32F traveling China alone for the first time and I spent days overthinking whether I should do the Great Wall by myself. All the usual spirals. Getting lost, tech not working, being alone on a mountain, you name it.
I finally did it and it ended up being one of those days that quietly changes you.
I went to Mutianyu after reading everywhere to skip Badaling if you hate crowds. Bought tickets ahead of time but honestly could’ve done it same day. Getting there was way easier than I expected. Took a Didi from my hotel in Beijing, about two hours with traffic. Driver didn’t speak English but it didn’t matter.
The cable car ride up was beautiful. Green mountains everywhere and I’m just sitting there alone, taking it in. Started walking from Tower 4 toward Tower 20. Some parts are steep, and being alone weirdly made me push harder. Like I wanted to prove to myself I could do it.
Standing on the Wall at Tower 20 hit me way more emotionally than I expected. All the anxiety just kind of melted away. I got myself there. Alone. That feeling stayed with me.
Then it started pouring. Everyone hid in the towers together, total strangers, no shared language, but it still felt oddly comforting. After the rain, most people left and the walk back felt almost private. Mist, quiet, just the Wall.
Ended up walking a ton and was exhausted in the best way. On the ride back I just stared out the window processing everything.
I know this sounds dramatic, but something shifted that day. If you’re thinking about doing this solo, especially as a woman, my biggest tip is handle the logistics ahead of time so you can actually be present when you’re there.
Do the thing. Especially if it scares you a little.
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