Great Wall China Travel Guide

The Great Wall is perhaps China’s most famous and most mythologized site. Several sections are conveniently visited from Beijing, including at Badaling, the most popular site, about 70 km (43 mi.) northwest of Beijing and at Mutianyu, 90 km (56 mi.) northeast of Beijing. These impressive brick and earth structures date from the Ming dynasty, when the wall was fortified against Mongol forces to the north. It has been built in several stages and was at its prime time more than 8000 km long. 

The Ming sections of the wall are only a late stage in a long history, much of which has little to do with the present structures.