How to explore the Great Wall

Travelers to China have, from time to time, devised their own ways of exploring one of this country’s Seven Wonders of the World—the Great Wall of China. Often, Chinese visa holders just drive up to it, climb up the first section of this ancient and breathtaking monument and look around them at the awe-inspiring valley and then head out of there. But there are many ways those on a Chinese visa can explore the Great Wall, as anyone on a Chinese visa will tell you.

If you’re a Chinese visa holder, you can explore the Wall by choosing from the many Great Wall sections and hiking from one end to the other over a few days, camping as you go along. But if your time in China is limited, you’ll have to think “on your feet.” So, what can you do?

Well, make the best use of your Chinese tourist visa by fully exploring the Great Wall of China. As a Chinese proverb here says, “He who has never been to the Great Wall is not a true man.” There are some truly rugged mountainous terrain, so watch how you trek and hike here.

The Great Wall has eight walkable sections which could be an hour-long walk from say Laolongtou to Shanhaiguan or a full-day walk beginning at Simatai and finishing at Jinshanling, including the Mutianyu section and all along Balding, the most popular section here. By doing this, you walk comfortably and without time constraints. You can even get here by van or tour buses or drive up yourself. Since you have arrived in this country on a Chinese visa, you must see this ancient monument in its fullest glory.

Driving up would perhaps be the most comfortable way of getting there. You can see all the panoramic views as you go along, but you immediately get on to a freeway from where you can see an impressive hillside. From here, explore the Great Wall from here too on foot, using your Chinese tourist visa.

This section of the Wall is hilly and has both large and small steps, so be careful while walking, dear Chinese visa holder. Climbing the hills in this region makes for very difficult walking, and hiking could take about 20 minutes per hill, so as a Chinese visa holder, you should be extra careful. As you climb this region, you reach up and find a rampart belonging to the Mongol army. However, despite all the trouble of walking and hiking, the view is superb.

No matter what your schedule in China is like, it’s best to spend a whole day exploring the Great Wall, and camp there at various points, offered by tour companies. By doing this, you will utilize your Chinese tourist visa to the fullest. Considering each section of the Wall has its own unique features, there is a lot to explore on your China visa. Older people and kids would find it difficult and monotonous after a while, so choose some gentler ways of exploring the Wall such as taking a public bus or taxi to the Wall. Alternatively, you could go hiking or trekking up to Badaling, Mutianyu, Jinshanling and Simatai and from there you can take a cable car to explore the fantastic sights and come down.

You can also hire a tent and spend the night here. If you’re adventurous, why not go biking as far up as you can? After all, this is what your Chinese visa is all about.