See all Posts in the Wanderlust – A Travel Blog Series

An enduring myth about the Great Wall of China is that it is the only man-made object visible from outer space with the naked eye.

While the structure is massive, it is (relatively) thin and it blends in with the surrounding terrain, making it difficult for astronauts to spot, even with advanced optical equipment.

Don’t let that stop you from going to see it, however. The Great Wall is enormous when you stand right next to it, and breathtakingly beautiful. It truly lives up to its name.

The Great Wall was built over two millennia as a defensive barrier to protect against the Mongol Hordes and other invaders. While many people think of it as a 5,500-mile-long contiguous stone wall, it is actually a series of walls and other fortifications, often running parallel with each other and taking advantage of existing terrain, such as rivers and mountain cliffs. In some areas, the wall is well-maintained, while in others it has deteriorated into little more than rubble.

Fortunately, the best-preserved section of the Great Wall (called the Badaling Great Wall) is just over 70 miles from downtown Beijing, making it a readily accessible day trip for visitors.

Traveling to China in today’s political and economic environment can be challenging, however. The U.S. State Department currently lists China as a Level 2 travel advisory (Exercise Increased Caution) due to arbitrary enforcement of local laws.

China’s visa requirements are also very strict, so you will need to allow plenty of time to complete the process. After completing the online application form, you must submit your passport and supporting travel documentation to the Chinese Embassy for processing. Several third-party service providers are available to assist you through this process for a fee. Fortunately, you can apply for a 10-year, multiple-entry tourist visa, which is helpful for subsequent trips.

If you fly directly to Beijing, please note that the time zone is 13 hours ahead of Minnesota time. Allow a couple of days for your body to adjust to the time difference. You will also want to make time for the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, the Terracotta Warriors in nearby Xian, and the many other attractions China has to offer. Factory tours where they make Cloisonné vases, linens, jade carvings and other treasures can be enriching.

One of the most striking characteristics of Beijing is the perpetual traffic gridlock. The government uses a license plate lottery to throttle the number of cars eligible to drive in the city, and the last digit on the plate indicates which days you are allowed to drive in the city. Swarms of bicycles add to the gridlock.

Most hotels and heavily touristed areas will have English language translations or English-speaking guides. If you venture off the beaten path, however, you may need to utilize the translation apps on your phone.

The food in Beijing is generally healthy and delicious, but it is best to avoid local food stalls to forestall a case of Emperor’s revenge. Additionally, note that most social media platforms (including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, X, Snapchat, YouTube, and Reddit) are banned in China.

Reaching the Great Wall from Beijing is relatively easy. You can get there using public transportation, but most people arrive as part of a tour package.

The Badaling section of the Great Wall is nestled in the Jundu Mountains, so as you can imagine, there are some significant elevation changes to navigate. Fortunately, the Badaling Great Wall Funicular will take you high enough on the wall for a spectacular view of the wall hugging the mountainside, extending off into the northern and southern horizons.

Many visitors feel compelled to hike the wall, at least a little bit. The highest point of the Badaling Great Wall is known as the Hero Slope, characterized by a 60-degree incline at its steepest section. Conquering this part of the wall requires dangerous (but exhilarating) hand-over-foot climbing on irregularly spaced stone surfaces.

You don’t have to hike the wall to appreciate the beauty and majesty of this enormous structure. It is easy to imagine how intimidating this must have looked to an invading army. It seems that there would be no possible way for an attacker to breach this imposing edifice.

Most of us will never have the opportunity to gaze out the window of the International Space Station, searching for the Great Wall. That is OK. It is enough for me to see this incredible place standing on top of it.