Autumn is here, and it's a perfect time to plan a trip. For those struggling to pick destinations, think about the Great Wall, which is a classic choice definitely worth a visit. Save this travel guide if you have made up your mind to hike there!

Huanghuacheng Lakeside Great Wall 

From September 15 to October 8, the Huanghuacheng Lakeside Great Wall Scenic Area in Huairou District will host the 13th Great Wall Chestnut Culture Festival (长城板栗文化节). You can have fun picking chestnuts for free, taste delicious sugar-fried chestnuts, and redeem a limited-edition customized ticket at the ticket office with your purchase receipt. There are also adorable chestnut-themed stamps to be collected at six themed locations in the scenic area. It’s a true paradise for chestnut lovers!

Juyongguan Great Wall

On October 5, the "Juyong Mountain Moon" (居庸山月) Mid-Autumn Festival Gala will be held at the North Gate Square of the Juyongguan Great Wall. There's nothing more romantic than enjoying a performance under the moonlight at the foot of the Great Wall!

The Juyongguan Great Wall, renowned for its breathtaking scenery, now offers enchanting night tours. As night falls, you can enjoy a series of immersive performances in spaces transformed from ancient inns, such as Jiya Hall (集雅轩), Ningchang Hall (凝昌馆), and Qingyun Pavilion (清雲阁), along with a variety of delicious foods to try.

Opening period of the night tours:

Fridays and Saturdays as well as statutory holidays from May 1 to October 7 (closed on the last day of each holiday)

Opening hours: 18:00–21:30

Time of last ticket check/entry: 21:00

Time of clearance: 21:30

Closing time: 22:00

Transportation note: No bus service is available for the night tours. Visitors arriving by car should use Parking Lot No. 2.

Mutianyu Great Wall 

rom 17:30 to 21:00 daily from September 30 to October 7, the Mutianyu Great Wall will open the area from the Watchtower No. 10 to the Watchtower No. 15 for night visits. Performances such as face-changing shows of Sichuan Opera, diabolo shows, and guzheng performances will be staged in turn, offering you a unique night experience.

In addition, from October 1 to 8, for any purchase at the scenic area's souvenir store, you will receive a complimentary National Day-themed accessory.

Opening hours of the night tours: 17:30–21:00

Time of last ticket check: 20:30

Sales time of the night tour tickets: 17:30–20:00

Starting time of lighting: 19:00 (subject to changes according to sunset time)

Times for the night performances:

Friday and Saturday: 18:00–20:00

Sunday to Thursday: 19:00–20:00

Simatai Great Wall

The Simatai Great Wall is the only section that has fully retained its original Ming-style fortification features. Its night tours are open throughout the year. There, you can immerse yourself in the "Lantern Tour of the Great Wall". In the evening, you can take a cable car to Watchtower No. 5 for spectacular views of the Great Wall.

Opening area for the night tours: Part of the section between the East Watchtower No. 5 and the East Watchtower No. 6

Ticket check time for the night tours: 18:00–21:40 from May to October (clearance at 22:40)

Badaling Great Wall

In the evening, the Badaling Great Wall welcomes a romantic moment as the sunset paints the sky in vibrant orange-red, complementing the winding silhouette of the Great Wall.

This year, its night tours have undergone a full upgrade, with new features like immersive shows for visitors hiking there, interactive role-playing, dazzling light shows, and beacon-fire-themed electronica parties, allowing you to fully understand the history of the Great Wall. In addition, the world's first Great Wall-themed full-sensory theater — "The Great Wall of China" Immersive Theater — has officially opened at the Badaling Great Wall Scenic Area. Combining XR (extended reality), AI (artificial intelligence), digital humans, a game engine and other cutting-edge technologies, the theater offers a cross-time, immersive cultural experience that is visually stunning and emotionally captivating.

Opening period of the night tours: April 30–October 7

Lighting time: 17:00–22:00

So, have you decided where you'll start your Great Wall night tour this autumn?

(Source: Official WeChat account of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism)