Two-day at Gubeikou&Jinshanling led by local farmer guide

GWI25 - Small Group Iconic Great Wall Hiking:
Two-day at Gubeikou & Jinshanling led by local farmer guide

Trip name: Small Group Iconic Great Wall Hiking

Trip code: GWI25

Trip length: 2 Days
Hiking route: Gubeikou and Jinshanling
Meeting time: 08:00am; the traffic in Beijing is very busy in morning rush hours, please make your own way at least 15 minutes earlier; it’s difficult to wait for your late arrival as a group tour

Meeting point: Exit C, Dongzhimen Station, Subway Line
Meeting directions: Our driver will hold a blue Great Wall Innlogo at Exit C.
Finishing time: 17:00-18:00 depending on the traffic on Day 2
Finishing point: Exit C, Dongzhimen Station, Subway Line
Hiking duration: 3 hours on Day 1, 3 hours on Day 2
Hiking distance: 5 km on Day 1, 7 km on Day 2

Physical rating: Moderate ★★★☆☆

Meeting point

Meeting point: Exit C, Dongzhimen Station, Subway Line 2.地铁2号线东直门站C出口

Meeting directions: Our driver will hold a blue Great Wall Innlogo at Exit C.

Finishing point: Exit C, Dongzhimen Station, Subway Line 2.地铁2号线东直门站C出口

Finishing time: 17:00-18:00 depending on the traffic on Day 2

Price

USD 298 per adult (13+)

Group size over 8 please contact us for a better rate. Private groups can be customised upon request.

Guaranteed departures: Mon/Fri from15 March to 15 November

Highlights

Wild Great Wall at Coiling Dragon Hill at Gubeikou
Partially restored Great Wall at Jinshanling
Stunning photo opportunity of the Great Wall
No hidden cost; no unscheduled or mandatory shopping stops
Comfortable sleeping at local guesthouse
Guaranteed departure with even 1 person

Detailed itinerary

Escape from crowds and enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience with us on the Great Wall!

Day 1 Beijing to Gubeikou

Meet you up by our driver at 8am and then drive to Gubeikou. You will start the hiking around 10:30 am, and it will take about 3 hours/5km to complete the hiking at Coiling Dragon Hill. A late lunch at Great Wall Inn’s restaurant will be organized after the hiking. You're free to explore the village in the afternoon. A light dinner is arranged at night.

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.

The main Wall here has decayed (we will walk through 8 intact watchtowers ) and only the foundation is left. It is relatively flat trail instead of many stairs on the Wall. The unrestored wall, the watch towers, the beacon towers snake on the mountain from east to west. It is one of the best places for keen photographers along the wall. On a clear day, it is difficult to fail to take good photographs here. Regarding fitness it is a medium-level hiking.

Meals: lunch/dinner

Accommodation: Great Wall Inn Gubeikou

Day 2 Simatai West & Jinshanling to Beijing

We will drive to Jinshanling in 20 minutes after breakfast at 08:00, and start the hike at 08:30. It’s the right time to produce amazing photographs. At this time there are usually no other tourists on the wall, you have the wall to yourself. It will take about 3 hours/7km hiking on the wall. There are many steps and ups & downs. We will get off the wall near Kylin Tower and then a lunch is organised at local restaurant.

This section offers arguably the finest hiking anywhere on the Great Wall. It is extremely photogenic, with over 15 watch-towers, and steep gradients that give constantly changing perspectives and wide, open views. There is fascinating variety in the watchtowers 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 farmer host will say goodbye to us after lunch. The driver will bring you back to the city afterward.

Additional Information

Included

Travel insurance
Cable car, chairlift, toboggan (slideway), flyingfox (zipline) or any other additional local facilities
Personal expenses
Tipping of hiking guide/driver recommended on good service on a 2:1 ratio separately

Not included

Travel insurance
Personal expenses

What to take

Comfortable shoes or boots,
Sunscreen,
Sun-glasses,
Lip balm, cap
Day pack

Notes

You will hike the Wall from A to B every day and your belongings will go with the can/van directly to the accommodation, and you need a day pack to carry water, snacks and other stuff.
Travel insurance is optional and is the sole responsibility of travellers. It is strongly encouraged to have coverage of injury or accident.
There is no toilet along the path on the Wall. There are toilets at the entrance of Jiankou, Mutianyu, Jinshanling and Simatai West, otherwise be prepared to commune with nature. Please prepare before hiking and always carry toilet paper by yourself.
Unlimited bottled waters are stored in our car/van every day.
We will bring trekking poles in our car/van and please tell your guide if you need one.
You will be followed by local farmers when starting the hike on Day 2. The farmers will give you help along the way, as a reward they will sell some souvenirs. If you don’t like this, you have to say NO firmly at the beginning (MAYBE LATER does not work in Chinese culture) or just ignore them and not speak a word with them; otherwise they can be persistent and follow you all the way on the Wall.
It’s recommended to prepare some snacks before your departure from Beijing if you don’t like snickers.
As responsible travelers, we “take nothing but photos, leave nothing but footprint”.