Actually both Mutianyu and Badaling are worth visiting. Some choose Mutianyu and others Badaling. They are two of the most visited sections of the Great Wall around Beijing. So which section you should hike largely depends on your personal taste.
Mutianyu: less crowded, greener view, easy to hike, one connected section snaking on the mountains
Badaling: more crowded, with many connected sections on the moutains. “Badaling” literally means “eight dirctions ridges”.
On February 24, 1972, former US president Richard Nixon climbed up the Badaling Great Wall. In the face of all the majesty of the Great Wall, he said “Only a great nation can build such a magnificent Great Wall.”.
April 9, 1977, former British Prime Minister, Mrs. Thatcher visited Badaling Great Wall. “We climbed right to the top,” she told the escorting Chinese high ranking official, proudly. “It was a lovely day.” To which the Chinese escort replied with a quotation from Mao: “He who fails to reach the top of the Great Wall is no true man.” Mrs Thatcher laughed and the translation was quickly changed to “no true leader.”
In 1991, former British Prime Minister John Major visited Mutianyu Great Wall.
On June 28, 1998, President Bill Clinton, together with his wife Hilary and daughter toured the Mutianyu Great Wall.
In 2002, US President George W Bush toured Badaling Great Wall after a successful state visit to China. He stood at the same spot where President Nixon visited, and prompted a witty remark “I will surpass the record of President Nixon.” Before departure, President Bush wrote down in the visitors’ book “May our people enjoy a lasting peace and good luck.”
On November 18, 2009, US President Barack Obama took a walk alone on the Badaling Great Wall. “It’s magical. It reminds you of the sweep of history,” Obama said, after breaking away from his tour guides to walk alone along the snowy parapets, hands jammed into his pockets against the cold and wind.
So what’s your choice? What will you say before the amazing Great Wall?
Tip: Hassle-free Beijing Guided Tours
If you don’t want to go the do-it-yourself route and prefer the hassle-free escorted tours, here are some options for Beijing guided tours:
