Great Wall of China Site Features

Badaling

The most visited and heavily restored section, and the first opened to the public in 1957 -- close to Beijing, well-maintained, and consequently the most crowded stretch of wall by a wide margin.

Mutianyu

A quieter, greener alternative to Badaling, also restored and cable-car accessible, running through forested hills with noticeably fewer crowds even at similar distances from Beijing.

Jinshanling and Simatai

Further from Beijing and popular with hikers specifically because they're less developed -- a mix of restored and semi-restored sections offering a rougher, more dramatic version of the wall's mountain terrain.

Jiayuguan

The wall's traditional western terminus, in Gansu province -- a large fortified pass rather than a wall section, marking where the Ming-era wall's defensive line ended at the edge of the Gobi Desert.