The best time to visit the Great Wall of China is during spring, when the weather is mild and manageable. From April to June, the views are especially beautiful as blooming flowers sprinkle the mountains and leaves begin to turn green. The average temperature range is about 10C to 25C at this time of year, but it gets cooler in the mornings and evenings, so bring warm jackets with you just in case.
Can’t make it in spring? The Great Wall is just as visually stunning in July and August. But the soaring heat usually makes for a far less pleasant walk, with average temperatures of around 30C. There’s also a greater chance of rain during this time. From September to early November, temperatures are back to a more comfortable level, averaging at about 15C to 25C. The colour of the landscape changes with the seasons and the mountains are blanketed with deep red, golden yellow and brown shades in these autumn months.
Which part is best to visit?
While the man-made structure covers much of northern China, the best sections to visit are located near Beijing, one of its main gateways. Badaling, the most restored section of the Great Wall, is very accessible and easy to climb. But it’s also the most crowded part and lacks the wild scenery of some of the more remote areas.
The Jinshanling section was built during the Ming Dynasty and is considered the most beautiful, as well as one of the best-preserved parts of the Great Wall. Many of its original walls and watchtowers are still intact today.
Mutianyu is the longest fully-restored section. It has some unusual characteristics, such as three watchtowers connected by a tunnel running along the inside of the wall.
Advertisement
Finally, the partially restored Simatai is one of the few sections that still looks more or less the same as it did originally. Some areas here are quite steep, so it’s more suited to those who are in good shape. Be sure to bring a good pair of walking shoes.
What are the best things to do?
The most obvious activity to do along the Great Wall of China is have a picnic. No matter how long you hike for, you’re bound to work up an appetite. As restaurants are limited along the paths, why not pack up some al fresco delights and have a mini feast on your Great Wall hike?
At the Mutianyu section, you can skip over 1,000 steps by taking a scenic, overhead cable car ride from the foot of the wall to the No. 14 Watchtower and enjoy some wonderful views of the area. As for going down, there’s the option to walk and take a return cable car. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can hop on a toboggan for a speedy, exhilarating ride back to base.
In the Badaling part, you can visit the Great Wall Museum, located near the base, which offers an in depth history lesson on the famous structure.
At Simatai, you can take a tour at night, when some of the areas here are beautifully lit. Although Simatai isn’t the only part of the structure that lights up at night, it definitely looks the most magnificent after dark, when pretty lanterns illuminate the path.
Advertisement
How long is the Great Wall of China?
Officially the longest manmade structure in the world, the Great Wall snakes across 15 provinces, 97 prefectures and 404 counties. Its total length is around 21,000km or 13,000m. Despite rumours to the contrary, the Great Wall isn’t visible from space.
Can you walk the entire wall?
It’s possible to walk the whole of the Great Wall of China, but this is no easy feat. It would take at least 18 months to complete the entire journey. Although there’s a long-running myth that the Great Wall is one continuous wall built at the same time, it’s actually a series of walls and fortifications that were assembled to protect the Chinese empire. They were all connected at one point in time, but various parts have eroded and crumbled over the years. Some parts overlap, and there are large gaps between others. This ultimately means those committed enough to walk the whole way would have to venture off the path and rejoin the wall at some stages.
Sign up for the Times Travel Newsletter here.