If you’re going to Beijing, then visiting the Great Wall of China is an absolute must. There are many sections which can be visited at the Great Wall, from the popular but touristy Badaling, to the scenic portion of Mutianyu, to the wild Jiankou or Huanghua Cheng, or the hiking you can do along the Simatai.

You can use an organized tour to visit any of the wall sections. If you choose to go with a tour company, you should first ask what are they including in the tour. In some cases, they will add Ming Toms visits, in other cases they will stop so you can do some shopping. You should know exactly what activities they plan for you, so if you’re not interested in what they have to offer, simply go with another company that has more to offer you.

Some of the wall sections which you can visit are described below.

Juyongguan

This area is located to the NW of Beijing, at about 50 km. Its opening hours are from 6 AM to 4 PM and the cost of admission is 40 RMB. If you’re in a hurry, this section of the wall is the closest one to Beijing, so go for it if you don’t have a lot of time. You can walk a bit on it, for up to two hours. It has been renovated quite a bit and the scenic views aren’t as spectacular here, but it will do if you don’t have too much time at your disposal.

Huanghua Cheng

This area is located around 60 km from Beijin, and to the north. Admission cost will vary a bit, depending on the section you will be entering at. You should check what the opening times are, since this area is sometimes closed for visitors. The reason why it is sometimes closed is that this area of the Great Wall is being reconstructed all the time, since sections of it crumble. It has spectacular views and the hillsides on which it is built are pretty steep. One problem is that it doesn’t have guard rails, and you will need good shoes for some areas.