Have you ever been to the Great Wall of China?
Let me give you the rundown.
We arrived at Mutianyu on a Sunday morning. This is one of the most popular and best-preserved sections of the Wall, situated about 90 minutes from Beijing. I knew there would be a lot of climbing (there was) and a lot of people (there were), but beyond that, I didn’t really know what to expect.
We picked up our tickets, took a shuttle bus to the base, and began our climb up a narrow trail of stairs. Approximately 4,000 steps worth, to be specific.
What Makes Mutianyu Special
Mutianyu was originally built during the Northern Qi dynasty (550–577 CE) and later rebuilt by the Ming dynasty in the 1400s. It’s one of the few sections where you can see the inner and outer walls running parallel. This was used as a double defense system, making it one of the most strategic military points of the Ming frontier.
Much time has passed since the 1400s, calling for restoration where necessary. The bricks under your feet are hundreds of years old, but the towers and stairs have been reinforced just enough to make it safe for climbing.
How It Was Built — Here, Specifically
At Mutianyu, the builders worked mostly with local granite, hauled from nearby quarries. It was laid over a stone foundation, then topped with fired bricks, creating a durable wall strong enough to withstand centuries of rain and wind. Inside the wall, you’ll find rubble and tamped earth, bound by mortar. Some sections famously used sticky rice!
The entire stretch of Mutianyu spans about 2.5 kilometers (1.5 miles) and connects 23 watchtowers across steep ridgelines. The precision and endurance it took to build something so monumental, by hand, and in such rugged terrain, is almost impossible to imagine.
The Slide Down (Thanks, Janine)
After nearly two hours on the wall, we felt we deserved a treat for the way down. Enter: the toboggan slide!
Yes, you can actually slide down from the Great Wall.
It’s a long, winding metal track that curves through the forest at the base of the mountain. You sit on a small sled and hope you don’t catch up to the person in front of you (which we did).
It was part thrill ride, part descent from history, and completely ridiculous in the best possible way.
