My Random Day Trip to Beijing: A Great Wall Adventure Full of Surprises

Sometimes, the best stories come from the most random decisions.

I was in China for work — first Shanghai, then Hangzhou — attending an event hosted by Huawei & Alibaba. The schedule was busy but not completely packed. And somewhere between coffee breaks and late-night planning for the next day’s session, I thought to myself:

"Why not visit the Great Wall?"

Just the idea of being so close to one of the Seven Wonders of the World and not seeing it felt wrong. But here’s the twist: I didn’t plan it weeks ahead, I didn’t hire a guide, and I didn’t have a travel group. I simply opened my Trip.com app and booked a flight to Beijing.

And that, my friends, is how one of the most chaotic, exhausting, yet unforgettable travel days of my life began.

Booking the Flight — Chaos at the Start

Trip.com has always been my go-to for traveling in China. If you’ve been there, you know the country runs on apps. Trip.com is one of the easiest to use for foreigners — you can book trains, domestic flights, attraction tickets, all in English, and even use foreign credit cards.

I booked my round-trip flight from Hangzhou to Beijing literally one day before the trip. Naturally, last-minute flights were pricey — between IDR 5–6 million (USD 300–400). But then I spotted a cheaper option: just IDR 3.2 million (USD 200) round trip. Without thinking twice, I clicked “Book.”

And here’s where the first facepalm moment happened.

Because I was in a rush, I didn’t notice that the return date was two days later, not the same day. This was supposed to be a one-day back-and-forth trip — I had my hotel booked in Hangzhou, and I had to be back the next morning for an event.

I only realized this after I landed in Beijing and tried to check in online for my return flight. The system kept saying “Not available.” That’s when it hit me: I wasn’t supposed to fly back until two days later.

Cue the mini panic.

Luckily, Trip.com came to the rescue again. I quickly booked a bullet train ticket from Beijing to Hangzhou. Yes, it was expensive — about IDR 1.5 million (USD 95) — but much cheaper than a last-minute one-way flight, which could go as high as IDR 5 million (USD 300).

And to my relief, Trip.com processed my flight refund request with no drama. I got back around 70% of my ticket price — about IDR 900k (USD 55). Not bad for a mistake that could have been much more expensive.

The Journey to Mutianyu — Traffic, Didi, and Lots of Waiting

Once I landed at Beijing Capital International Airport, I ordered a Didi (China’s Uber/Grab) to take me to Mutianyu — one of the most popular and well-preserved sections of the Great Wall.

Here’s what I didn’t know: Beijing traffic can be brutal. The ride took nearly three hours instead of the expected 90 minutes. Sitting in the car that long gave me plenty of time to think about whether this was a good idea.

When I finally arrived, I arranged with my driver to wait two hours for me and then drive me to Beijingnan Station, where I’d catch my bullet train back to Hangzhou. Pro tip: if you don’t do this, you might struggle to find another ride later — especially in the evening — and prices can skyrocket.

Another mistake I made: I initially set the wrong destination in the Didi app. I didn’t choose “Mutianyu Great Wall Tourist Center”, which is the correct drop-off point. Because of this, I ended up paying almost triple — 370 yuan instead of 150 yuan.

Lesson learned: always double-check the destination pin on Didi before confirming the ride.

Tickets, Shuttle Buses, and Cable Cars

To get to the actual wall, there are a few steps:

1. Buy your entrance ticket.
2. Take a shuttle bus from the parking lot to the drop-off point.
3. Take either a cable car or a slideway up to the wall.

I booked my entrance + shuttle + cable car ticket package through Trip.com for 200 yuan, which saved me from queuing on-site.

One important tip: you might meet people outside the entrance who offer to sell you “fast access” tickets for 100 yuan more, claiming you can skip the line. Don’t do it. The shuttle buses are frequent, and the wait is rarely more than a few minutes — especially when it’s crowded.

The Climb — and My Fear of Heights

After the shuttle bus dropped me off, I started the uphill walk to the cable car station. It’s steep — not impossible, but enough to make you sweat.

Then came the cable car ride. It takes about 5–8 minutes to get to the top, and for someone like me who’s afraid of heights, it was a mix of awe and terror.

If you’re going solo, I recommend riding with someone else — chatting helps distract from the fear.

At the top, you still need to climb a set of stairs before stepping onto the wall. This part is easier but will still leave you a bit breathless.

And then… there it was.

The Great Wall stretched out endlessly, winding over the mountains like a dragon’s back. The view was surreal. I just stood there for a few minutes, taking it all in. It felt like a scene out of a history book suddenly brought to life.

Exploring the Wall — How Far Should You Go?

You can spend hours walking along the wall, exploring watchtower after watchtower. But since I was on a tight schedule, I stayed close to the section near the cable car station.

If you do have time, I recommend pacing yourself. Remember, the further you go, the further you have to walk back. And the steps can be very steep in some sections — almost like climbing a ladder.

The Forbidden City — The Plan That Failed

After my two hours at Mutianyu, I met up with my Didi driver, who was still waiting (thankfully!). I asked her to take me to Tiananmen Square so I could see the Forbidden City.

But here’s something I wish I’d known earlier:

You cannot just walk into the Forbidden City. The area is heavily guarded by police, and you must show your passport and a valid ticket — which must be booked in advance.

Tickets can’t be bought on the spot. On Trip.com, you need to book at least 7 days in advance, while police officers told me WeChat bookings open 3 days in advance.

So, I had to skip it. Another item for my “next time” list.

Back to Hangzhou — Bullet Train Experience

After my failed Forbidden City attempt, I headed to Beijingnan Station for my evening bullet train back to Hangzhou. Chinese high-speed trains are incredibly efficient, and the ride itself was smooth and comfortable — a great way to end a long day.

Reflections — Why This Trip Was Worth It

Looking back, this was one of the most memorable days of my time in China. Sure, it was chaotic. Sure, I made mistakes. But that’s what made it special.

Here’s what I’d do differently next time:

• Double-check flight dates when booking round trips.
• Leave earlier to allow time for traffic delays.
• Book Forbidden City tickets at least 3–7 days ahead.
• Spend more time exploring the wall without rushing back.

But even with all the drama, I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything. The Great Wall is one of those places that truly lives up to the hype — and seeing it with my own eyes was worth every bit of effort.