Nat If you plan on visiting the Great Wall of China, here are 3 epic things you need to know beforehand for the ultimate Great Wall experience!
Getting Up
If you are visiting the Great Wall of China at Mutianyu, getting up to the Wall is a bit of a trip. Try to arrive in the morning to avoid the mid-day crowds, as this is one of the most popular sections of the Wall that is open to tourists!
Since the Wall sits on the top of the mountains, you will have to take a lift to reach the Wall. Lines can get lengthy, so be prepared to wait.
Hiking the Wall
The Great Wall of China stretches along the mountain tops for miles! However, the walking portions of the Wall are not all flat. Much of the Wall is actually steps! So when visiting the Great Wall of China, make sure you wear comfortable walking shoes!
There are also parts of the Wall that are almost a vertical incline, making the steps extremely steep. If you are traveling with loved ones that have difficulty with inclines or stairs, there are a few platforms with chairs and tables for resting if needed.
The Views
The Great Wall provides a magnificent view of the dense greenery of the area! I wasn’t sure what to expect when preparing for my visit to the Wall, but I was pleasantly surprised by the scenery.
When I travel to historic sites like this one, I like to imagine what it would have been like to stand on the wall 2,600 years ago! The Mutianyu Great Wall; however, was first built during the Northern Qi Dynasty over 1,400 years ago.
Renovations
While the Wall itself has undergone dozens of renovations to maintain the structure for visitors, there is still so much history evident in the stones that make up this phenomenal landmark.
As a history nerd, I implore you to brush up on your history prior to your visit. It will make your experience 10x more enjoyable!
Getting Down
When you are ready to part ways with the largest military structure in the world, you have a few options for getting back down the mountain. You can either wait in line to take the lift, OR you can take the toboggan!
Toboggan
What is a toboggan you may ask? It is a metal slide that follows a winding path through the foliage of the mountainside. You’ll sit on a little cart with your feet in front of you and a break handle between your legs. The break is there to help control your speed.
Watch the video below for a glimpse into how fast you can go!
With the Wall being a high-traffic tourist attraction, you should absolutely expect there to be a line for the toboggan. Thankfully, the line moves fast. But that resulted in multiple times on the ride where people got backed up and we had to come to a complete stop.
Therefore, going to the Wall earlier in the morning will help with avoiding the influx of people on the slide at once.
You can see in the photo above that I asked my father to wear my GoPro with a chest harness. We were able to capture the entire ride this way!
Also, if you are interested in upgrading your devices before your trip, read the Ultimate Digital Gear for Beginner Travelers for details on the gadgets I use to capture all my experiences!
Toboggan Warning
PSA: If you take the toboggan back down with ornery loved ones, DON’T GO FIRST! If you do, they will likely find it comical to run their cart into yours, like my 60 year-old father did to me… It’s better to have the upper hand by going second, or somewhere in the middle! It also must be common because there are multiple signs that read, “No stopping, watch out for rear-end collision!”
Please enjoy the video below where you can witness my dad completely disregard the signs. He chose bumper cars instead!
There is also an age limit for taking the toboggan down. My father, being 60 at the time of our visit, barely got approved to ride. So keep this in mind for anyone in your travel group over the age of 60.
Needless to say, we had an absolute blast and it is an experience I will cherish for the rest of my life!
Other ways to prepare for your travels
Travel safety is the most important thing to consider when planning a trip. Read Top 30 Most Important Safety Tips for Female Travelers for more information about how to be proactive about your safety while abroad!
