Review of 1 Day Tour : Great Wall and Ming Tombs by Patricia

I like the small bus tours because I always meet people from all over the world. There were 13 people on this tour. Because of the crowded China National holiday, Our tour guide managed to talk everyone into going to Juyongguan instead of Badaling. He said that we\'d have more time and that the bus can bring you within a 3 minute walk onto the wall where at Badaling you had to take a coaster or tram to get up onto the wall. I\'ve been to Badaling before and it\'s true that you must take a coaster-type ride up to the wall and it is much more crowded with tourists, but what the guide failed to mention was that at Juyongguan, once you get onto the wall, the climb is almost straight up! There are points where the incline is 80 degrees! At Badaling and at Mutianyu, you are able to stroll along the wall contemplating the building of it and all the people who lost their lives doing so. You can look out into the mountains and enjoy the beautiful scenery. This is what I was looking for. Of course, you can also hike to many different towers spread across several mountain peaks. At Juyongguan, the climb is so strenuous, it was not enjoyable to me. If you are looking for a place to climb and you want a personal challenge, Juyongguan is the place for you. If not, I would suggest Mutianyu. It is less crowded, there is a gondola or a ski lift that can bring you to the top and back down if you prefer. The other, really fun option to get down is a self-driven toboggan.