The Great Wall of China

In Beijing, you can visit several sections of the Great Wall. The ones closest to the city and most popular among tourists are the Great Wall at Badaling and Mutianyu Great Wall. However, if you prefer fewer crowds and a more authentic experience, you should opt for the section near the town of Gubei (Simatai Great Wall). 📍Address: BeijingMiyunGubeikouzhen Simataicun (Jingcheng Expressway Simatai Great Wall Exit Northward 2 Kilometres) 🕰️Business Hours: 09:00 - 22:30 This is the only section of the Great Wall where you can visit at night. I traveled to the town by purchasing a tour package. The comfortable bus ride from Beijing took about 2 hours. Alternatively, you can reach the town by car, bus, or train followed by a local bus. 💰Average Price per Person: I found the tour on WeChat, which cost 300 yuan and included the bus ride and entrance ticket to the Great Wall. Additionally, the cable car round trip cost 120 yuan, and the river crossing in the town was 150 yuan. Group lunch at a hot pot restaurant was offered for 70 yuan per person, but based on my experience, I recommend choosing a restaurant on your own for a more personalized dining experience. 💞Reasons to Recommend: In my personal opinion, I recommend spending one and a half to two days in this town. If you opt for the cable car, exploring the wall won’t take much time (I covered towers 5 to 8 in just half an hour). There’s also a route without the cable car, which takes about 3.5 to 4 hours to complete all 10 towers. The town itself is very beautiful and authentic. It has been restored and is now a commercial tourist destination, but it’s incredibly picturesque. At 8:00 PM, the lights are turned on, transforming the place into a magical evening setting. I highly recommend visiting in the evening to enjoy the illuminated water town, staying overnight at one of the many hotels, and then heading to the Great Wall the next morning.