Discovering the Great Wall of China: Best 10 sections near Beijing

Visiting the Great Wall of China is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that offers a journey through history and a connection to ancient civilizations. The best sections of the Great Wall, such as Badaling, Mutianyu, Jinshanling, and Simatai, provide unique perspectives and breathtaking views. By following the tips and planning your visit carefully, you can make the most of this incredible landmark.

Illustrate: 

What does the point mean? The points rated are based on comparing the 10 sections of the Great Wall.

Location: 1-5, According to the distance, highway connection, and public transfer. 1 is super hard to get.

Physical: 1-5, from easy to hard

Facilities: 1-5, from wild to complete tourist equipment.

Peaceful: 1-5, 1 means very crowded. 5 means you are almost the only visitor there.

View: 1–5; I know it is hard to rank this. I have been to these places hundreds of times, so I rank it from the feedback of my previous clients.

1.Mutianyu Great Wall

Feature: The best restored

Location:★★★★☆

Physical:★★★☆☆

Facilities:★★★★☆

Peaceful:★★★☆☆

View: ★★★★☆

Mutianyu Great Wall is consistently ranked 1st on TripAdvisor as it is well-preserved and famous for its grandeur and beauty. But in the summer holidays, as well as the Chinese holidays, it can be super crowded. The toboggan down from the wall is the best for people who travel with kids.

Tip: This section of the wall is easy to visit. It is better to visit there earlier in the holiday season, starting at 6:30 am from your hotel.

Mutianyu Great Wall Travel Guide

2. Jinshanling Great Wall

Feature: Best for the photographers

Location:★★★☆☆

Physical:★★★☆☆

Facilities:★★★★☆

Peaceful:★★★★☆

View: ★★★★★

Jinshanling is fantastic for photography, where one can quickly get a shot of a long stretch of the wall with no crowd. It is doable for anyone. It has a nice cable car. Note: The cable car may not be open in winter as there are few tourists.

There is a classic hike from Jinshanling to Simatai West. This hike takes about 3 hours; you will see a lovely landscape and the fantastic architecture of the wall.

3. Jiankou Great Wall

Feature: Tough, wild Great Wall

Location:★★☆☆☆

Physical:★★★★★

Facilities:★☆☆☆☆

Peaceful:★★★★★

View: ★★★★★

Jiankou is part of the ‘Wild Great Wall’ — unrestored portions that aren’t open to mass tourism. The Jiankou stretch of the wall has some of the most dramatic elevation changes and scenery that the Great Wall has to offer.

The most famous way to visit Jiankou is hiking from Jiankou to Mutianyu, making you see the wild and rebuilt wall in 1 tour. It is challenging; do some homework before you go.

4. Gubeikou Great Wall

Feature: Easy wild Great Wall

Location:★★☆☆☆

Physical:★★★☆☆

Facilities:★☆☆☆☆

Peaceful:★★★★★

View: ★★★★☆

The old Gubeikou section means the Panlingshan Great Wall east of Gubeikou town. You can see a spectacular view of the wall disappearing into the distance many kilometers away to the east over numerous mountains. The western part is called the Wohushan Great Wall, which is dangerous to visit. It is 140 km from Beijing, and the public transport there is not good. I recommend you book a tour or a private driver.

5. Huanghuacheng Great Wall

Feature: water Great Wall

Location:★★★☆☆

Physical:★★★☆☆

Facilities:★☆☆☆☆

Peaceful:★★★★★

View: ★★★★☆

Huanghuacheng is a crowd-free scenic place to view the Great Wall. Situated on the Wall’s only body of water (a reservoir/lake). It is a 1.5-hour drive from downtown Beijing. This is your best choice if you want a peaceful moment and not a challenging hike.

See more photos of Huanghuacheng

6. Simatai Great Wall

Feature: New development for Luxury tourists, see the Great Wall light up in the evening.

Location:★★★☆☆

Physical:★★★☆☆

Facilities:★★★★★

Peaceful:★★☆☆☆

View: ★★★★☆

Simatai Great Wall was rebuilt and is behind the Gubei Water Town. The water town is a replica of traditional water towns like Suzhou, but it is new and allows those in the north to see something more conventional of the south. The entrance tickets need to be reserved before the visit at Simatai, which can be done on their website (http://www.wtown.com) or on the Watertown app (they are partly in English) so that the number of visitors is monitored so that there is no overcrowding. night tickets don’t have to be reserved ahead.

7. Water Great Wall

Feature: Some parts of the wall are immersed in water

Location:★★★☆☆

Physical:★★★☆☆

Facilities:★★★☆☆

Peaceful:★★★☆☆

View: ★★★☆☆

The Huanghuacheng Great Wall and Water Great Wall are close to each other, but they are different. The Water Great wall is half rebuilt around the lake. You can take a boat in the middle of the lake during the hot summer.

8. Huangyaguan Great Wall

Feature: The best Great Wall in Tianjin

Location:★★☆☆☆

Physical:★★★★☆

Facilities:★★☆☆☆

Peaceful:★★★☆☆

View: ★★★☆☆

Under the great call of “Love China and Build the Great Wall” proposed by Deng Xiaoping in 1984, the Tianjinese renovated the Huangyaguan section of the Great Wall and Taipingzhai Village, including 3 km (1.8 miles) of the wall, 20 watchtowers, one pass fort, and one gatehouse. It is the longest of the Great Wall renovation projects.

9. Badaling Great Wall

Feature: Most popular Great Wall

Location:★★★★☆

Physical:★★★☆☆

Facilities:★★★★☆

Peaceful:★☆☆☆☆

View: ★★★★☆

This is a beautiful but incredibly commercial part of the wall. It is easily accessible and the best-restored area, but is always very crowded. The walk to the watchtower is not strenuous, but take your time climbing to enjoy and appreciate the wall fully.

Badaling Great Wall Travel Guide

10. Juyongguan Great Wall

Feature: Close to Beijing

Location:★★★★★

Physical:★★★☆☆

Facilities:★★★☆☆

Peaceful:★☆☆☆☆

View: ★★★☆☆

Perhaps this path is not the best and most beautiful compared to other access to the Great Wall. But this could be the easiest to achieve and a place to visit. If you want to explore more, you should have high stamina to climb the stairs and spare enough time, maybe 3 hours, to be satisfied.

Tips for Visiting the Great Wall of China

To ensure a smooth and enjoyable visit to the Great Wall of China, here are some essential tips to keep in mind:

1. Choose the Right Season: The best time to visit the Great Wall is during spring (April to May) and autumn (September to November). The weather is pleasant, and the crowds are smaller than the peak summer months.

2. Plan Your Time: Give yourself ample time to explore your chosen section. The Great Wall is vast, and each section has its unique features. Allocate at least half a day for a fulfilling experience.

3. Wear Comfortable Shoes: The Great Wall involves walking and sometimes climbing steep steps. Ensure you wear comfortable shoes with good traction to navigate the terrain safely.

4. Stay Hydrated: Carry a water bottle with you, as there may not be many opportunities to buy drinks along the way. Staying hydrated is crucial, especially during hot summer months.

5. Bring Snacks: While some sections have restaurants and food stalls nearby, it’s always a good idea to carry some snacks with you. They will keep you energized during your exploration.