Judith

My father who is 79 and walks with the aid of a cane is concerned that he will not be able to walk on the Great Wall. What is accessibilty like (ie: stairs? How many? Is there a handrail?).

Peter N-H

Access to the Great Wall is certainly not easy for those who are not sprightly, I'm sorry to say.<BR><BR>Three of the well-publicised sites for mounting the Wall near Beiing have chairlifts, but as usual with these things you must be able to move reasonably rapidly out of the way when you alight, and they mostly have stairs leading up to them, and still leave you with a climb at the end. <BR><BR>Yes, handrails have been attached, but once on the Wall, very little progress can be made without further climbing, and before long it's sufficiently steep that even the able often feel the need to use their hands.<BR><BR>If your father can manage about 30 steps up, at any pace he likes, then he can walk on the Wall, I would estimate, even if he can't go more than 100 metres or so once there.<BR><BR>I would say Badaling would be the best choice, which has both a chairlift, and an escalator to near the base where a relatively short climb is necessary. The problem here is more likely to be the impatience of the crowds.<BR><BR>However, I'm aware that it's very difficult for those who are still able-bodied to be able to judge accurately what's doable for those with less strength or mobility, so I would seek a second opinion on these remarks.<BR><BR>Peter N-H<BR>htp://members.axion.net/~pnh/China.html

Connie

My sister who is a physical therapist often noticed how UNaccessable China was. Thought you might need to know so you would be prepared.

John G

John G from London calling. Judith, I made my way to the top of the wall at the same place as Bill Clinton, but I don't remember the name of the site. (The gondola I rode in had a plaque that stated that Bill Clinton rode in the gondola when he visited the Great Wall.)<BR><BR>The walkway on top of the Wall is very difficult. It is not flat, but a series of stairs going down, then going up, then going down, then going up. In some places it is VERY steep. I, my friend Cynthia, and my friend Ellen, are all young and in good physical shape and we had a work out. A Mormon couple we went up in the gondola with only stood on the Wall and then immediately went back down to their tour bus. I'd say they were about 55 years old.<BR><BR>Im sure your father can go up in the gondola, stand on the wall, then go back down. I don't think he will be able to walk on the Wall. <BR><BR>Good Luck.

Charlie

Judith we visited the wall at Mutianyu and at that location there are 2 ways to the top.The first is a cable car the second is a chair lift.The cable car entrance is along a narrow road far up a hill but if you visit the wall via private car,I noted,that you can get permission to drive up and drop someone off at the cable car.The chair lift is much closer to the car/bus park and would also be drivable by car.We used the chair lift up the wall,jumping on as it moved by but we observed that they stopped the chair lift a couple of times for people to get on or off.When we were there(March) it wasn't very crowded so I don't know if they would normally stop the lift to help someone on or off.IMHO it would seem to me that by using(hiring) a private car to visit Mutianyu your driver would be able to drive you and your dad right up to the cable car or chair lift.Walking very far on the wall is questionable for dad but at the upper cable car/chair lift exits there are flat observations points with great views in all directions.I hope this helps and your dad gets to see and enjoy the wall.Have a great trip !!!

thanks

John G - what dedication! to post from London at 3 AM. why up so late? <BR><BR>thanks for the advice...