The great wall is actually not that high but high in the mountains and impressively long.
Of course one of the things that you can’t miss out while being in Beijing is a trip to the Great Wall. We decided to go for the easy way going to one of the popular spots and hike until we meet the unrestored part.
According to loneyplant it should be straight forward to go to Mutianyu. From the central bus station bus number 867 should make a detour to the wall at 7 and 8:30 am. So we set the alarm to 5:45 am. Unfortunately we first got up 6:15, stuffed some good in our bags and rushed to the bus station. 6:50 we found ourselves lost between numerous busses, but non had the number 867, when a Chinese woman approached us „are you going to the Great Wall? Bus 867? This bus stopped. I am a bus conductor. You have to take bus 980 and get of at the fifth stop.“ Handed us a note which stated all this in Chinese and stuffed us into Bus 980 and we headed out of the city. At least the bus seemed to go in the right direction. After a while and no signs of a next station we started showing the note to the other people in the bus. They just laughed and nodded and indicated us to get if the bus after about an hour drive. We got of the bus and a Chinese man approached us „need taxi?“ He showed us where we were (far off) but wanted 300RMB bit to much went down to 200 which was still to much and our mood wasn’t to got either with an empty stomach. So we left him there and headed for the next supermarket to buy some food. Tom asked the lady at counter whether she knew how to get to the wall and she handed us a note with the English description???? Where did that came from. We walked 1km to the next bus station got into the right bus and ended up in the city that was mentioned in the lonelyplanet. Got into another bus, without an idea where to get off. Do we just went out with the crowd. Another guy offering us a ride to the wall for 80RMB. But now I was so pissed that I did not mind and we just went for the offer and finally arrived.
The wall itself is quit impressive, and very exhausting to hike especially the unrestored part. But unfortunately we had to learn the the smog grating out all view does not stop at city walls, so we barely couldn’t see more than a few hundred meters.
The great wall hiding itself under a layer of smog.
Tommy and Steffi needing a little break from climbing stairs.
The unrestored part of the wall is slowly taking over by nature again.
One hour way back we again tried to catch bus 867, but one of this minivan drivers did wanted to let us go. So we agreed on taking his service now for 30RMB, if the bus shouldn’t show up until 4:10 pm. The bus did not came ;), but therefore we made it back to Beijing buy 6pm to get us a well earned opulent dinner.
We never actually found out, whether bus 867 still exists.