How Long Does It Take to Walk the Great Wall of China?
People mean two different things by this question. Some want to know how long to walk an open tourist section for an afternoon; a few want to know how long to walk the whole thing. The honest answers are a couple of hours, and a lifetime you should not attempt.
Let us take the realistic version first, walking a visitable section, and then deal with the "whole wall" fantasy, because the numbers there are genuinely interesting.
Walking an open tourist section
For a normal visit, plan on a couple of hours of actual walking, more if you want it. Here is what the popular sections involve:
| Section | Typical walking time |
|---|---|
| Mutianyu (open stretch) | ~2 hours one way at a relaxed pace; 3.5 to 4 hours for a longer out-and-back |
| Badaling | 1 to 2 hours, depending on crowds |
| Jinshanling to Simatai hike | ~10 km, 4 to 5 hours one way |
Add the cable car, photo stops and a rest, and a comfortable half-day on the wall is very achievable. Remember that the Wall constantly climbs and drops, so these times feel longer than a flat walk of the same distance.
The classic long hike: Jinshanling to Simatai
The best-known continuous walk is Jinshanling toward Simatai: roughly 10 km (6 miles) over about 4 to 5 hours, across restored and wild wall with real climbs. It is the finest Great Wall hike near Beijing and a proper hillwalk, not a stroll. This is the one to pick if "walking the Great Wall" means a genuine day out on your feet.
How long to walk the entire Great Wall?
Now the fun number. The Great Wall's total length across all dynasties is around 21,196 km, and the Ming wall alone runs roughly 8,850 km. Walking the whole thing is not a normal undertaking: much of it is ruined, vanished, remote or off-limits, crossing deserts and trackless mountains. The handful of people who have attempted end-to-end journeys along the Ming wall have spent well over a year doing it. In other words, "walking the Great Wall" as a complete traverse is an expedition measured in seasons, not a holiday.
How to plan your walk
For a visit, decide what you want first. If you want a manageable couple of hours with a cable car and a toboggan, choose Mutianyu. If you want a demanding, scenic half-day hike, choose the Jinshanling to Simatai route and go with a guide who manages the pace and the turn-around. Either way, start early, carry plenty of water, and wear proper shoes, because on the Wall the terrain, not the distance, sets the time.
