China Choices

I’m hoping to look at and compare each possible trip within our larger trip using the template below.  As you can see, I have started by looking at the Great Wall of China. I want to compare a day trip from Beijing to a section of the Great Wall at Badaling with a day trip from Beijing to another section at Mutianyu.  For China, I will be using the following abbreviations: Chinese Yen (CNY), Rough Guide to China (RGC), number / page number (#).
Template
Where	country, city, historical site, national park, museum, theatre
When	time of year (peak / off-peak, festivals)
What	historical site (buildings, history, culture), national park (wildlife, scenery), museum (culture, art), theatre (music, plays), activities (cooking, diving, climbing, cinema, reading)
How long	duration, distance
How much	Transport, accommodation, food, location, destinations
How	Plane, train, boat, taxi, bus
How interesting	1= not interesting, 5 = unmissable
How safe	1= dangerous 5= safe
Great Wall
Badaling
Where		Country China, city Beijing, historical site Badaling, Great Wall
When		time of year October (peak April-October / off-peak November-March), site open 8 am - 4.30 pm
What		historical site Badaling Great Wall, museum Great Wall Museum, train museum
How long		duration day trip, #919 2 hrs, AC luxury 1 hr, distance 70km NW of city, S train 1hr 20 mins + 20 mins walk to wall
How much		transport #919  CNY3, AC luxury CNY10, S train CNY6 (CNY1 cheaper with smart card), accommodation Beijing, food packed lunch, destinations Badaling + Great Wall Museum CNY45, train museum CNY5
How		bus #919 or #877 or #880 from Deshengmen Tower, AC luxury train S train from Beijing North Railway Station to Badaling
How interesting		4=good, easiest part of wall to get to, little of original wall to be seen unless you walk 1 km north (left) or 2km south (right) at which point you will be turned back by guards, made UNESCO world heritage site in 1987, visited by Thatcher and Nixon, museums of interest
How safe		5= safe
Information		RGC#143, http://www.beijingtrip.com/attractions/greatwall/badaling.htm http://www.tour-beijing.com/blog/beijing-travel/how-to-visit-great-wall-by-train-visit-badaling-great-wall-by-train/
Mutianyu
Where		Country China, city Beijing à historical site Mutianyu, Great Wall
When		time of year October (peak April-October / off-peak November-March), site open 8 am - 5 pm
What		historical site Mutianyu, Great Wall guesthouse converted watchtower,         t:010/69626867, call beforehand, no plumbing
How long		duration day trip, minibus from Dongzhimen and Xizhimen stations every morning (stops at ‘dubious amusement parks’) distance 90km NE of city
How much		Transport minibus from Dongzhimen and Xizhimen CNY10 one way, accommodation Beijing or guest house, food packed lunch and plenty of water, destinations Mutianyu, Great Wall CNY35
How		bus minibus from Dongzhimen and Xizhimen stations every morning, return minibus to capital or if too late then to Huairou where there is #916 bus back to capital until 6.30 pm
How interesting		4=good, quieter than Badaling, only 3 km of wall enclosed in barriers (renovated in 1983)
How safe		5= safe
Information		RGC#144, http://www.beijingtrip.com/attractions/greatwall/mutianyu.htm