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The Great Wall of China is one of the most unbelievable things I have ever seen. Sometimes you get to a landmark and go “meh, kind of underwhelming”….this is not one of those.
Assuming you already have your trip to Beijing planned, I will explain how I made my day trip to the Great Wall easy & stress free. You can also read my tips for what you need to bring to China here (soon).
I researched for DAYS, but thanks to the internet, I booked a ticket for a day trip to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall. There are a few sections you can visit but this is what I went with (will share my affiliate link).
Mubus: Mutianyu Great Wall Tour
It’s worth noting that I did not experience as the photos show on the booking. I was completely by myself besides the busses and Mubus headquarters. No group activities or photos etc.
I cannot speak on the other sections but absolutely loved this experience. If you want to do your own research and decide which part is best for you, go for it! (This one has the toboggan slide down from the wall if you are going with kids) (or if you are an adult and want a toboggan)
Mubus was the company running the “tour” and they were in contact with me a few days prior on WhatsApp. (Keep in mind this is not some rinky dink operation, they have an entire building at “basecamp” where you have access to a lunch buffet, drinks, and just a place to cool off.)
I was given instructions to meet outside of a major train station in Beijing at 745am. LISTEN TO THIS PART…..I landed in Beijing at midnight and had to be on time for the tour. I would have loved being in China for a few hours at least to see how people acted haha.
GET ACCUSTOMED to China before tackling the tour. I almost missed the bus because I thought I could walk…turns out Beijing is absolutely massive so I panicked and ordered a Didi (Uber) on Alipay. After that, I couldn’t find the group., But after I texted them I was given specific instructions and I realized I was just being an idiot…you will be fine. So ya…a stress free experience if you know how to read a sign.
You can also check out my tips for navigating Beijing.
There was maybe 30-40(?) people there, a few were late but we waited a couple minutes. Soon our guide (with his karaoke speaker and massive flag) led us to the bus. This type of group tour isn’t something I normally do, but am THANKFUL I did. Navigating to rural China seems pretty complex to handle on your own.
The bus was plenty big, I sat by myself and enjoyed the AC while looking out the window. It took maybe 90 minutes to arrive, with the guide passing out cards, tickets, information, and most importantly…teaching us the history. I wouldn’t recommend putting in headphones for this ride. He was a cool and energetic guide who was excited to help out with any questions.
We arrived at basecamp #1 (we will call it)….Just a massive area where groups were meeting, kids were there on field trips, etc. It was like a mini town with shops and food spots including MUBUS’s building. He showed us where it was because after this…. you are essentially on your own until rendezvousing back there for the ride back to Beijing. The snacks and drinks were not free at this time, but you could grab some.
MAKE SURE YOU HAVE WATER ALL DAY.
After a short walk through basecamp #1 you arrive at an “amusement park” type queue with COUNTLESS busses that will take you to basecamp #2. It took no time at all, there was a bus every 20 seconds. You will need your passport probably 10 times during the day by the way….bring it.
Basecamp #2 is when you realize “oh this might actually be a work out”. It’s essentially a giant hill with restaurants and vendors. There is actually a GREAT WALL SUBWAY if you want a western sandwich fix. Your quads will get a pretty nice workout to the top of the hill. After the stroll you will notice a trail into the forest (if you’re crazy) or a cable car. The cable car was free if you have your passport, your guide will explain all that.
Soon you’ll be swaying directly up the mountain like you’re going skiing. If you’re from the west, the locals might want a picture with you throughout the day by the way. It was a very fun ride, I didn’t realize how high we were actually going….the views are starting to become INSANE.
Getting to the top is jaw dropping….words will not do justice. But it’s quite packed at the “landing zone”. There’s 2 options, walk left or walk right. I headed left.
IMPORTANT: you have no idea how extreme the wall really is. It’s not flat. It’s not smooth. WEAR GOOD SHOES. Who knows how far it was, but I eventually got to some guard outposts and you can climb to the top. It was so awesome (I think some illegal souvenirs were being sold inside). If you continue on this path, you will reach the HERO SLOPE, aka a ridiculous climb to the highest and farthest you can go. The guide gave us an inspirational speech about it on the bus.
It was a WARZONE. People of ALL ages lined the sides resting because it was genuinely exhausting to get to the top. People just sprawled out hiding under umbrellas for shade, not even exaggerating, ages 8 to 88. I will put up some pictures to try and show the steepness.
After becoming a HERO it was time for me to walk back to the landing zone. Let’s just say my speed declined and I had to buy water from an illegal salesperson on the side of the wall. The cable car had a ridiculous line, but it flew by.
A negative thing about China (and some other asian countries)….people are so impatient in queues. They will try to cut you, it’s very bizarre and uncomfortable. As long as you know it’s coming, you will be more relaxed about it (but still annoying….it is what it is). After the walk through basecamp #2, we arrived to basecamp #1 after a quick shuttle ride and we are now back to the MUBUS headquarters.
Keep in mind you will not be able to share your photos on Instagram in China. NordVPN is what I have used for years, you basically just hit “ON” and thats it. I will share my affiliate link if you want it. GET NORD VPN
The buffet was actually quite good with plenty of options. It was more so a westernized Chinese buffet, there was nothing “scary” (to less adventurous eaters). Nothing mind blowing, but it gets the job done after a long day. A Coca-Cola classic was super refreshing after about 6 gallons of water on this scorching day.
I was actually back a little earlier than the time they advised, but turns out there are a few busses, so you can add your name to the list and hop on an earlier bus…which I did. They have a little gift shop too and you can grab some random souvenirs if you choose. It was such an incredible day so I decided to buy some trinkets just to say I bought them at the wall. You pay with Alipay of course, read more about that on my China preparation blog soon.
The AC on the bus felt amazing. This was a less upbeat ride due to everybody being exhausted, but the guide came around and tried talking to everybody and thanked us for booking with them, it was a great touch. He was answering any general China questions you may have as well. I was personally confused about the metro and he helped me out.
We arrived back exactly where we began at 8am and all went our separate ways. It was such a zen day to be honest. Keep in mind this type of group thing is NOT something I usually do, so if i enjoyed it, you will. I could have been lucky with getting great guides and having no annoying people on my bus, so don’t forget that. But with that being said, I would totally recommend MUBUS to anybody trying to experience the Wall. Thanks again to the internet for showing me this tour.
Don’t forget your phone, passport, small bag, and an external phone charger.
Thank you for reading, and I hope my story helps you with booking your trip to the Great Wall of China.