Where is the Great Wall of China?
As the largest man-made project in the world, the Great Wall of China is always considered as a recognizable symbol of China. As we all know, this mammoth construction feat was not completed at one time, it had been built and renovated from West Zhou to Qing Dynasties in the period of more than 2000 years. Therefore, the Great Wall can be found extensively in North China.
Currently the Great Wall is mainly distributed in 15 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities including Hebei, Beijing, Tianjin, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Gansu, Inner Mongolia, Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, Shandong, Henan, Qinghai, Ningxia and Xinjiang. Among them, the length of the walls in Hebei Province is more than 2,000 kilometers, and that of Shaanxi Province is 1,838 kilometers.
According to the national survey results of the Great Wall resources, which was conducted jointly by the Cultural Relics Divisions and Survey & Mapping Divisions, the total length of the Ming Wall was 8,851.8 kilometers, and the Qin, Han and early Great Walls exceeded 10,000 kilometers. The total length of the construction project extends more than 21,000 kilometers. Existing cultural relics of the Great Wall include the walls, trenches, passes, beacon towers, and other related facilities, etc., with a total of more than 43,000 pieces.
Where is the Great Wall of China Located in Beijing
The main sections of the Great Wall are located in Beijing, making visiting the Great Wall one of the top things to see when touring Beijing. Here we compile the most popular Great Wall sections for your reference:
1. Mutianyu Great Wall
Built in the Ming Dynasty, the Mutianyu Great Wall is a fully renovated Great Wall section. Located in Miyun District of Beijing and 80km from city downtown, it is a very popular section among the international travelers with stunning views and less crowds than the Badaling Great Wall.
Recommended Mutianyu Great Wall Tours:
★ 4-day Beijing Highlights with Mutianyu Great Wall Tour
★ 1-day Private Mutianyu Great Wall Tour
2. Badaling Great Wall
Built in the Ming Dynasty, the Badaling Great Wall is also a fully renovated section of the Great Wall. Located in Yanqing District of Beijing and 75 km from Beijing city downtown, it is the most popular Great Wall section to visit among Chinese tourists.
Recommended Badaling Great Wall Tour:
★ Beijing Great Wall Helicopter Tour
3. Simatai Great Wall
Built in the Ming Dynasty, the Simatai Great Wall is a partly renovated wild Great Wall. Located in Minyun District of Beijing and140km from city downtown, it is good for hiking, and available to stay over there to see the night view of the Great Wall.
Recommended Simatai Great Wall Tour:
★ 3-day Classic Beijing and Simatai Great Wall Night Tour
4. Jinshanling Great Wall
Built in the Ming Dynasty, the Jinshanling Great Wall is another partly renovated Great Wall. Located in Luanping County of Hebei Province and 145km from Beijing city downtown, it is a perfect place for hiking and photography.
Recommended Jinshanling Great Wall Tours:
★ 5-day Beijing Great Wall of China Hiking Tour
★ 3-day Great Wall Trekking with Camping Tour
5. Huanghuacheng Great Wall
Built in the Ming Dynasty, the Huanghuacheng Great Wall is also a partly renovated Great Wall. Located in Huairou District of Beijing and 75km from city downtown, it’s the only watery Great Wall in Beijing connected with a lake.
6. Gubeikou Great Wall
Firstly built in the Northern Qi Dynasty and enhanced in the Ming Dynasty, the Gubeikou Great Wall is an unrestored and wild Great Wall section. Located in Minyun District of Beijing and146km from Beijing downtown, it generally retained its original appearance.
Recommended Gubeikou Great Wall Tour:
★ 5-day Beijing Great Wall of China Hiking Tour
7. Juyongguuan Great Wall
Built in the Ming Dynasty, the Juyongguuan Great Wall is a fully renovated Great Wall section. Located in Changping District of Beijing and only about 60km from central Beijing, it’s not only a significant pass in the Ming Great Wall system, but also a wheelchair friendly section of the Great Wall.
Where is the Great Wall of China outside of Beijing
1. Huangyaguan Great Wall
Located in Jixian County of Tianjin, the Huangyaguan Great Wall is actually closer to Beijing by car. Before the pandemic, there was an annual Great Wall Marathon held here. It is also a popular shore excursion site for the international cruise passengers, who stop at Tianjin International Cruise Home Port.
Recommended Huangyaguan Great Wall Tour:
★ 7-day China Wild Great Wall Hiking Tour (Huangyaguan to Mutianyu)
2. Jiayuguan Fort
Built in Ming Dynasty, Jiayuguan Fort is the best-preserved pass at the western end of the Ming Great Wall and a major point of the ancient Silk Road. Located in Jiayuguan City of Gansu Province, Jiayuguan fortress of the Great Wall is fully renovated, and worth visiting for its dessert landscape and historical value of the Silk Road.
3. Shanhaiguan Pass
Located in Qinghuangdao City of Hebei Province, Shanhaiguan Pass or Shanhai Pass is a fully renovated pass and the most important pass of the Ming Dynasty Great Wall. It was once regarded as the eastern end of the Ming Great Wall before 1990. Later, experts found the Ming Wall actually extended further to Hushan of Liaoning Province.
4. Datong Great Wall
Located in Datong of Shanxi Province, Datong Great Wall is less known to international travelers. However, Datong has a collections of the Great Wall built in 8 different dynasties (Warring States Period, Qin, Han, Northern Wei, Jin, Ming and Qing). The ancient forts built in Ming Dynasty are really worth a visit. It is a rather special experience to take a hiking trip around Deshengbao Fort.
Tour Great Wall of China with Us
Undoubtedly, the Great Wall of China is one thing you should not miss on your China trip. Hikers, family with kids, solo, senior, or disabled traveler, there are some Great Wall sections suits you. If the suggested Great Wall tour itineraries don’t meet your requirements, feel free to contact us and create a Great Wall tour based on your preferences.