A rather sweeping - and slightly condescending - comment I fear.

Our guide bought tickets from three different locations at Mutianyu and there was a bit of juggling owing as to what was needed. However she probably saved us 100CNY or so with my youngest only needing some of the tickets and the other two qualifying for discounts.

It also meant we had the guide on hand to call the driver (don't know where he parked for the morning). Given the driver spoke no English - and I speak no Chinese - doing this myself would have been a fun exercise.

600CNY for one person as I said might seem punchy, but after the 100CNY saving, we paid 100CNY per person so that was quite a bargain. Missing that flight from PEK - 3 J and 2 F seats to HKG - because I couldn't find the driver would have been an expensive problem to unpick.