Climbing The Great Wall with a toddler

After a previous attempt last Spring that did not go well, we were finally able to see the Great Wall. We thought it would be nice to go back in March where the weather was nice and cool--how wrong were we?! The forecast said ZERO chance of rain, but when we arrived it was pouring and foggy and we couldn't see a thing. Alas, we HAD to take another trip. So here we are, on a hot summer day, with a baby, climbing some crazy stairs up and down a mountain.

How to get there

You can get to The Great Wall via the public bus, or a private car. We hired a minivan for the day trip, and the journey was about an hour and a half to two hours from the Beijing CBD. The driver didn't speak English, and our Mandarin isn't very good, so we communicated through WeChat. He charged us RMB 800 for the whole trip. It wasn't a new van, and it didn't have seatbelts. He didn't seem to be bothered by speed bumps, but we're alive, aren't we? ?Seriously though, if you head to Beijing and want to see the Great Wall, arrange a car through your hotel. Our March 2017 trip was around RMB 1200, but it was a first-class van that accommodated six passengers plus the driver.Our driver drove past the visitor's center and dropped us off a little ways by the entrance. We say a little ways because it was UPHILL, and only certain vehicles were allowed past the gate. Said vehicles were mostly shuttle buses from the visitor's center, but that costs extra and there's a long queue to get on it. We had to walk from the parking lot to the entrance. I had my hands free because the baby was in my trusty Ergobaby carrier.You know you're at the entrance when you've walked past a Subway, a Baskin Robbins, and this this UNESCO sign.

How much is it

Entrance is charged RMB 45, and if you're taking the shuttle bus that's another RMB 15. The cable car is RMB 120 per person for a return ticket. If you're planning to take a cable car up and then come down via the chair lift or toboggan just get the one way ticket. This is important: they don't take credit cards or WeChat pay, so make sure you have enough cash on you.We got the return ticket for the cable car. We would've wanted to slide down the toboggan but as it happens, we went on an EXTREMELY HOT DAY. Nevermind, I'll just sit in a tiny car suspended in the air by a metal cable and clench my claustrophobic and acrophobic butt.

What to bring to The Great Wall

I've said this before but it's important to stress: WATER. BRING WATER. The queues are crazy. School was out and there were loads of people at Mutianyu! (Did I mention I am also agoraphobic?) It's my rule to always have two or three snacks for the baby as she gets bored and hungry. Today though we also had to bring snacks for ourselves.We let Allegra walk most of the way since she loves stairs, but when it got too overwhelming for her I just popped her into our carrier. I use the Ergobaby Performance, it's a lot thinner than our 360 Ergobaby Carrier, which was really helpful during the winter when she was tiny. But these days she loves exploring, and in this weather, it's better to have this mesh carrier around in case she gets tired.

What to wear

No matter the season, there's going to be a lot of walking here, so wear the most comfortable pair of shoes you have. Sneakers with a lot of traction is okay, maybe soft loafers too. Melania Trump wore ballet flats when she visited The Great Wall. I wouldn't recommend it unless like her, you were also choppered in. The walking is BRUTAL.The steps vary, some are abrupt and steep, some are easier and gradual. So wear pants that are loose and comfortable or exercise gear that cling to you and whisk moisture away from your skin so you don't feel sticky.We left the Beijing CBD at 10:00 AM, and arrived at Mutianyu at around noon. IT WAS HOT! We wore hats and sunglasses, and put on sunscreen before we left the house. It had properly melted down our necks by the time this photo was taken.I'm not sure what the appropriate gear would be during the winter. I don't think it's a good idea to visit during the winter. If you know me, I don't think doing anything during winter is a good idea. I hate winter, you guys.

Tips

I heard a joke about the Great Wall just being "okay", like it should be called "The Okay Wall." ?  Ha!But seriously, it's an impressive structure. We spent about two hours taking photos and climbing up and down it. Even Allegra enjoyed the steps, we were so proud of her! How many babies do you know have climbed the Great Wall?Tip #1: Slow down. There are a lot of things to see at the Wall, like these small peep holes for ancient archers. If you're overwhelmed by the crowd, just stop for a minute and rest. They'll move on to another part and you can take your photos! Believe me, I took them while carrying Allegra.Tip #2: Don't be afraid to ask other strangers to take your photo. We made the long journey over here so we should all have memorable photos. We understand. I take your photo, you take ours! Thank you very much!Tip #3: Don't bring a lot of things with you. If you must, put them all in one bag. We saw this one family have their things in five plastic bags and it's just hard to try not to fall AND hold on to your possessions at the same time. Goodness.Tip #4: Hold hands. Some parts of the wall are pretty steep, and you'll need to keep your balance. Or you know, you can just hang out at the watchtower.Tip #5: Don't eat at Subway. It'll be tempting, but we suggest walking a few steps to the Chinese stall in the middle of Subway and Baskin Robbins instead. Order the sweet and sour pork, NOT the Yangzhou fried rice (that was a let down!).That was our crazy trip to one of the Wonders of the World! I'm just happy Allegra had fun, and she was so tired she actually ate well.Are you planning a visit with your kids to The Great Wall? I'd love to hear about it in the comments below!