The Great Wall Tour: A Strategy Guide to Exploring Historical Legends

The Great Wall, as a world cultural heritage, is one of the iconic buildings in China, carrying a long history and profound cultural connotations. If you are also eager to step on the Great Wall and explore this historical legend, then this strategy guide will provide valuable guidance for your journey.

a、There are multiple Great Wall scenic spots around Beijing for you to choose from, such as Badaling Great Wall, Mutianyu Great Wall, Simatai Great Wall, etc. Each scenic spot has its unique characteristics and charm. Badaling Great Wall is highly renowned with complete facilities, suitable for tourists visiting the Great Wall for the first time; Mutianyu Great Wall has beautiful scenery and relatively fewer tourists, allowing you to better enjoy a peaceful atmosphere; Simatai Great Wall is known for its steepness and is more challenging.

b、According to your interests, time, and physical condition, choose the appropriate Great Wall scenic spot.

a、Avoid holidays and peak tourist seasons to prevent overcrowding and affecting your travel experience. You can choose to go to the Great Wall on weekdays or in the off-season. In this way, you can enjoy a relatively quiet environment and better appreciate the beauty of the Great Wall.

b、Consider seasonal factors. Spring and autumn have pleasant climates and are good times to visit the Great Wall. In summer, you can escape the heat, but pay attention to sun protection and heatstroke prevention. In winter, the Great Wall is covered with snow, presenting a unique charm, but pay attention to keeping warm and preventing slipping.

a、Comfortable sports shoes or hiking shoes, as the roads on the Great Wall may be uneven and require good support and anti-slip performance.

b、A lightweight backpack for carrying water, food, cameras, and other items.

c、Sun protection supplies such as sunglasses, sunscreen, hats, etc., especially in summer.

d、Warm clothing such as jackets and scarves may be needed in spring and autumn or in the early morning and evening when it is relatively cool.

e、Rain gear in case of weather changes.

f、Cameras or mobile phones to record beautiful scenery and unforgettable moments.

1. Public transportation

• Badaling Great Wall: You can take the subway from downtown Beijing to Jishuitan Station, and then walk to Deshengmen to take Bus No. 877 directly to Badaling Great Wall. Bus No. 877 operates from 6:00 am to 12:00 noon for the outbound journey and from 12:00 noon to 4:00 pm for the return journey.

• Mutianyu Great Wall: You can take the subway to Dongzhimen Station in downtown Beijing, and then take Express Bus No. 916 at Dongzhimen Transportation Hub to Huairou Beidajie Station. Then transfer to Bus H23 to Mutianyu Huandao Station, and walk to reach the Mutianyu Great Wall scenic area.

• Simatai Great Wall: You can take the subway to Dongzhimen Station in downtown Beijing, and then take Express Bus No. 980 to Miyun Bus Station. Then transfer to Bus Mi51 to Simatai Village Station, and walk to reach the Simatai Great Wall scenic area.

2. Self-driving

• If you have a car, you can choose to drive to the Great Wall scenic area. Use navigation software and enter the destination. There are usually parking lots near the scenic area, but they may be crowded during holidays and peak tourist seasons. You need to plan the parking location in advance.

• Pay attention to traffic safety and abide by traffic rules. During the drive, pay attention to road conditions and signs and avoid fatigue driving.

3. Tourist special lines

• Some travel agencies and online travel platforms offer special tourist lines for the Great Wall, including round-trip transportation, tickets, and tour guide explanations. This method is more convenient and suitable for tourists who do not want to arrange transportation by themselves.

• When choosing a tourist special line, pay attention to choosing a regular travel agency or platform, understand the service content and price, and avoid being deceived by unethical merchants.

  
  

1. Ticket purchase methods

• You can book tickets in advance on the official website or WeChat official account of the Great Wall scenic area. This can avoid queuing up to buy tickets at the scenic area entrance and save time.

• You can also buy tickets at the ticket windows at the scenic area entrance, but be aware that there may be a long queue.

• Some travel platforms also offer ticket reservation services for the Great Wall, but be sure to choose a regular platform to avoid buying fake tickets.

2. Touring routes

• Different Great Wall scenic areas have different touring routes. You can choose an appropriate route according to your physical strength and interests. Generally speaking, there are multiple beacon towers and lookout towers on the Great Wall. You can climb along the city wall step by step and enjoy the scenery.

• During the tour, pay attention to safety and abide by the regulations of the scenic area. Do not climb unopened areas and do not run or jump on the city wall.

• You can rest at appropriate places, replenish water and food, enjoy the scenery, and take pictures as souvenirs.

3. Tour guide explanations

• If you are interested in the history and culture of the Great Wall, you can choose to hire a tour guide for explanations. The tour guide can introduce the historical background, architectural features, and cultural connotations of the Great Wall to you, allowing you to better understand this historical legend.

• You can book tour guide services at the scenic area entrance or on online travel platforms. You can also choose to use self-service tour guide equipment such as audio guides.

  
  

• 

1. There are usually some restaurants and snack stalls around the Great Wall scenic area where you can taste local specialties. For example, near Badaling Great Wall, there are noodles with soybean paste, lamb spine hot pot, etc.; near Mutianyu Great Wall, there are rainbow trout, chestnuts, etc.; near Simatai Great Wall, there are farmhouse dishes, etc.

2. You can bring some food and drinks by yourself and enjoy them when resting on the Great Wall. But pay attention to keeping the environment clean and do not litter.

V. Precautions

1. Safety first. Pay attention to your own safety during the tour. Abide by the regulations of the scenic area. Do not climb unopened areas and do not run or jump on the city wall.

2. Pay attention to environmental protection and do not litter at will. You can put garbage in trash cans or take it away from the scenic area.

3. Respect historical culture. Do not scribble on the Great Wall and do not damage cultural relics and historical sites.

4. Make corresponding preparations according to the weather conditions, such as sun protection, keeping warm, and rain protection.

5. Reasonably arrange your time to avoid staying in the scenic area for too long and delaying your return journey.