China Travel Forum

[Jean]

Hi,

I am travelling to Beijing with my mum who is a fit and reasonably agile 79. We want to see the Great Wall, but without the Badaling experience. I have done the Jinshanling - Simatai leg and this is too much for her. Would Mutianyu be okay? Or can someone recommend a better place to walk on the Great Wall without too much trouble.

Thanks for your help.

[Mark]

Mutianyu is THE place for elderly people or young children.
There are two different cable cars routes to the Wall, so no extra climbing up the mountain to reach te Wall.
And Mutianyu is still pretty quiet and very beautiful.

You can go up with the expensive cable cars and walk (mostly downstairs and lots of 'no stairs') towards the cheaper cable cars for about 45 minutes, or buy a return ticket with the cheaper cable cars and go up, walk a little (like 20 minutes) and go back to the parking lot by cable car.
For the young at heart, you can also take the big slide down.

[burstbubble]

I agree with what Mark said. Well. It's the truth. Mutianyu secton of Great Wall is especially suitable for those who don't want to walk too long on the wall. Take the Badaling for the example, it is physical demanding if you decide to reach the mountaintop on foot rather than cable cars or pulley.
Generally speaking, Mutianyu is uncrowded no matter peak seasons. Badaling is the first part open to the public after the ending of the disruptive cultural revolution. Like the former President of US Nixon once walked on the Badaling section of Wall in 1970s. Badaling is quite popular and it has been received 360 foreign leaders successfully.
But in my eyes, Badaling is more like a Disneyland style theme park. lots of peddlers,shops, cable cars, pulley, even there got a hotel. All in all, it depends on what your needs or what your wants. To see the real ancient wall or sightseeing.
Like Simatai, the Wall is broken, the steps is missing and trees grow on the towers.Some part is so steep and you have to go on your feet and hands. There are no banisters stopping your from falling down the cilffs. When you walk along the wall, you have to talk to yourself. It depends on you go there alone or with some friends. It's a real timeless feeling when you get there alone. enjoy the silence of the Great Wall.