Badaling is the most crowded site on the Great Wall, primarily because it's the easiest to access. Dozens of buses, both tour and public, drop off passengers by the hundreds every day. Visitors who go in the afternoon should find conditions less crowded. Badaling has handicapped access to the Wall, and numerous restaurants and souvenir stands. It is home to the Great Wall Museum which details the history of the wall in displays and a theater presentation; the museum is closed on Mondays.
Badaling Great Wall
Badaling Special Zone, Yanqing County
Beijing, China
8610-69121890
badalinggreatwall.com
Shanhaiguan is the eastern terminus of the Great Wall. The final tower in the Wall juts out into the Bohai Sea. Because it's a seaside town, this section of the Great Wall is very crowded in the summer, but winter visitors may find themselves alone on the Wall. Shanhaiguan, known as "Laolongtou" or "old dragon head," has a smaller Great Wall Museum. The town is about a five-hour train ride north of Beijing, and makes a nice overnight tour for those who want to escape the hustle and bustle of the Chinese capital for a few hours.
Shanhaiguan
Laolongtou
Shanhaiguan, Hebei Province
China
travelchinaguide.com/china_great_wall/scene/hebei/shanhaiguan/museum.htm
Simatai is a couple of hours' drive north of Beijing. It is the most rugged of the sites in the Beijing area, with the Wall snaking over the mountain peaks, up and down, up and down, in an awesome fashion. It is the least crowded of the Great Wall sites near Beijing; visitors should bring a lunch to eat on the Wall as restaurant facilities are limited. Many tourists like to walk the Great Wall between Simatai and Jinshanling, a hike that takes four to five hours.
Simatai
Simatai, Miyun County
Beijing, China
kinabaloo.com/simatai_great_wall.html
