When is the best time to visit the Great Wall???? Well when no one else is thinking about it 
We had such a moment this March — the Wall (at Mutianyu) looked practically uninhabited — there hardly any visitors…as you can tell from the photo. This is probably the only time we have had such an opportunity….
Hi there,
I'm so glad to find your blog as I'm planning a trip to Beijing late Feb/March 2013.
I am wondering if you could give me some suggestion advice to hutong hotels.I would like to experience some local experience and not just the regular hotel.
Are you still based in China?
Would love to hear back from you.
Cheers.
C.Chang
Hi
and do not want to repeat 
Thank you for the comment — no, I am not currently in China — although I end up traveling back and forth quite a bit – about once per quarter for a couple of weeks and my spouse travels on business there at least a couple of times per year.
With regard to hutong hotels, I personally have not stayed in one. I lived in China (my first stint there) in the late 1980s (1987-1991) and got a chance to experience a lot of those type of accomodations as a norm
So, I prefer to stay in the new / modern hotels even if some of them are in a traditional style of architecture. As a result I cannot give you a personal recommendation on a hutong hotel specifically. But let me know if you have any other question on Beijing or other parts of China.
Have a good trip!