If you’re looking to conquer just a few of the 21,000 kilometres that make up this wonder of the world, Beijing is the one to pick.

Start by choosing your section:

• Badaling is a gentle walk and well-preserved, but also comes with the most tourists
• Mutianyu is just as easy and a lot quieter, although the stones are a tad dilapidated
• Jinshanling has good stones and fewer crowds, but way more challenging hikes

Each of these sections is easily reached from Beijing city centre, but we'll focus on Badaling, since it's the most popular. Your cheapest mode of transport is a public bus at £4 return, and you can catch it from Jishuitan subway station. It’ll take just under 2 hours to reach the wall, so you’ll want to set out pretty early.

Alternatively, if you feel like renouncing all responsibility you can also hop on one of the many organised tours which cost around £30 and are a better option if you're short on time.

Since these fares run in the colder months, we'd definitely advise checking the weather before you go.

If you time your trip from September to November, you’re likely to see some beautiful fiery foliage. Just be prepared to share it with other tourists!

December to March is by far the quietest time, and if you're lucky, a dusting of snow adds a real touch of wonderland magic. You may want to bring some crampons, though, just to be safe.

Finally, if your legs are a little tired after all that hiking, you can always opt for the toboggan on the way back down :-)