;

By Car: Drive along the Badaling Expressway;

(3) Simatai Great Wall

Add: Gubeikou Town, Miyun County;

Tel: +86-10-69031051/69035025

Admission: 40 yuan;

Getting There:

By Bus: Tourist Bus No. 12 from Xuanwumen and Dongsi Shitiao; or take bus from Dongzhimen to Miyun and then change to a local bus or hire a taxi;

(4) Jinshanling Great Wall

Add: On the border between Beijing's Miyun County and Hebei's Luanping County.

Admission: 30 yuan;

How to get there: Take a bus from Dongzhimen to Miyun and then change to a local bus or hire a taxi.

(5) Mutianyu Great Wall

Add: Huairou District;

Tel: +86-10-61626873/61626022

Admission: 35 yuan;

Getting There:

By Bus: Tourist Bus No.6 from Xuanwumen, Qianmen and Dongsi Shitiao; or take Bus No.916 from Dongzhimen to Huairou, and then change to a local bus or hire a taxi (17 km);

(6)Jiankou Great Wall

The Jiankou Great Wall (Arrow Lock) is located in Huairou County, 73 km north from Beijing City. It connects with the Mutianyu Great Wall 10 km to the east, and with the Huanghuacheng Great Wall to the west. This section was built in 1368 during the Ming Dynasty.

The Jiankou Great Wall is built of large white rocks which make this section very prominent from a distance. This major section of this Great Wall is built along a mountain ridge with tall cliffs on each side, and as a result of the lack of repairs, it is now one of the most dangerous sections of the entire Great Wall.

Add: Northwest to Zhenzhuquan Village, Bohai Town, Huairou District;

Admission: 10 yuan;

Getting There:

By Bus: 1. Take tourist Bus No.6 from Xuanwumen, Qianmen and Dongsi Shitiao;

2. Take Bus No.916 from Dongzhimen to Huairou, and then change to a local bus or hire a taxi;

Warning: Tourists occasionally lose their bearings here. It is wise to recruit the services of a guide. The area is dangerous, so care should be taken.