{"id":8065,"date":"2025-12-22T03:20:03","date_gmt":"2025-12-22T03:20:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/guadiviajando.com\/?p=8065"},"modified":"2025-12-22T05:05:19","modified_gmt":"2025-12-22T05:05:19","slug":"china-wall","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/guadiviajando.com\/en\/china-wall\/","title":{"rendered":"Experience the Great Wall of China without tours and crowds"},"content":{"rendered":"

I promise that this wonder is even more special in person. That said, the experience largely depends on which section of the Great Wall of China you choose<\/strong>.<\/p>

Esta \u00abexcursi\u00f3n\u00bb fue parte de un viaje de una semana al norte de China, pero me encanta y desaf\u00eda mucho este pa\u00eds. Estuve antes en Hong Kong y prontito estar\u00e9 un mes por la zona central. Podes leer todos los art\u00edculos de China<\/a> por ac\u00e1.<\/p>

Here I\u2019ll tell you about the most popular options, what makes each one special, and my own experience exploring it on foot, on your own, and free from crowds. Shall we start? <\/p>

Where is the Great Wall of China and where can you visit it from?<\/h2>

The Great Wall stretches over 21,000 km, but not all sections can be visited. Some parts are hard to access, others are within military zones, and many are in very remote areas.<\/p>

That\u2019s why the Wall is divided into sections<\/strong>, each with its own management, type of entry, and recommended routes. Choosing the right section is key to shaping your experience.<\/p>

The most common way to visit is from Beijing, combining it with other attractions in China\u2019s capital. From there, several sections are accessible, and depending on which one you choose, the experience can be completely different.<\/p>

Below I\u2019ll tell you the main options and which ones, based on my experience, I would avoid.<\/p>

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Sections of the Great Wall of China near Beijing<\/h2>
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Badaling \u2013 the most crowded<\/h3>

It\u2019s the section closest to Beijing, which is why all tours and those with very little time in the city visit it. All the towers are restored and very accessible. Entrance costs 45 CNY (~5.5 EUR).
I would really avoid visiting this area entirely.<\/p>

Huanghuacheng \u2013 super photogenic <\/h3>

Huanghuacheng is another hidden gem that not many people know about. It\u2019s located on the map between Badaling and Mutianyu; what makes it special is that it\u2019s surrounded by water and the views are spectacular. It\u2019s close to Beijing but requires more planning than Badaling. Entrance costs 5.5 EUR. <\/p>

Mutianyu \u2013 the fun one<\/h3>

It\u2019s an upgraded version of Badaling, surrounded by greenery but also comfortable and easily accessible. The most iconic feature is the slide to descend from the Wall. Entrance costs 40 CNY (~4.85 EUR), but the slide is an additional 100 CNY (~12.12 EUR). Although there\u2019s a lot of promotion about \u201cavoid the crowds, visit Mutianyu,\u201d it has also become quite busy.<\/p>

Jinshanling \u2013 the adventurous<\/h3>

This is one of the areas I visited and loved. It has both restored and original sections, where you can truly see how the Wall is preserved today. The views are incredible, and there are plenty of areas to explore and walk. Entrance costs 65 CNY (~7.88 EUR) and there\u2019s also a shuttle supplement of 10 CNY. <\/p>

Simatai \u2013 at night<\/h3>

It\u2019s the only part of the Wall that can be visited illuminated at night. It\u2019s close to Gubei Water Town, a bit further from Beijing. I also had the chance to visit it, and I\u2019ll share my experience shortly.
Entrance is a bit more expensive: 40 CNY in the morning and 80\u2013100 CNY at night (~9.70\u201312.12 EUR).<\/p>

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My experience on the Great Wall of China (no tours, no crowds)<\/h2>

I chose two sections of the Wall close to each other but very different in experience.
I explored Simatai at night and, the next day, did a 12 km hike from Jinshanling.<\/p>

Below I\u2019ll explain each in detail and which alternative I\u2019d suggest based on my experience.<\/p>

Simatai + Gubei Water Town<\/h3>

Gubei is a village that recreates traditional northern Chinese architecture, located near a dam. It\u2019s built 100% for tourism, but it\u2019s so beautiful that, in my opinion, it\u2019s worth visiting<\/strong>.<\/p>

The Simatai section of the Great Wall is located right next to this village. You don\u2019t have to pay for entry to Gubei to explore the Wall, but the most common approach is to combine both visits\u2026 and that\u2019s exactly what I did.<\/p>

How to get there? <\/h4>

From Beijing, departing from Dongzhimen, there are buses that cost 46 CNY (~6 EUR) and drop you directly at the entrance of Gubei. There are only two departures per day: 8 am and 1 pm. <\/p>

It\u2019s important to know that this is the only transport paid in cash or with the Beijing transport card. They don\u2019t accept Alipay or WeChat, so it\u2019s best to be prepared.
<\/p>

\ud83e\uddda\ud83c\udffd Google Maps doesn\u2019t work well in China; the best alternative is AMAP. You can find this village as \"Beijing Water Town,\" and public transport directions work perfectly there. <\/em><\/p>

Alternatively, you\u2019ll find taxi drivers offering a pool taxi for 80 CNY<\/em>, which will probably be a faster journey.<\/p>

Where to sleep?<\/h4>

If you only want to visit Gubei village and the Wall at night (or just one of them), it\u2019s not necessary to stay overnight in Gubei. There were several travelers booking a taxi to return to Beijing at night for around 25 EUR. <\/p>

However, if you want to take advantage of the proximity to other sections of the Wall\u2026 staying overnight would be the fastest and most recommended option (especially since the place is beautiful). <\/p>

In China, the go-to booking site is Trip.com<\/a>, and here is no exception. I chose 37 Degree Water Town Holiday Villa<\/a><\/em> for around 15 EUR per night. It was a bit tricky to find, but it covered all needs and had direct views of the Wall.<\/p>

\u26a0\ufe0f El pueblito en el agua es cerrado y cobran entrada POR D\u00cdA, es decir, que si te quedas dentro de las murallas, tenes que pagar 2 entradas pero es tan tan bonito que quiz\u00e1 vale la pena, este<\/a> es un ejemplo de esos. <\/p>

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Entrance to Gubei + Simatai<\/h4>

There are plenty of options available, with combinations that also depend heavily on the schedule. I paid around 36 EUR (quite a lot for China) for the combination of the Wall at night, the round-trip cable car, and entry to the water village. <\/p>

My experience seeing the Great Wall of China at night<\/h4>

I went to the Water Town by bus. It\u2019s the last stop of the route, and the journey takes about 2 and a half hours. After checking in at the hotel, I bought the combined ticket (paid via WeChat, but in person) and entered the village around 4:30 pm.<\/p>

I traveled at the end of November, off-peak season, and there were very few people. Even so, it\u2019s clear that the place is prepared to accommodate large numbers of visitors.<\/p>

Gubei has plenty to do: restaurants, caf\u00e9s, temples, art workshops, and an observation tower. There are maps all over the village. At 6:30 pm, I had to get to the Simatai entrance.
<\/p>

The entrance includes shuttles that connect the village with the Wall, both ways, although I didn\u2019t use them. Once past security, you access the cable car, which can be used individually or in a group. In about 8 minutes, you reach the mountain.<\/p>

From there, there are two different access points to the Wall: one starts with stairs to the right, and the other continues straight ahead with a slight descent. I chose the latter.<\/p>


During the night visit, you can only explore four towers. Following the straight path, you'll come across a section of the Wall that is off-limits, perfect for photos. From there, you'll start ascending some dizzying stretches, which, in my opinion, are better to climb up than to go down.
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Conclusion and Recommendations for Simatai<\/h4>

In my opinion, it\u2019s very unique and special to see the Wall and the village illuminated at night, especially at the beginning, when the horizon is still reddish and the stars start to appear.<\/p>

Even so, if I could choose, I would go around 5 PM, when it\u2019s open, to watch the sunset and then see night fall. Combined with another section of the Wall during the day, the experience seems spectacular to me, and I would definitely choose it again.<\/p>

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Jinshanling + Hike on the Great Wall of China<\/h3>

Jinshanling is one of the most complete sections to visit the Great Wall. It combines restored stretches\u2014those iconic ones you've probably seen in photos\u2014with original areas where you can truly appreciate the ancient construction. Additionally, due to its length and location, it's one of the best spots for long hikes along the Wall.<\/p>

The hike goes from Jinshanling to Gubeikou, covering about 12 km and combining stretches along the Wall with sections at its base. It's not very well signposted, but below I\u2019ll explain the route in full detail.<\/p>

How to get there? <\/h4>

The only way to reach Jinshanling is by taxi; but wait, I\u2019ll tell you where to start from. <\/p>