I believe that is the section of wall used for the Great Wall marathon.

Huangyaguan is an interesting choice, as close to Tangshan as to central BJ. Usually if one has a private car/driver and is going that far though, it makes more sense to make it a full daytrip and first go to the Eastern Qing Tombs which is a bit farther away, then hit up the Huangyaguan GW on the way back to Beijing.

I don't think Huangyaguan is yet on the standard tourist bus route, though one might see some charters going out there. It's pretty far away and doesn't yet have all the carnival-atmosphere attractions the Chinese love.

I suspect that since the poster above is coming by a cruise via Tanggu port, that the excursion director chose this as the closest and most accessible GW section from the ship...which would be correct.

I think Badaling may have been offered up as the section of wall easiest/quickest to get to from Beijing, which for a small segment of travelers may make it the "best".

Have only one free day in Beijing on January 30th. Is it too cold to see the Great Wall? This is my first trip to China. I am getting a driver and a guide for the day. I would like to see the wall and do not know if and when I will be back in the Beijing area.

For the physically challenged, Badaling may also be the best choice due to 1) cable car and 2) once on the wall, the walking/climbing is relatively easier. Mutianyu also has 1) but IMO is more challenging on dimension 2). Keeping in mind that the GW at no time should be considered a truly accessible attraction. Many people don't realize that once you get on top of it, it isn't like a flat garden path, but has many inclines, some ramps and many flights of steps which can be steep and uneven.


Bundle up with coat, hat, gloves, and long underwear. If it's your only chance then do what it takes. You won't have a lot of company but the Wall is open and there should be a few hardy souls about, so enjoy it without the crowds and masses of touts. And if there's some snow hanging around, it should make for some wonderful photos. Just watch your step if the paths/steps are icy. I'd recommend taking a cable car up and down and limit the walking/hiking to the top of the Wall itself. You probably won't be able to stand more than an hour or so up there, but it will be enough. Even though cold, take some bottled drinking water up with you. A GW excursion should only take about 4 hours (Badaling), 5 hours (Mutianyu) including transportation to/from central Beijing. Not "all day."

Jiejie: I think that that you are correct in your speculation about why the excursion director chose Hangyaguan. Although it doesn't seem to offer easier access for those physically challenged, it is free, part of the tour, and is still part of the GW. Thanks to all.

Thanks for the advice. Even if I can't last an hour, I will have walked on the wall. I will suggest this to my tour guide. She told me I can tell her 3 days beforehand if I want to go to the wall. I can check the weather forecast.

Sounds like I will also have time to see some of the sights in Beijing. Maybe the Forbidden City??

I'm baffled by this statement. If January 30th is the only day you have, then set something up come hell or high water...maybe only cancel at last minute if unfortunate enough to have heavy snow that gridlocks traffic out of the city. Frankly, I'm not sure why you need a guide for the Great Wall, just read up on it, get a driver (if you don't have one already, there are suggestions on our driver thread) and go. The driver doesn't need to speak English if he knows where to pick you up, where you are going, how long to wait, and where to drop you.

If you don't mind Badaling, you can take a cheap train out there from Beijing North (Xizhimen) station. Train or public bus back. No guide, no driver needed. This time of year, Badaling is a viable option since the usual crowds simply vanish in the dead of winter. You can check (or have hotel call over and check) the Badaling train timetable for the 30th, once you get to Beijing. No ID needed to buy tickets, and I think they're only about RMB 6 each way.

If you do decide to go with a guide, make absolutely sure at the outset that you will refuse to go to ANY shopping stops, jade or cloisonne factories, etc. If you can avoid paying more than half upfront, do so, and only pay balance on completion and final dropoff at the predetermined location of your choice. If you only have one day to sightsee and you want to use a tour guide to maximize your time, fine. But YOU should set the agenda and timing you want. With an early start and arrival at the GW around opening time (8:30 to 9:00), you can complete your Wall walk and be back to center of town around noon, in time for a quick lunch and then the Forbidden City. It's not an optimum layout but if you only have the one day, it is doable and between say, 13:30 and 16:00, you can have a decent FC visit. If you retain the guide and driver, have the driver pick you up at north exit of FC and take you over to Houhai for a look around the hutong areas at twilight and dinner time. Some local slice-of-life voyeurism, and you can find some eats. You should be able to make your own way by taxi back to your hotel in the evening.

This guide has been used by several from my company and gets excellent reviews. I have already told her no shopping stops. I will do shopping on the afternoon of the 29th without a guide.

The agenda for the day is entirely up to me and payment is due at the end of the day. It's 950 for the guide and driver if I go to the Wall and 850 without the trip to the Wall. I think that is reasonable. Since I only have one day, I want to maximize the sites I can see and not deal with how to get to each one. It's not that I don't know how to do it - I've travelled to Tokyo and Seoul by myself. Plus the guide will be able to enhance the sites with her knowledge of them. I have a guide book, but I've found in my travels that by using a good guide I get much more out of the experience. Plus it's fun to have someone with me rather than go off by myself.

Appreciate your help and I will do the wall!

Jackie

Is it reasonable to combine a trip to the Great Wall with a trip to the Summer Palace? Or should we just concentrate on them on separate days?

thanks
FDW

Definitely doable, and recommended upthread. Go to the wall first thing in the morning. Have your driver drop you at the summer palace (probably about 12 or 1). Take metro or taxi back to hotel from summer palace.

I did that. I left early in the morning and went to the wall where there were only one or two tourists around. Later in the afternoon, we went to the Palace.

We have 4 full days in Beijing. Planning on GW for 1 day, with stop at Summer palace. Deciding between Mutianyu and Jinshanling. Both partner and I very fit, looking forward to some hiking.

Is putting Jinshanling and the summer palace in the same day too much?

You will sit in a bus/taxi something around 2.5-3.0 hours to go to Jinshanling, so its 5-6 hours at all just for transfer. May you stay 3 hours at the wall, 8-9 hours are gone. If you start at 6am and take a taxi it could work, but I don't think you would like that.

Jinshanling and the Summer Palace on the same day are not possible.