All Great Wall of China Trips
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Great Wall of China Small Ship Cruise Tours & Trips
72 Great Wall of China trips. Tours from 53 tour companies. 79 reviews. 4.7/5 avg rating.
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Great Wall of China Reviews & Ratings
An excellent way to travel with family
An excellent way to travel with family
A major reason for the very likely
A major reason for the very likely score was our tour leader Jay. He was informative, made the trip, the understanding of the culture of China, its history and the ...
Good mixture of program and free time
Good mixture of program and free time, local guide is a very good idea as you get much more information about the living in that country, group of max 12 is good siz...
I've travelled with intrepid before and have
I've travelled with intrepid before and have usually had good experiences with this company.
Great Wall of China Tour Selection Trips
- There are several sites along the Great Wall. All are all worth seeing but depending on your preferences you may want to focus on only a couple instead of trying to see everything in one go:
- Badaling is a two hour drive from Beijing and is the most popular section for tourists (often the most crowded)
- Mutianyu is a two hour drive from Beijing and the most restored part of the wall
- Jinshanling is a two to three hour drive from Beijing and is the most popular full-day hiking route with half the route in ruins
- Jiankou is a three hour drive from Beijing and is the most challenging and extreme route for hikers
- Simatai is a two to three hour drive from Beijing and is the most well-known for its architectural significance and became a World Heritage Site in 1987
- Juyongguan is closest to Beijing (about 1.5 hour drive) and one of the wall’s greatest forts to defend the ancient city
- Shanhai Pass is a 3.5 drive from Beijing, located in Hebei province, and is where the Great Wall meets the sea.
- Most guided tours of the individual sites/sections take half a day to a full day, so planning to hit multiple sections in one day may be too ambitious.
- Hiking along parts of the wall can be quite strenuous with a countless number of steps and average elevation gain of anywhere from 600 to 800 feet. Cable car rides are available for Badaling, Mutianyu, Jinshanling, and Simatai for those who wish to experience the wall without a strenuous trek.
- The most popular times to visit are in the summer, with average highs around 86° F, and the fall with average highs from 46 to 64° F. Visitor counts during peak seasons can reach up to 70,000 people per day.
- Bring plenty of water, snacks, and sunscreen, and dress in layers. The further you trek along the wall away from the base, the fewer the vendors along the way to supply refreshments.
Additional details
Great Wall of China Frequently Asked Questions
- How long is the Great Wall of China? The great wall is 13,170.7 miles long; or 21,196.18 kilometers.
- When was the Great Wall of China built? It was built over 2,300 years ago.
- Why was the Great Wall built? The last time the Wall had construction done was in 1644, although construction began in 7th century by the Chu State.
- Who built the Great Wall? The Great Wall was built over the span of 20 different dynasties, and commanded by their leaders. The actual builders of the Great Wall were soldiers, prisoners of war, and peasants.
- How long did it take for the wall to be constructed? It took the work of thousands of years, different states, and multiple dynasties to construct the Great Wall. In total, it took just over 2,500 years to build the Great Wall of China.
- Who has visited the Great Wall of China? The Great Wall of China has is visited by hundreds of tourists each day, and has also seen some celebrity faces. Some of the famous people who have visited include President Obama, Queen Elizabeth II, President Putin, and President Neslon Mandela.
Great Wall of China Facts
- The Wall is not continuous. In certain places, natural barriers such as a mountains occupy a break in the wall.
- Just under ⅓ of the Great Wall has completely disappeared today.
- Bricks in the Great Wall were bound together not by cement, but by glutinous rice flour.
- A significant portion of destruction to the Great Wall took place during the Cultural Revolution (early Communist) period. Bricks from the Wall were used to build houses and farms.
- The average height of the Great Wall is about 7.88 meters
When to Visit the Great Wall of China
Summer is potentially the worst time to visit the Great Wall. This is the prime season for tourists, especially in sections of the Wall near Beijing, and it can be uncomfortably hot, with the average temperatures being in 86 degrees Fahrenheit (30 Celsius). Not only this, but summer is when the Great Wall is most prone to monsoons.
The best time to visit the Great Wall is in either the Spring or the Fall. These times are usually much less crowded, and the weather is less demanding. Spring is slightly warmer, with average temperatures ranging from 52-75 degrees F. In the Fall, average temperatures range from 46-64 degrees Fahrenheit.
Does it cost money to enter the Great Wall?
The cost of the Great Wall depends where you enter it. In some less touristy places, local landowners may ask for a small fee to access their portion of the wall. In other more frequented spots, the price to enter is usually around $7 US dollars.
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