The Great Wall of China is one of the greatest structures that man has ever built. Since its construction, the Wall has become the symbol of China.
Location
Juyongguan and Badaling are close to Beijing and the most popular sites on the Wall. To get to Badaling, go to the southwest corner of Tienanmen Square and ride bus number 5. You can also drop off Jishuitan subway station line 2 and head to the bus station. Ride bus 919.
What to See
One of the most popular activities is trekking from Jinshanling to Simatai. This is a 10 km hike. You will be rewarded with lovely vistas of the Wall. The middle portion of the hike is isolated, a break from all the tourists that typically crowd the area. You will also see a zip line when you descend from Simatai.
You can also visit the museum dedicated to the landmark. There are walk-through exhibits that explain a lot about the history of the Wall. There are also many relics in the area.
You will also find different kinds of flora and fauna in the vicinity. The ginseng (Panax ginseng) can be found along the Wall. There are many wild animals like spotted deer and black bears.
History
The Great Wall of China extends for about 8,851.8 km (5,500.3 mi). It goes from Liaoning Province through Hebei and Municipality of tianjoin. It also passes by the Beijing Municipality, the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and the provinces of Shaanxi and Shanxi. It also passes by Gansu and Ningxia.
The Wall is made up of four parts. The first wall was constructed by the Qin dynasty in 221-207 BC. The second part was made by the Han Dynasty around 205-127 BC. The third section was built in 1200 AD by the Jin Dynasty. The fourth part was built by the Ming Dynasty from 1367-1644.
Cost
There are many tours of the Wall available. Many of the full day tours cost around 50 RMB. Many of the hostels in Beijing have organized tours with guides. They usually cost 300 RMB. This is about 40 USD.
Other Info
When hiking the Wall, ensure that you are wearing comfortable shoes and clothes. This is especially true if you are going there in the summer.
When hiking the Great Wall of China during the cold season, always bring a jacket. You should also bring water, although you can buy one from the vendors.
