Badaling: Tours & Tickets

I was lucky to be the only person doing this tour that day - so we had a VW limo instead a van. Nevertheless, Bob, the tour guide, spent all his attention to me, explaining all details, as for group, off course mor personalized. At the Great Wall I had about 90 minutes for myself. Cable car was out of service, due to strong winds. I decided for the "left part" (more steep) and enjoyed. After Badaling we went for lunch in jade factory (actually I do not like those shopping tours, but they are part of allmost all tours). After that, we visited the chang ming tombs. On the way back we had a stop (I guess also common for all other tours) at a tea house. Because I was alone on the tour, we we a bit ahead the schedule back to hotel, which was not bad, as we saved a lot of time, beeing one person only. All in all a perfect day (considered, that I normally do not go for package tours, but had a private guide in fact).

Ridiculous prices at shopping stops...you can buy same stuff 70 % cheaper everywhere else. Jade factory was the biggest joke...they tell you about jade for 5 min and then go go quick to our giant store with joke prices and spend there 40 minutes....tea was much nicer as they at least talked a lot about tea....but prices are a joke again.

it was wonderful to see the great wall. it was a perfect day, Sunny no smog so could see for miles around and nenjoy the splendour of the wall.

Thanks Tina! Also thanks for helping me find my hotel after the Wall visit! Travis from Los Angeles, CA