My most recent trip back to London was definitely one of the extreme budget kind. With little money due to only having been working again for about 2 months before I left, meant there wasn't many funds available for anything other than a no frills visit. Luckily, staying with someone very special to me meant I saved accommodation-wise, however, when booking the flight there I basically whacked in my dates and clicked determinedly on the lowest numbers my eyes fell upon.
What I ended up with was a flight with Air China, said country's national airline. Not really caring as long as it got me from Sydney to my destination, I grimaced at the 8 and 10 hour stopovers and pressed 'book'. Searching for a way to potentially fill the gap during my hours in Beijing, I stumbled across
Beijing Airport Transportation, a company that provides both airport transfers, as well as layover tours to some of Beijing's most famous attractions. After extensive research, I decided to book the
Mutianyu Great Wall tour. It was 1240 RMB (or about AUD$210), not a bad price. You need at least 6 hours stopover to complete the tour in time when you factor in getting through customs, and getting back on the other end in time. I was initially sceptical, worrying about perhaps missing my flight and the legitimacy of the company but I must say I was very pleasantly surprised!
My lovely and talkative guide, Aida, met me with a sign bearing my name at the arrivals gate at Beijing International Airport, and being very early in the morning, the Great Wall was not open yet so I went to freshen up. We decided to get on our way and I was led to our car with a private driver who drove us the 45 minutes/1 hour to the Mutianyu Gate of the Great Wall, one of the most popular. The drive was fascinating in itself, providing an insight into the lives of some of the outskirt-dwelling residents of Beijing, as well as some pretty landscapes.
Finally we pulled up at the Great Wall. The entrance area was just opening up and was practically empty (yay!), along with the strip of tourist markets selling various souvenirs and other wares near the ticket booths. The cost of the entrance fee is included in the tour price, but is usually 45 RMB for any travellers visiting independently. Thanks to my tight budget, I chose to hike up instead of pay the extra fee for the cable car, but I feel like this gave me a more authentic and rewarding experience anyway! Thankfully, being the early morning, it hadn't reached the hottest part of the day yet, although the humidity was intense! Definitely wear a comfortable pair of walking shoes if you plan to climb, there are plenty of stairs and it's a steep walk.
We finally reached the top of the mountain, tackling the last few stone steps on to the Wall itself. The view was breathtaking, as you can see in the below pictures. Early morning mist lingered on the mountainous landscape, creating an ethereal and mystic atmosphere, completely removed from the bustling city that was only an hour or so away.
There were plenty of excellent photo opportunities, thanks to hilly nature of the Wall, providing great views of it stretching off into the distance from a raised point. There was also a lack of other visitors on the wall which was brilliant; I would definitely recommend visiting in the early hours like I did for a better experience.
I didn't end up walking too far, being knackered from the climb up and the walk along the Wall being challenging as well. But I saw plenty and it was one of the most beautiful and humbling experiences I've had on my travels, as I imagined the thousands of workers who built the Wall with no modern technology, dragging the colossal blocks of stone up the mountain. My guide, Aida, was extremely informative and answered questions as well as spoke about historical facts and information with expertise.
After sufficiently tiring ourselves out, I decided to 'splash out' and pay the extra RMB to ride the toboggan back down the mountain! I was like a kid back in a theme park, admittedly probably going faster down the metal track than I should have...
On the drive back to the airport, Aida took me to a small factory/workshop of traditional Chinese pottery, where a guide escorts you through each room, showcasing a different step in the detailed moulding, painting and firing process of the exquisite pottery. At the end was a gift shop, where you could buy the items made on the premises. While they were beautiful, my budget did not allow for it. I'm not sure if this visit was part of the tour, however I assume not, I think they just took me there because we had some extra time.
Some last comments on Beijing airport:
- They have free wifi and you can get a login from any information desk by showing your passport. However, it's unreliable and often cuts out then doesn't let you login again. Try asking for a new login!
- If you're in the international terminal and you have some time and want to relax or perhaps sleep, look for signage to 'reclining chairs.' It's a section of reclined seating down the end of the terminal in front of huge glass windows that look out onto the happenings of the airport!
- If you want a nicer meal, eat before you go through security at one of the outlets in the main part of the airport, around the check-in desks. At the terminals, choices are limited and are mostly just souvenir shops and coffee shops.
And now, pictures!
