Hi, could anyone advise how to get to mutianyu by bus? Having read all the postings about tours etc we would like to try it under our own steam. We have a whole day set aside around the 20 october.

Buses run to Huairou Xian (county) from both Dong Zhi Men and Xi Zhi Men stations (Xi Zhi Men is more convenient), from where there are local buses to Mutianyu, but the best route is on the Chinese one day tour bus from Xuanwu Men which takes about about 1.5 hours, allows a decent period of time at the wall, but then takes you briefly to the dull Hongluo Si (Red Snail Temple) 20 mins away, and a regrettable lakeside amusement park where it stops for 1.5 hours.<BR><BR>At Mutianyu a short walk uphill from the car park past various stalls brings you first to an office for a chairlift which will sell you a ticket for Y55 to go up by chairlift and down by ‘speed chute’ on a wheeled plastic sled—buy your wall entrance ticket when you get off the chair lift. Walking up further there are two offices selling entrance tickets to the Wall and the path up continues beyond them, passing the ticket office for a cable car which will take you up to a higher point further to the left for Y25 one-way, Y50 return.<BR><BR>If you take the path or the chair lift, once on the wall turn right to face a steep climb, after which there’s a chance to view a section of the wall which is relatively intact but overgrown, and forming a Y-shape as it sends off a defensive spur to one side. The site is green and pleasant, a comfortable distance from B&ecirc;ij&iuml;ng, and although it’s become quite popular, the vendors reasonably well-controlled.<BR><BR>Hope that helps.<BR><BR>Peter N-H<BR>http://members.axion.net/~pnh/China.html<BR>

Peter,<BR>Is it necessary to take the chair lift at Mutianyu or can you walk up to the wall? Also, the cable car that you mentioned, does this take you to another section of the wall? If so, is this section accessible if you don't take the cable car? Are there chair lifts at Badaling too? I don't recall seeing them at Badaling but it's been over 10 years since I was there. Thanks.

Yes, you can walk up to the top of the Wall. You can do this at all Wall sites.<BR><BR>The cable car merely goes up to the left while the chair lift goes up to the right. Whether you choose to call that 'another section of the Wall' is up to you.<BR><BR>Yes, it's accessible on foot. You climb up to the Wall and turn left.<BR><BR>Yes, there has been mechanical conveyance to the top of Badaling since the 80s.<BR><BR>Of course, in all these cases, 'to the top' isn't anything of the kind. There may be a short uphill walk to the lower station, and there will certainly be a climb onto the Wall at the other end.<BR><BR>Peter N-H<BR>http://members.axion.net/~pnh/China.html

TTT for Harmony and Gus.

Badaling is the closest access point from Beijing, and gets very, very crowded. I don't personally don't think it is as enjoyable an experience with the large crowds.<BR><BR>If you want to avoid the huge crowds that are always at Badaling access to the Wall, I would suggest you go to the Mitianyu access area, about 1½ hours by car from Beijing. You can arrange with your hotel for a car and driver, there may also be day-tours by bus to this section, although the car/driver is really not expensive. You can also then use the car/driver to tour around this area by car if you want, it is quite and deserted. I have been four times in various seasons, and it has never been at all crowded, so you can appreciate the view and the silence. I have sometimes been there when there are only about 10 other people on the entire wall, and you can walk a good length of it. A great place for a picnic is at the top of the wall on one of the several gate houses, where you can see for miles on a clear day.<BR><BR>There is a cable car, you can walk up or down if you want, a very steep climb either way! There are lots of obnoxious souvenir sellers at the bottom near the cable car, but once you get passed them, it is quiet and serene. I would recommend that you go to Mitianyu, bit if you are really pressed for time, then the Badaling would be acceptable. <BR><BR>