We will depart early in the morning at 7am. The 4-hour drive will take us to Shanhaiguan (literally mountain and ocean military pass), the traditional east end of the Ming Dynasty (1368 A D -1644 A D) Great Wall next to the ocean. Shanhaiguan Pass, the out-most barrier and defence, plays a strategic role in protecting the capital in the Ming Dynasty. It’s even more important between Chinese and Japanese in World War II and Chinese civil war in 1945-1949. It witnessed many well-known battles recorded in history books. The visit incorporate three sections: Laolongtou (Wall stretch to the ocean), Shanhaiguan Military Pass & Great Wall Museum.

Meals: lunch/dinner

Accommodation: Local hotel at Shanhaiguan

Day 2: Jiaoshan (2 hours/3 km) and Dongjiakou (3 hours/4 km hiking)

Three kilometres to the north of Shanhaiguan Pass, Jiaoshan holds the utmost terrain to keep the nomads out of the middle kingdom. The peak point is 519 meters high and you will see the ocean from the top of the Wall. Connecting the military pass, Jiaoshan set up an integrated defence to protect the interior land and people.

We will do a return hike for 2 hours in the morning. We will then drive (2 hours) to Chengziyu, a Great Wall village in remote Hebei Province. We will have lunch upon arrival and have a short break before heading to the hike this afternoon.

Zhang Heshan, descendants of Great Wall soldiers, will guide us in the afternoon hike (2.5 hours) at Dongjiakou, which is well-known for its elegant arches and windows carving. Zhang’s family looked after their own family watchtower for more than 3.5 centuries. Zhang also inherited a treasury of folktales passed down through some 20 generations of his family. Typically these stories concern the logistical challenges posed by Wall building: the task of working and transporting heavy, bulky building material, and the ingenious methods devised, for example by herding goats laden with bricks up the mountain.

We will head to Qinhuangdao for overnight.

Meals: breakfast/lunch/dinner

Accommodation: Local hotel at Qinhuangdao

Day 3: Shibeigou to Jielingkou (5 hours/8 km hiking)

We will drive (1.5 hours) to Shibeigou village after breakfast. Today’s hiking is relatively flat without many straight ups and downs. Firstly we will walk up to a watchtower at halfway to a big mountain where you could see the trail we’re going to walk today. The Wall snakes through farmland which is all green in summer time. You can tell the Wall easily by the contrast of the Wall colour, white, and the crops colour, green. It’s a fierce battlement section between Chinese and Japanese in World War II and you still can trace holes on the Wall which were left by Japanese soldiers. 

You will walk for 5 hours on a leisure pace. You will then drive (2 hours) to Chengde and refresh at the city.

Meals: breakfast/lunch/dinner

Accommodation: local hotel in Chengde

Day 4: Chengde

Chengde is the summer resort for emperors and his imperial families in the Qing Dynasty (1644 A.D. - 1911 A.D.). Mountain Resort is the largest imperial garden in China by four major areas: palaces, lakes, mountains and plains. Emperor Kangxi and Qianlong spent almost half time every year, thus it was only second to Beijing and was the political center at that time. Emperor Qianlong once received minority Mongols and Tibetans, as well as the first British delegation to China led by George Macartney in 1792. Putuo Zongcheng Temple was built to welcome Banchan, the Tibetan living Buddha, at Qianlong’s reign.

Today’s visit is a short break after consecutive 3 days walking on the Wall.

We will drive (2 hours) to Gubeikou village in late afternoon and stay overnight at this Wall village.

Meals: breakfast/lunch/dinner

Accommodation: local farmer’s guesthouse at Gubeikou village (western toilet & shower)

Day 5: West Gubeikou (5 hours/9 km hiking)

We will drive 15 minutes to the staring point after breakfast. This area is completely original, quite challenging and no other visitors at all. It’s completely worn away and the terrain underfoot is rugged and uneven. The Wall rises up gradually on the mountain ranges and scenery is becoming wide and spectacular. As it’s a non-visitors section, there’s no such names for specific spots. Take a break at the top of the mountain, we will continue downhill to the other side of the mountain.

A dumpling-making lesson will be organised by our farmer host in the afternoon, and you will have a dumplings dinner with other local produces.

Meals included: breakfast/picnic lunch/dinner

Accommodation: local farmer’s guesthouse with private bathroom and shower at Gubeikou village

Day 6: Jinshanling East to Jinshanling West (5 hours/10 km hiking)

Finish breakfast at 8am and then drive to Jinshanling East (the same spot as Simatai West). You will start the hiking around 8:30 am, and it will take about 5 hours to complete the hiking. We will prepare sandwiches as picnic lunch on the Wall. We will drive to Gubeikou village after the hiking.

A 40-minute steps walking up will lead you to East-Five-Eye watchtower at Jinshanling East/Simatai West where you could have a panoramic view of both Simatai in the east and Jinshanling in the west in far distance. You may take a few breaths before reaching the Wall, and will be rewarded by the breathtaking panoramic view of this amazing human constructions. Take a short break and some photos here, we will then walk westward at Jinshanling. We will have a lunch break at Taochunkou after 3.5 hours walking, and then get off the Wall to walk through farming field for 1.5 hours until Jinshanling West.

This section offers arguably the finest hiking anywhere on the Great Wall. It is extremely photogenic, with over 50 watch-towers, and steep gradients that give constantly changing perspectives and wide, open views. There is fascinating variety in the watch-towers here. Some have two storeys, others three. Some have flat roofs, others rounded and others again are pitched with upturned eaves. This section of the wall is wild, ruined, preserved and original. On a clear day, it is difficult to fail to take good photographs here.

Our driver will take us to Gubeikou village (20 minutes driving) after the hiking. You’re free to explore the village in the afternoon.

Meals: breakfast/picnic lunch/dinner

Accommodation: local farmer’s guesthouse with private bathroom and shower at Gubeikou village

Day 7: Jinshanling West to Gubeikou (5 hours/10 km)

We will drive to Jinshanling West in 20 minutes after breakfast, and start at the spot where we finished the day before. Walking through the jungles and bushes for 40 minutes, we will reach the 24-Eye Tower at Gubeikou. You will have a panoramic view of Gubeikou: Coiling Dragon Hill (Panlongshan) and Crouching Tiger Hill (Wohushan) in far distance. Continuing the hiking toward General Tower, which was bombed by Japanese in WWII. The Wall is becoming more ruined and delayed in the remaining 2 hours when approaching the village. We will walk straight to the local restaurant when completing the hiking.

Gubeikou, along with the passes at Shanhaiguan in the east and Juyongguan in the west, was a key strategic target in military campaigns since ancient times. Protecting these three passes was considered vital for keeping Beijing safe from the Mongolian nomads. There was also a fierce battle between Chinese and Japanese in the 2nd World War. The vistas of the sinuous Wall snaking its way over the ridges of the Yanshan Mountain are breathtaking.

We will drive to Jiankou after lunch, a village just at the foot of the Wall.

Meals: breakfast/lunch/dinner

Accommodation: local farmer’s guesthouse with private bathroom and shower at Jiankou village

Day 8 Jiankou to Mutianyu (5 hours/10 km hiking)

It will take 5 hours hiking from Jiankou to Mutianyu on the wall. You will hike on both restored and original walls. We will drive (2 hours) to Huailai after lunch.

Jiankou to Mutianyu section offers a wonderfully satisfying experience of the Wall. It has superb scenery, dense vegetation and many fine watch-towers in an excellent restored section which is about six metres broad. The brickwork is elaborate, with crenellations on both sides and finely curved eaves on some watch-tower roofs. There are decorative gables with animal statues, and tablets bearing calligraphy above some entrances. The first one hour is going straight up and reaches the wall, and then hikes unrestored towers. The wild Wall to the west is the original Ming Dynasty with fine stonework, and there are almost no other people. You will be rewarded when you approach Zhenbeilou Tower, where you will have a breathtaking view of Jiankou section. There will be a sharp contrast when you arrive at Mutianyu with the restored wall and towers.

There’s a chance to try toboggan (optional) when finishing the hike at Mutianyu.

Notes: the Mutianyu authority and guards try to stop hikers from Jiankou. You may not go over the Wall to Mutianyu at the end. By this way, you will have to come downhill directly to Beigou village and skip Mutianyu.

Meals: breakfast/lunch/dinner

Accommodation: local hotel at Huailai

Day 9: Chengjiapu, Beijing (5 hours/9 km)

We will drive to Chenjiapu after breakfast at 8am. There are almost no other people on today’s hiking section. The wall at Chenjiapu village connects Badaling in the north and is vital to protect the capital in the Ming Dynasty. There were also fierce battles between Chinese and Japanese invades in World War II. The major part of the Wall is original, ruined and slippery. Only a few watchtowers were restored and preserved. Currently the Wall is the border between Beijing and Hebei Province, and was the border between Han Chinese and nomadic Mongolians in ancient times. The Wall rises up and down on the mountain ridges with solid granite foundation and bricks steps. It’s strong wind and freezing cold here in winter.

We will have a late Peking duck celebration lunch en route before getting back to Beijing. A short walk at the Olympic venues is planned before we finally finish our Great Wall adventure at your hotel.

Meals: breakfast/Peking duck lunch