In the August cover feature of the Beijinger, we went back to the Great Wall and explored it anew: alongside, underneath and overhead. Here are some of the activities we thought you’d enjoy most:
Mutianyu Slide
Besides the usual cable cars and “I Walked the Wall” T-shirts (not the cool ones from Plastered with the woman on them), the renovated section of Mutianyu has one tourist attraction worth giving a whirl. Wheeled toboggans can be driven down a 723-meter chute that spirals down from the Wall. A nice climax to a day of sightseeing, this attraction certainly helps this section stand out from other tourist traps, when you have no choice but to play guide to visiting friends or family.
Mutinayu is a picturesque albeit touristy piece of Wall that was crucial to the defense of the city. It is 22 kilometers long with 22 watchtowers. You can take the cable car up and slide down for RMB 60, or do a return slide journey for RMB 80. A direct bus, the 867, leaves from Dongzhimen at 7am and 8am everyday and departs back to the city at 2pm and 4pm. Alternatively, you can take the 916, which leaves from Dongzhimen every 15 minutes, to Huairou and cab it to the Wall from there.
A version of this article appeared in the August 2013 edition of the Beijinger
This post first appeared on the beijinger on September 25.
Photo by Mitchell Pe Masilun
