Travelers to China will be pleased to know that Beijing city officials have announced plans to open more sections of the Great Wall to meet the high tourist demand. Currently, the four open sections at Badaling, Juyongguan, Simatai, and Mutianyu—all close to the capital—are overcrowded on weekends and holidays. Additional access will soon be granted at Huanghuacheng (60 kilometers north of downtown Beijing) and Hefangduan (70 kilometers northeast of the city).
CNN GO also recommends avoiding the crowds at Badaling by booking a private helicopter tour with HNA Capital Helicopter. (Fifteen minute flights from RMB 1,500 per person.)
Fun fact: The Great Wall is “considerably longer than first thought,” reports the BBC News. A recent state survey found the distance to be 21,196.18 kilometers (13,170.70 miles) long, as opposed to a 2009 estimate of 8,850 kilometers. Dating from 500 BC, the Great Wall of China is the world’s largest man-made structure, and is often cited as being visible from Outer Space.
Image depicts the view from Commune by the Great Wall