Great Wall at Badaling, Juyongguan, Mutianyu, Simatai and Jinshanling
Climbing the Great Wall is a must for you no matter how buy you are! It is the symbol of China and its power during its 5-thousand years long history. This long protective wall started to be built in 321 b.C. by the first Chinese Emperor Shihuangdi, the one who united for the first time China. Since that time, many Emperors continued its construction, depending on where the Mongols where trying to attack China. It mainly stretches from the coast of Bohai Gulf in the east to Jiayu Pass in the west.
It is longer than 12,700 li ( ancient Chinese measure) equal to 6,350 km. This is the reason why it is often called the "the dragon long ten thousand li". And it actually resembles a dragon spreading its body up and down hills and low mountains.
The eight sections are Badaling, Juyongguan, Huanghuacheng, Jiankou, Mutianyu, Gubeikou, Jinshanling, and Simatai. Most of the sections of the Great Wall in Beijing are well-preserved and mainly the relics dating from the Ming Dynasty, the time for huge construction.
Badaling Great Wall:
Ticket Fees: RMB40 (Nov. 01 to Mar. 31); RMB 45 (Apr. 01 to Oct. 31)
Open Hours: 06:40 to 18:30
HikeTime: 2.5 hours
How to go there: Take Bus 919.
Or take a tourist bus:
No. 1 at Front Gate ( Qianmen );
No. 2 at Beijing Railway Station;
No. 3 at East Bridge;
No. 4 at Xizhi Gate or Beijing Zoo;
Juyongguan Great Wall:
Ticket Fee: RMB 45 Open Hours: 07:30 to 17:30
Hike Time : 2.5 hours
How to go there:
Take tourist Bus Route as below:
Take No. 1 at Front Gate ( Qianmen )
Take No. 2 at Beijing Railway Station
Take No. 3 at East Bridge
Take No. 4 at Beijing Zoo or Xizhimen Gate
Mutianyu Great Wall:
Ticket Fee: RMB35
Open Hours: 07:30 to 17:30
Hike Time: 2.5 hours
How to go there: Take Bus no 916 or take tourist Bus No. 6 at Xuanwumen Gate
Simatai Great Wall:
Ticket Fee: RMB 35
Open Hours: 08:00 to 17:00
Hike Time: 2 hours
How to go there:
Take bus No.12 from Xuan Wu Gate directly to Simatai.
Take the 970 bus out of Beijing to Miyun and hire a taxi from there.
Jinshanling Great Wall:
Entrance Fee: RMB 30
Opening Hours: 08:00 to 16:50
Hiking time: 2 hours
How to go there
Take the 970 bus out of Beijing to Miyun and hire a taxi from there.
Summer Palace
Regarded as the largest imperial garden in China, Beijing's Summer Palace is in fact a park-styled royal retreat extending out over 10 square miles, located in the northwest suburbs of Beijing. Its real name means "tranquillity and peace park". It was the place where the Imperial court used to spend the summer in order to avoid the hot and humid weather of Beijing. It has many pavilions. The two main spots are The Longevity Hill and the Kunming lake. You can also see the beautifully painted Long corridor where many stories are narrated in its ceiling, and the massive white marble boat wanted by the Empress Cixi.
The Summer Palace was listed as the world cultural heritage in1998.
How to go there:
Take busses No.726, 826, 718, 332, 331 or 737 and get of at Yiheyuan Dongmen
Check for more details: www.summerpalace-china.com
Address: Yiheyuan (Summer Palace) Road, Haidian District 62881144-209
Open Time: 6:30-20:30
Ticket Fee: RMB 40 (low season) / RMB 50 (peak season)
