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Visiting the Great Wall - Mutianyu or Huanhua?

Replies: 4 - Last Post: 09-May-2007 18:33 Last Post By: ellyse

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Posted
24-Apr-2007 00:30
by: traveler33

Posts:  5
Registered:  16/04/07

Visiting the Great Wall - Mutianyu or Huanhua?

Hi! My husband and I will be visiting Beijing next week! We're also planning on visiting the Great Wall. Since it's the May holiday I imagine it will be packed. Should we go to the Mutanyu section of the Huanhua section? Looking forward to hearing your suggestions.
Thanks. Nancy

Posted
24-Apr-2007 20:23
by: drienteam

Posts:  25
Registered:  09/03/04

1

don't know the huanhua section,
simatai is another good option, the crowds are not that big

do one thing everyday that scares you

Posted
25-Apr-2007 00:16
by: craigt3365

Posts:  469
Registered:  11/07/02

2

We just did Mutianyu. It was great. But, have not been to any of the other sections. There were no crowds at all...actually, hardly anyone. We went on a weekday. Some pushy vendors at the bottom, but the ones on top were actually quite nice...not pushy at all.

Views were great. And even though it says you can't walk any further cause the path is closed, just go anyway. Some great views if you keep on walking...and no people at all.

I recommend taking the cable car up that is further from where the busses park. Not the one with the sled ride down. That part is higher and it is (somewhat) downhill from there. We took the first one and then had to walk up to that section, down again, and then back up the other part (it is somewhat of a U shape).

Don't forget the summer palace. Really beautiful there...but very crowded...

Life without socks, time without a watch. 68 countries and counting!

Posted
25-Apr-2007 00:20
by: purpletreefrog

Posts:  1,976
Registered:  14/03/07

3

It is the May holiday so as you note people will be a problem. I went last May and the numbers on the wall weren't that bad but the traffic getting there was horrific. Took nearly 3 hours to Mutianyu (usually under an hour). Sorry I can't help you decide which section, I'm just warning you to maybe build in some extra transit time.

A real man does not think of victory or defeat. He plunges recklessly towards an irrational death (The Tale of the 47 Ronin).

Posted
09-May-2007 18:33
by: ellyse

Posts:  8,932
Registered:  27/04/02

4

Under 1 hour to Mutianyu? We started from near the Forbidden City and took about 1.5-2 hours to get there.
Cheers!

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