A bucket‑list walk on the Great Wall at Mutianyu, a rickshaw ride through Beijing’s Hutongs, a surprise meeting with a fellow Gooner, and an evening hunt for cheap beer back at the hotel.
Today was the day I’d been waiting for, the reason I came to China. I wanted to walk on the Great Wall and finally cross it off my bucket list.
At 08:00, we boarded the coach, with our first stop being the Great Wall at Mutianyu, followed later by a rickshaw tour of old Beijing.
The drive took about an hour and a half. Once we arrived, we walked a short but very steep path through market stalls to reach the chairlift. The chairlift carried us up quickly and smoothly, and suddenly we stood atop the Great Wall of China. The view was incredible.
Walking the Wall at Mutianyu.
We split into small groups and set off. Some people powered ahead as if they were training for the Olympics, determined to reach the furthest point in the short time we had.
After reaching the first tower, I realised just how steep the steps were. I ended up descending the first set on my bum to avoid missing a step and breaking my neck. After that, the steps became much more manageable, and with Tracy and Mel by my side, I made it to the third tower, stopping for photos along the way.
As we came back down from the third tower, we bumped into Michael, who had climbed up for the view. We all walked back together, passing through the second tower and buying a couple of beers from a seller perched right on top of the Wall. After a few photos, we returned to our starting point and took the cable car back down.
The whole group regrouped at a Subway, grabbed a sandwich, and then climbed back onto the coach for the return to Beijing.
About the Mutianyu Section.
Mutianyu lies in the Huairou District, about 70 km northeast of central Beijing. It connects with Jiankou in the west and Lianhuachi in the east. It’s one of the best‑preserved sections of the Wall and historically served as a northern defence line protecting the capital and the Imperial tombs.
Rickshaw Tour of the Beijing Hutongs.
Back in Beijing, most of us continued to the Hutongs, the older, traditional part of the city, for a rickshaw tour. We stopped at a family home, where the residents showed us around. It was basic but very tidy, with each room belonging to a different family member or shared between them. They even rented out a room to tourists.
We then took a short walk through the neighbourhood before meeting our rickshaw drivers for the return trip. As I turned a corner, I suddenly came face-to-face with a fellow Gooner. This Chinese Arsenal fan didn’t speak a word of English, but he was delighted to pose for a photo with me, both of us proudly wearing our Arsenal shirts.
After the photo, we continued to the meeting point. Trouble was brewing, though: while everyone else’s rickshaw drivers turned up, ours had vanished. He eventually appeared, but with a full load, and disappeared again just as quickly. After a few phone calls from the tour organiser, a replacement rickshaw arrived, and we set off at speed, weaving through the alleys and nearly collecting a few pedestrians on the way. We eventually caught up with the rest of the group and made it back to the coach.
About Hutongs.
Hutongs are narrow streets or alleys commonly found in northern Chinese cities, especially Beijing. They’re formed by lines of Siheyuan, traditional courtyard homes, joined together. Entire neighbourhoods grew this way, one courtyard linking to the next, and then one alley connecting to another.
About Siheyuan.
A Siheyuan is a traditional Chinese residence, most famously seen in Beijing and rural Shanxi. Throughout history, this layout was used for everything from family homes to palaces, temples, monasteries, and government buildings. Wealthy families often occupied large, spacious Siheyuans. Today, many surviving ones are still used as housing, though often subdivided and lacking modern amenities.
Back at the Traders Hotel.
Dinner was in the hotel restaurant, served on a Lazy Susan. We all grabbed whatever dishes took our fancy. It quickly became clear that the hotel bar was charging a small fortune for drinks, so Judith led an expedition in search of cheaper supplies. She returned triumphantly with bargain‑priced beer and a detailed report on where to find affordable alcohol.
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