The Great Wall of China

Some trips feel big.
This one felt once in a lifetime.

My dad had never been to China before.
In his words, he’s “just a simple Kiwi bloke”… not someone who ever imagined he’d stand on the Great Wall. But for his 65th birthday, that’s exactly what we did.

And here’s the truth:
Getting an older parent to the Great Wall is completely doable—if you do it the right way.

Why This Wasn’t Your Typical Great Wall of China Trip

We had three goals:

1. Get Dad to the top
2. Take a photo for proof; and to
3. Beat the crowds

Everything we planned came back to one thing:
Make it easy.

Because the Great Wall is incredible—but it’s also steep, crowded and logistically messy if you’re not prepared. My Dad’s knees are not what they used to be, so we wanted to make sure he would be ok walking the wall, while having a great time.

The Best Decision We Made: Hiring a Private Driver

If you take one thing from this post, make it this:

👉 Hire a private driver.

As someone who lives in Beijing, I have the luxury of going to the wall several times a year. I’ve done it all, the tour bus, the self-guided tour, public transport, Didi (aka China’s version of Uber) and private driver.

Let me tell you this. If the Great Wall is a one and done trip for you, then take a private driver. It completely changes the experience. If you are travelling with people at either of the age spectrum (kids or the more mature in life), then a private driver will be a game changer.

Why it’s worth it

• Early access = fewer crowds
  Tour buses start arriving around 9:30am. Before that? The wall, the ticket booths and the experience is peaceful, manageable and enjoyable. With early access (or late, if you prefer the evening) you will beat the crowds. I always aim to be at the bottom of the wall by 8-8.30am. This means our entry is easy, no line and a hassle free experience.
  
• Door-to-door convenience
  No navigating public transport, no confusion, no stress. I cannot stress to you how big Beijing is. If you are new to the city, then take the hassle out of finding your “meet-up point” by having your driver meet you. This also helps if you have a long day ahead with little ones. The convenience and ease of rolling them out of the car and straight up into the shower for bed is UNMATCHED.
  
• They can buy your tickets
  This is huge. No waiting in long lines—especially important with kids or elderly parents.
  
• Flexible pace
  You’re not rushed. You go at your speed.

💰 Cost: Around 600-1000RMB (~$150 – $250 NZD) for up to 6 people (tickets to the wall are additional)
👉 When you split that, it’s a no-brainer.

Use the same private driver we use, enquire below:

Choosing the Right Section of the Wall

We visited Mutianyu Great Wall, which is ideal if you’re traveling with family or older parents. This section is less crowded than Badaling, but also not as far as Jinshanling. While all sections offer something different and unique, I like Mutianyu the best.

Why Mutianyu works so well:

• Restored pathways (safer walking), we also saw as recently as 21 April 2026, they have started restoring parts of the wall further up from tower 15 (cable car access).
• Cable car access (critical for elderly) – there is also elevator access to the cable cars if stairs a bit of an issue. Be warned though, the Great Wall, no matter what section you visit, will require some fitness, walking and climbing stairs.
• Less chaotic than Badaling Great Wall
• Beautiful views without extreme hiking

Getting to the Top (Without Destroying Your Knees)

Let’s be honest, the Great Wall is not easy terrain. That’s why we skipped the more intense options and chose:

👉 Cable car up + cable car down

Important notes:

• There are still stairs (this isn’t completely flat)
• Some sections are steep—but manageable if you go slow
• There are places to stop and rest
• There are elevators if stairs are a challenge – BUT these are only at the bottom of the wall. On the wall, there are stairs in order to get up on to the historical parts.

🚫 Toboggan (luge) is fun—but:

• Not ideal for older travelers
• Has an age restrictions (60+)

What It’s Actually Like With an Older Parent

This is the part people don’t talk about enough. You’re not just sightseeing—you’re:

• Watching their energy levels
• Planning rest stops
• Adjusting expectations

We didn’t try to “do it all.” Last time we visited, we walked for miles. This time?

👉 We stayed near the top of the cable car
👉 Took it slow
👉 Focused on being there, not doing everything

And honestly—it was better.

The Reality of Crowds (And How to Avoid Them)

If you’ve seen photos of the Great Wall packed with people… they’re real.

By mid-morning:

• Lines for shuttle buses stretch forever
• Cable cars get backed up
• The wall gets congested

We saw it firsthand on the way down. The difference? We were already leaving.

The strategy:

• Arrive early (before 9am ideally)
• Get up on the wall first
• Leave as the crowds arrive

Simple—but makes a massive difference.

A Small Tip That Saved Us Money

At tourist spots, prices are… flexible. One vendor offered us a magnet for 180 RMB. After speaking a bit of Chinese? It dropped to 30 RMB. It’s true, learning some Mandarin will help with price negotiations. Negotiating is less common in China these days, but in tourist hot spots like the Great Wall, prepare to haggle.

What This Experience Meant (Beyond Travel)

There’s something that shifts when you travel with your parents as adults. You realise, they’re experiencing things for the first time too.

Standing on the Great Wall with my dad, watching him take it all in…
That’s something I won’t forget.

And it reinforced something I keep coming back to:

👉 Travel doesn’t have to be extreme to be meaningful.
👉 It just has to be shared.

FAQ: Visiting the Great Wall with Elderly Parents

Is the Great Wall suitable for older people?

Yes—with planning. It will require some level of physical fitness and the ability to climb and descent stairs. Stick to:

• Mutianyu section
• Cable car access
• Short walking distances

Avoid trying to cover too much ground.

Is hiring a private driver really necessary?

Not strictly—but realistically, it’s the best option. Especially if:

• You’re short on time
• You’re traveling with kids or elderly
• You want a smooth, stress-free day

With a private driver, you have the ability to beat the tour buses. Tour buses run on a strict schedule. To access the Great Wall, it is at least an hour and a half drive from the centre of Beijing. If you can leave early to get up on the wall early, you will miss most of the crowds. You also have the ability to stay as long or as little at the Wall as you would like.

On our first trip, we spent almost 3 hours walking the wall, then stopped to have lunch at the bottom. Our driver waited for us, then even took us to a great lunch spot. We offered to take him up on the wall with us (it only costs 100 RMB – or a little over $20 NZD for tickets to the wall, but he was happy to stay with the other private drivers and chat at the bottom).

I can book you the same drivers we use, send me a query here: Enquire about a Private Driver

How early should you go?

👉 Before 9:00am (earlier if possible) After 9:30am:

• Tour buses arrive
• Lines build quickly

Which section is best: Mutianyu or Badaling?

• Mutianyu → Best for families + elderly
• Badaling → More famous, but more crowded

How physically demanding is it?

Moderate. Even with the cable car:

• There are stairs
• Some steep sections

You don’t need to hike far to enjoy it, but you will NEED to climb stairs to get up on to the actual wall.

Can you do it in half a day?

Yes—and that’s actually ideal.

• Morning visit
• Back by lunch

Less fatigue, fewer crowds. Other parts of the wall like Simatai, offer night access. The Wall is purposely lit for a night walk. The private driver we use, also offers drives to the Simatai section of the Wall.

Final Thoughts

If you’re thinking about taking your parents to the Great Wall—do it. Just don’t overcomplicate it. You can also checkout my latest Youtube video right here: Kiwi living in China, This is What a Real Great Wall Experience Looks Like (Not the Tourist Trap) for a glimpse at what the trip with Dad was really like.

👉 Hire the driver – you can do it easily here: Enquire about a Private Driver
👉 Go early
👉 Keep it simple

That’s how you turn it from an exhausting day…
into one of those rare, unforgettable ones.