The Great Wall of China
- Grade: 5A (AAAAA)
The Great Wall, being the longest manmade structure in the world, inspires many imaginations and aspirations. Putting those aside, the structure was built with the blood, sweat, and tears of the Chinese. It demands great respect for their sacrifices. There's a whole lot of uneven stairs, and the lack of shade makes your walk feel a lot longer than it really is, especially for our kids, who thoguht we had journeyed for 4k when in reality it was only 2k. Fortunately, there are watchtowers sprinkled along different parts of the wall, but those are often infested with a particular kind of giant red centipede, seen nowhere else in Beijing.
Getting There
There are different section you can choose to start your exploration to get to the Great Wall. If you have kids, the best way to experience the Great Wall is through the 慕田峪 (Mutianyu) section because it offers a thrilling chair lift and hillside toboggan (see below).
There is no subway reaching Mutianyu, so other than hiring your own driver, taking a bus would your only option. Since the Great Wall is such a major attraction, there are many different bus routes to get there. I suggest you check with your hostel to find the most suitable way for you and your family. We took bus 916 and bus H23 because we want to get there earlier to avoid the crowd and at the same time, save some money. It turned out that the 916 bus was a popular bus route for many locals and was filled with passengers even for the first bus in the morning. However, we did reach the Great Wall at around 8:40am and avoided the crowd.
Chair lift to the Great Wall
Once you have reached Mutianyu entrance, you can buy a chair lift ticket to get to the Great Wall. You can also buy a return chair lift ticket but I opt for tobaggan instead because it's more fun for the kids.
The chair lift was a bit like the ones you would see in a ski resort. If you have younger kids who did not have experience with a ski lift, I recommend that they are accompanied by an adult. There was no safety net below the lift, so it can be a little bit frightening. My constant worry was that my smartphone might accidentally slip out of my hand. So, I suggest you secure your valuables before you board. Besides these precautions, the ride itself was smooth and you were rewarded with a clear view of the nearby mountain range.
While you are there
At the end of the chair lift, you will be right at the Great Wall. You can choose to walk as much or as little as you want. Just remember that if you plan to take the chair lift or the toboggan down, you will need to return to the same spot.
As you walk on the Great Wall, you will notice that some of its sections are quite steep. If you have difficulties walking uphill, the Great Wall would be challenging for you. Although there is no shades along the wall, there are watchtowers scattered throughout the Wall. These watchtowers provide not only the much needed shade, they also are gateways to toilets and snack merchants.
Insects on the Great Wall
The Great Wall and its surrounding areas are also home to a variety of insects. The most common ones you see would be the spirobolus walkeri (centipede) and the meadow brown (butterfly).
Tobogganing down
The best way to complete the Great Wall visit is to toboggan down its slopes. The toboggan station was right next to the chair lift station. Each toboggan is equipped with a speed control stick. Pulling it backward will slow down the toboggan, which is essential when you are making a turn. Unfortunately, when we were riding down the slope, the person in front of us slowed down so much that we often had to stop to accomodate. Nonetheless, it was still a fun ride and I would highly recommend it.