Travel Tips

The Great Wall is a tourist must when visiting China. It is an amazing experience to stand on it. Take as much time as you can to explore it- it is very expansive, and you may well just be better off visiting only a few sections.

The Great Wall is not VERY strenuous, but as you walk along the top there are very steep sections, so be careful. Some people fall over! Lol. So, keep good balance!

We were very lucky to get to the Great Wall on a very uncrowded time. Sometimes the Great Wall is so packed you are neck to neck with fellow travelers. Ideal time I'd say is in the spring, which is when we went. Most people go to China in the summer.

The great wall is divided into sections every so distance. These little buildings at each section are fun to look around in and offer great views.

When you arrive at the Great Wall, you walk through a market to get to the stairs (or the cable car). These markets have very aggresive sellers- And you should not buy ANYTHING here- the prices are outragous, its not worth it to even bargain. I bought a pepsi, and thats it.

Keep your eyes down! Do not look over the vendors or they will even go so far as to block your path, lol. Just say, "Bu Yao (don't want)" and keep walking. Be firm, not timid if you do not want to get swarmed. The markets are a scary but very fun experience.

If you are like me and get winded from just walking through the marketplace, lol, then you may want to invest in a cable car ticket. They are not outragous- the equivelant of 14 American Dollars I'd say. You can buy a one way ticket or even take the cars back down. I'd say climb it, but not everyone can.