Time to Walk the Great Wall

教育 K12
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How long does it take to walk on the Great Wall of China?

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That’s a great question, and the answer really depends on what you mean by “walk on the Great Wall of China”!

Here’s a breakdown:

  1. Walking the ENTIRE Great Wall (or what’s left of it):

    • The official length of all sections of the Great Wall ever built is around 21,196 kilometers (13,171 miles).
    • Much of this is in ruins, inaccessible, or has disappeared. The Ming Dynasty main line, which is what people often think of, is about 8,850 km (5,500 miles).
    • To walk even just the main Ming Dynasty sections would take many months, likely over a year and a half, to two years of continuous, dedicated trekking. This is an extreme endurance feat that very few people have ever attempted or completed. It involves crossing difficult terrain, remote areas, and dealing with varying weather conditions.

  2. Walking a popular tourist section (what most people do):

    • Most visitors walk a specific, restored section for a few hours.
    • Badaling or Mutianyu: These are two of the most popular and well-restored sections near Beijing. A typical visit might involve 2-4 hours of walking and exploring on the Wall itself, depending on your fitness and how much you want to see. This doesn’t include travel time to/from the Wall.
    • Jinshanling or Simatai (West): These sections offer more rugged and less crowded experiences. A hike here could take 3-5 hours or more, depending on the route you choose. Some people do longer point-to-point hikes between sections like Jinshanling to Simatai West, which can be a good half-day or full-day activity.

  3. Multi-day Treks on wilder sections:

    • Some adventurous hikers opt for multi-day treks on less restored, “wild” sections of the Wall. These can range from 2 days to a week or more, depending on the chosen route and pace. These require more planning and often a guide.

So, to give you a more specific answer, could you tell me:

  • Are you thinking of a short tourist visit?
  • Are you interested in a more challenging hike?
  • Or were you curious about the theoretical time to walk the whole thing?

For most tourists, a visit involves a few enjoyable hours walking on a beautifully restored part of this incredible structure!