Great Wall

The Great Wall of China is a true wonder of the world and an absolute must-see for any visitor to this wonderful country. The combined sections snake a staggering 15,000 kilometres along the whole northern frontier of the ancient Chinese kingdom, from the shores of the Bo Hai (Bo Sea) on the east to the deserts of Xinjiang.
The Great Wall, a symbol of China's ancient civilization, is one of the most famous, grand and intriguing ancient constructions in the world. Its stark beauty and spectacular scale remain staggering even in our technologically advanced modern age.
Construction of the Great Wall first began in the seventh century BC, during an era known as the Spring and Autumn Warring States Period (770-467 BC). In 221 BC, after defeating other warring kingdoms, Qin Shihuang unified China for the first time under the Qin Dynasty. As the first emperor, he began his Great Wall project by linking separate wall sections already built by different kingdoms to ward off enemies. It took ten years to connect all the different sections. When it was finished, in 206 BC, the Great Wall was more than 5,000 kilometres long. Subsequent dynasties added to and rebuilt sections to create the wall remains that we can see today. The sections to the north of Beijing were constructed, for the most part, under the relatively recent Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).
In 1987 the Great Wall was listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site and preservation work on significant portions of the wall continue through today.

Details for four key sections of the Wall near Beijing are:

Badaling Great Wall 

Yanqing County       

+86 10 6912 1737 

6 a.m.-10 p.m.      

45 yuan (April 1-October 31)

Take 919 from Deshengmen Long Distance Bus Station, 500 metres east of the Jishuitan Subway Station. Buses depart every half hour from 5:30 a.m. and return from Badaling until 6:30 p.m.

Mutianyu Great Wall

Mutianyucun, Huairou District 

+86 10 6162 6505

7:30 a.m.-6 p.m.    

35 yuan 

You* 6 and 916

Simatai Great Wall

Gubeikouzhen, Miyun County 

+86 10 6903 1051 

8 a.m.-5 p.m.     

30 yuan 

You* 12 from Dongsishitiao or Xuanwumen Church

Juyongguan Great Wall

Nankouzhen, Changping District  

+86 10 6977 1665

8 a.m.-5 p.m.            

40 yuan (April 1-October 31)

Take 345 from Deshengmen to Changping, and change to a long distance bus.