12-day Great Wall of China hiking adventure
This magnificent journey along the Great Wall of China begins at Old Dragon’s Head and continues to Dongjiakou, where descendants of the original builders still proudly maintain their section of the wall.
Continue to the East Qing tombs, then, drive to the massive fortress at Huangyaguan, constructed over a body of water, before exploring the stunning Summer Resort in Chengde. Next, tackle Wohushan. One of your stops, Jinshanling, is the best example of the Ming Dynasty wall.
The scene then shifts to Hunaghuacheng, where you'll trek until you reach Xishuiyu, which is famed for its underwater portion of the Great Wall. Drive to Jiankou, a largely dilapidated section featuring awe-inspiring ruins set against some of the most beautiful scenery imaginable. Cross over to Mutianyu, a largely restored section where the hiking is relatively tame before heading back to Beijing.
Services
Included:
- Local transportation: A private vehicle (land cruiser in the desert, bus or mini-van elsewhere) will accompany us for the entire tour. While we are trekking, our vehicle will transfer our food and luggage to the appointed site or hostel and wait.
- Equipment, as required: tents and mats for sleeping bags when camping, rope (very necessary in some parts of the Wall), water (4L per person per day), 2-way radios, compass, first aid kit, GPS
- Entrance fees to tourist spots mentioned in the itinerary
- Experienced English-speaking tour leader and one or more service persons along the Wall as needed
- Accommodation in 3-star hotels in the big cities, twin and triple shared clean hostel in small counties or villages, occasionally homestay if indicated, and tents in the desert and at certain unique camping spots mentioned in the itinerary
- All meals as indicated in the itinerary, with some simple picnic lunches while trekking on the Wall
- All domestic airfares and train tickets (soft sleeper) as listed in the itinerary if applicable
- Travel agency liability insurance
Excluded:
- Personal gear: if camping, a sleeping bag sufficiently warm to protect against minus 20°C (-4°F) in Jan-March, against -10°C or -5°C (14°F- 23°F) in April and May, against 0-5°C (32°-41°F) in June. Also: hiking boots; raincoat; cap; camera; sun-cream; sun-glasses; pocket knife; day-pack, etc
- Personal expenses: snacks, soft drinks, laundry, local or long-distance calls, etc
- Tips for tour guides and drivers (we advise USD8-10/guest/day)
- Tourist accident insurance. We strongly suggest to buy travel and health insurance before you start out from your home country
- Any service persons to carry personal belongings while trekking (although this can be arranged, it should be unnecessary - participants should find that trekking with a single day-pack for personal items should suffice)
- Single supplement costs (for those who want accommodation on a single basis)
- Domestic and international flights and related airport taxes not listed in the itinerary
- Any supplementary trips, entrance fees and other services, and extra costs due to unforeseen circumstances
Optional:
- No
Itinerary at a Glance
Beijing
Welcome to China!
Old Dragon’s Head - Shanghaiguang
Walk to the Shanhaiguan Pass Fortress
Dongjiakou
Hike to Jiao Shan Ancient Wall
Dongjiakou - East Qing Tombs
See One of the Best Preserved Sections at Dongjiakou
Huangyaguan
Climb the Stunning Heaven's Ladder
Huangyaguan - Imperial Summer Resort - Chengde
Discover the Breathtaking Imperial Summer Resort in Chengde
Chengde - Putuo Zongcheng Temple - Jinshanling
Visit the Puning and Putuo Zongcheng Temples
Gubeikou - Jinshanling - Huanghuacheng
Relax in the Great Wall Village and Trek to the General Tower in Jinshanling
Huanghuacheng - Jiankou
Gaze at the Moon-Shaped Reservoir From the Great Wall
Jiankou - Mutianyu - Beijing
Explore the Great Wall From the Popular Jiankou and Mutianyu Sections
Forbidden City - Temple Of Heaven - Summer Palace
Tour the Highlights of Beijing
Beijing
Goodbye, Beijing!
Detailed Itinerary
Beijing
Day 1: Welcome to China!
Welcome to Beijing!
You’ll be met at Beijing International Airport by our CAT guide and transferred to a hotel in central Beijing.
Today you will have the opportunity to rest and recover from your long flight.
Later, get a briefing about the Great Wall Trekking journey that lies ahead, and enjoy a welcome dinner.
Old Dragon’s Head - Shanghaiguang
Day 2: Walk to the Shanhaiguan Pass Fortress
After an early breakfast, drive to the Shanhai Pass (Shanhai Guan), which is in a town situated in the northeast of Qinhuangdao City, Hebei Province.
After lunch at a local Chinese restaurant, visit the Great Wall Museum to learn about the history of the Great Wall.
Then, walk to the nearby Shanhaiguan Pass Fortress, which is hailed as "the first pass of the Great Wall" due to its strategic location in ancient times.
In the late afternoon, a short drive will take you to the sea to start your hike at Old Dragon’s Head, also known as Laolongtou. This is the easternmost section of the Great Wall. It was built in 1381 during the Ming Dynasty.
Dongjiakou
Day 3: Hike to Jiao Shan Ancient Wall
Today, begin at the Jiaoshan Great Wall and head towards Sandao Guan.
Hike from the bottom of Jiao Shan upwards directly to the Jiao Shan ancient wall, which will give you with a feel for the history and an overall view of the magnificent Shanhaiguan City in the sun. Walking on the dilapidated wall is a great challenge!
Arrive at Dapingding Peak, the main peak of Jiao Mountain, where you’ll be able to enjoy the wonderful views over Shanhaiguan city in the early morning sunlight on clear days.
Keep going until you get to a beautiful valley overlooking Mt. Longevity. This peaceful valley is characterized by huge stones, a quiet forest, and crystal-clear creeks.
In the shadow of Mt. Longevity sits the little village of Sandaoguan (“Three-layer-wall Pass”).
Enjoy a short rest and find our vehicle.
Drive to the village of Dongjiakou, where you’ll stay in a local farmer's home.
Dongjiakou - East Qing Tombs
Day 4: See One of the Best Preserved Sections at Dongjiakou
Hike up Cihou Tower, a special structure only seen at this portion of the Great Wall.
Although this Dongjiakou section is relatively short, it has remained one of the best-preserved sections of the original Ming Dynasty Wall, built more than 600 years ago.
Apart from the castles, about 60 percent of constructions of Dongjiakou Great Wall including defense towers and beacon towers remain intact.
Some of its bricks are carved with various true-to-life folk patterns of South China, which distinguishes this part of the wall from the blank bricks on other sections.
Start hiking along the Wall to the Banchangyu section of the Great Wall, having a picnic lunch along the way.
Finally, drive to the East Qing Tombs and stay in a nearby hotel.
Huangyaguan
Day 5: Climb the Stunning Heaven's Ladder
This morning you will visit the spectacular East Qing tombs, which make up an imperial mausoleum complex from the last feudal empire in China.
These tombs form a countryside version of the Forbidden City and are nearly as elaborate. Tastefully restored for the most part, this Imperial City is vast, grand, and less crowded.
After lunch, drive to a small village near Huangyaguan Great Wall. From here, hike westward to the Huangyaguan Pass, which is situated in a beautiful valley in the heart of the Yanshan Mountains.
From there, continue your trek until you reach the "Heaven’s Ladder," a steep climb of over 200 steps carved into the precipice leading up towards a breathtaking section of the Great Wall.
Once we have caught our breath at the top, you will head back to the bottom of Huangyaguan, where you will be welcomed by our staff with snacks, fruit and beer!
Huangyaguan - Imperial Summer Resort - Chengde
Day 6: Discover the Breathtaking Imperial Summer Resort in Chengde
This morning after breakfast, drive to Chengde, one of the premier historic and cultural cities of China.
Upon your arrival, check in at the hotel first.
After lunch, the guide will take you to visit the Imperial Summer Resort, built in the Qing Dynasty.
It is one of China's leading scenic spots and the world's largest imperial garden. It was originally built for the royal families of the Qing Dynasty to spend the summer months in its mild climate, shielded from the cold winds that blow from Northwest China by the surrounding mountain peaks.
When compared to the formality of the Forbidden City, it is delightful for its simplicity and elegance. It is a grand architectural complex consisting of numerous palaces, the largest royal garden in China, and various pavilions, temples, and minor palaces which dot the mountain slopes and valleys.
Chengde - Putuo Zongcheng Temple - Jinshanling
Day 7: Visit the Puning and Putuo Zongcheng Temples
After breakfast you will have time to visit the Puning Temple (Temple of Universal Tranquility) and the Putuo Zongcheng Temple - a small model of Potala Palace, accompanied by your guide.
The whole building complex of the Puning Temple mixes Han, Tibetan, and Indian styles of architecture, forming the typical image of a Buddha World with Buddha statues as its main body.
On the other hand, the Putuo Zongcheng Temple is the largest of the Chengde temples, a mini-copy of Lhasa's Potala Palace. The architecture of the Putuo Zongcheng Temple is intriguing, as it combines Han and Tibetan styles in perfect harmony.
After lunch, drive to the Wohushan section of the Great Wall. This is the Wall that isn’t seen by tourists!
At the end of today’s hike you’ll have chance to watch the sunset on the tower of Jinshanling Great Wall.
Gubeikou - Jinshanling - Huanghuacheng
Day 8: Relax in the Great Wall Village and Trek to the General Tower in Jinshanling
Enjoy a morning of relaxation and recovery after 6 days of hiking.
You can spend your time in the Great Wall village.
When the time comes, trek eastward from Gubeikou to the General Tower in Jinshanling.
Although you’ll have to make a detour to walk around the restricted military zone, today's trekking will still be fairly easy because the Jinshanling section of the Great Wall is still well kept.
Drive to Huanghuacheng area and stay overnight at a local family’s home.
Huanghuacheng - Jiankou
Day 9: Gaze at the Moon-Shaped Reservoir From the Great Wall
Today you’ll start your hike westward to Xishuiyu. Although the climb is steep, there is a good trail alongside the Wall. Walk for about 30 minutes to get to the watch tower on the cliff.
Here is a great place from which to take photos, one of which must be of the moon-shaped reservoir far below.
Then, reach the highest point in this area. From this vantage point you’ll enjoy a nice sunny panoramic view over the whole valley, stretching even further towards the west.
From this summit the Wall dives steeply downwards into the valley.
After walking down by the steps, reach a platform and hike westward again, climbing upwards along the broken Wall to our picnic lunch spot, a tall cliff overlooking Xishuiyu Lake.
You can see the broken Wall running directly into the lake.
Take a boat for a short ride around the lake.
At the end of your hike, drive the Jiankou village and check in at your guest house.
Jiankou - Mutianyu - Beijing
Day 10: Explore the Great Wall From the Popular Jiankou and Mutianyu Sections
Your last trekking day is great for photography!
The Jiankou section of the Wall is known to be one of most beautiful parts of the wild Wall near Beijing, and is loved by photographers.
If camping, you’ll be woken up before sunrise to catch the sun throwing soft morning light onto the Wall itself.
After a simple breakfast, hike eastwards to Mutianyu Great Wall. The hike itself is quiet and beautiful - in about four hours of passing deserted sections of the Wall in its original state, you’ll get to the well-known restored section of the Wall - Mutianyu.
What a difference between the tourist section and the original Wild Wall you’ve seen!
Drive back to Beijing.
Forbidden City - Temple Of Heaven - Summer Palace
Day 11: Tour the Highlights of Beijing
Drive to Tian’anmen Square, walk cross the square, and then visit the Forbidden City, the symbol of China, also called Gu Gong.
It was the imperial palace during the Ming and Qing dynasties.
Proceed to the Temple of Heaven, where emperors used to worship and pray for harvest during the Ming & Qing Dynasties.
After lunch, visit the Summer Palace, one of the best preserved royal family summer residences.
Drive back to the hotel.
Beijing
Day 12: Goodbye, Beijing!
After breakfast at your hotel, transfer to Beijing International Airport for your departure flight.
Safe travels, and visit again soon!
