|
3-day Great Wall
Hiking, Trekking and Camping
|
crumbling ruins and little better
than
piles of dirt and stone
|
|
Average Challenging Grade:
 |
A truly fulfilling and invigorating Great Wall
experience
If you want to take and extended break from the hustle and
bustle of Beijing and explore the natural and cultural beauties
of northern China, than these 3-day Great Wall programs are sure
to have what you're looking for. For these 3-day routes, you
will get an extended and up-close-and-personal view of the Great
Wall. Here you will get the classic Great Wall hikes, like
Jinshanling-Simatai and Jiankou-Mutianyu. But here you will go
beyond the standard hiking route and into some of the more
unknown areas of the Great
Wall. In addition to being able to sleep on the Great Wall
itself (major camping equipment supplied by us), you can
experience the unrestored ruins of the Great Wall at Panlongshan,
the eastern-most tip of the Great Wall at Old Dragon's Head, or
some of the more obscure section like Jiaoshan and Xifengkou. In
addition to the Great Wall, you also have the opportunity to
visit some other national treasures that the Middle Kingdom has
to offer, You can visit the summer-time playground of the Qing
Emperors in Chengde, which features the magnificent Summer
Resort and magnificent Little Potala Palace (all UNESCO World
Heritage Sites). You can also pay your respects to China's last
ruling dynasty at the Eastern Qing Tombs, one of China's best
preserved burial sites. In addition to the manmade, our 3-day
programs also let you enjoy China's natural beauty, such as the
Panjiakou Reservoir and the magnificent and colorful blooming
flowers of Huangyaguan.
 |
Sleep on the Great Wall |
|
Sleep in a local hotel or hostel or a farmer's house |
|
Private Tours and Trip Codes |
Is This trip for me? |
|
Route 3A: Jiankou-Mutianyu-Jinshangling-Gubeikou-Second
Valley
For the person who loves outdoor
physical activity, this program combines two of the most
well-known Great Wall hikes along with one of the least known
sections of Great Wall. Your trek begins with the hike from
Jiankou Great Wall,
which features dramatic peaks and ruins that are a
photographer's dream. You'll soon hike over into Mutianyu, one of the
most famous and popular sections of Great Wall, but one which
has escaped the tackiness of other popular Great Wall spots.
The next day we'll have the classic Gubeikou-Jinshanling hike, which allows you to see both restored and “wild” Great
Wall, giving you a more nuanced look at the Great Wall. After
sleeping in one of
Jinshanling's larger watchtowers, you'll
continue your hike to
Second Valley, a strategic point on the
Great Wall that is a bit of a challenge due to its steepness and
condition.
[TOP]
|
CHALLENGING LEVEL:
●●●●●
POPULARITY RANK:
Conquer the most
challenging parts of the Great Wall in a row |
Route 3AA:
Gubeikou-Jinshanling-Jiankou-Mutianyu-Huanghuacheng-Xishuiyu
This program takes you to the
classic Beijing-area Great Wall hikes. We start out
at Gubeikou, where we will hike through
Jinshanling
until we reach the western portion of
Simatai. With
both unrestored “Wild Wall” and grand brickwork and
watchtowers, this will make for a nice study in
contrasts. The scene then shifts to Jiankou, which
is fast becoming one of the most photographed
sections of Great Wall, and once on it it’ll easy to
see why. Much like the previous day’s hike
Jiankou-Mutianyu makes for an interesting study of
contrasts in Great Wall styles. We conclude your
tour with a visit to
Huanghuacheng-Xishuiyu,
which
also features restored and unrestored Great Wall,
and which features an exceedingly rare sight-the
Great Wall underwater! [TOP]
|
CHALLENGING LEVEL:
●●●●●
POPULARITY RANK:
Conquer the most
challenging parts of the Great Wall in a row |
Route 3AB:
Jiankou-Mutianyu-Huanghuacheng-Xishuiyu
Those wishing to budget their
time in the wisest way possible won’t want to miss
this tour, as you’ll get to embark on the two most
popular Great Wall hikes. We’ll start at Gubeikou, a
strategically important of wall that even saw
fighting in the 20th century, and we’ll make our way
towards Jinshanling, a section of wall long prized
for its grace and beauty. You’re in for a treat, as
you’ll actually get to camp overnight on the Great
Wall in a watchtower! The next day we’ll make our
way towards the western end of Simatai, a portion
known for its challenging path. We’ll conclude your
tour by hiking Jiankou-Mutianyu, which should
provide you with a cornucopia of priceless photos
and memories. Like Gubeikou-Jinshanling-west Simatai,
Jiankou-Mutianyu makes for a fascinating contrast
between unrestored “Wild Wall” and the restored
Great Wall with which we are all so familiar with.
[TOP]
|
CHALLENGING LEVEL:
●●●●●
POPULARITY RANK:
Conquer the most
challenging parts of the Great Wall in a row |
Route 3AC: Gubeikou-Jinshanling-West Simatai-Huanghuacheng-Xishuiyu
You'll get an up close and personal view of the
Great Wall on this hike. The first leg of your
journey begins with the Gubeikou-Jinshanling-Simatai
hike, a classic and popular trek that is suitable
for all ages. However, unlike most people, the Great
Wall will serve as your personal hotel as you sleep
under the stars in a Great Wall watchtower. That's
right, you get to camp out on the Great Wall of
China! We'll complete your program by hiking from
Huanghuacheng-Xishuiyu, an often overlooked Great
Wall trek that features rugged wild wall as well as
dramatic vistas and stunning scenery.
[TOP]
|
CHALLENGING LEVEL:
●●●●●
POPULARITY RANK:
Get a complete set
of views from those famous sections of the Great Wall |
|
Route 3B: Chengde-Panjiakou Reservoir-Xifengkou
In addition to seeing some wonderful
natural scenery and “wild” Great Wall, you'll also get to visit
one of China's richest historical towns. Your tour beings in the City
of Chengde (a few
hours outside of Beijing). Chengde was the Qing Dynasty's summer
retreat, as emperors made their way hear to escape the heat and
scrutiny of Beijing. Once in Chengde you'll visit the vast and
marvelous Summer Resort, which served as the residence of the
emperor. You'll also see the Little Potala Palace, a grand
imitation of the Potala Palace of Tibet. The next day you'll
start your hike at the Xifengkou Great Wall, an unrestored
section where part of the Great Wall runs underwater! After
sleeping in a nearby farmer's house, you'll finish your trek the
next day.
[TOP]
|
CHALLENGING LEVEL:
●●●●○
POPULARITY RANK:
Blend leisure with Great Wall hiking together.
Great
for families.
|
Route 3C: East Qing Tomb-Huangyaguan-Chengde
Besides visiting one of the more ingenious parts of the Great
Wall, this tour is sandwiched by some of China's other imperial
charms. You'll start out by visiting the East Qing Tombs, which
is one of China's vastest and most well-preserved burial sites.
You'll then be taken to the Great Wall at Huangyaguan,
which is designed to be a miniature representation of the entire
Great Wall, allowing you to get a keen insight on the structure
in a much shorter time than it would take to walk the entire
wall! You'll finish your hike the next day. After your hike
you'll be driven to the City
of Chengde,
which served as the summer retreat for emperors of the Qing
Dynasty looking to beat the heat of Beijing. Here you will visit
the sprawling and magnificent Summer Resort, along with the
Small Potala Palace, a grand buddhist temple that is a
recreation of the Potala Palace of Tibet.
[TOP]
|
CHALLENGING LEVEL:
●●●●○
POPULARITY RANK:
Historical
discovery through Great Wall trekking |
Route 3D: Old Dragon's Head to Jiaoshan-Jiumenkou
Via bullet train, we will set out to Qinhuangdao, a
pleasant beach area, where you will get to explore
Shanhaiguan,
which is known as the “First
Pass of the World”. During your hike you will pass
over into Old Dragon's
Head, which is the eastern-most point of
the Great Wall, lying just off the Bohai Sea. You'll
have the rest of the day to wander around the beach
nearby. The next day we'll proceed to the Great Wall at Jiaoshan,
which is divided into restored and unrestored sections,
and you'll experience both on your walk, allowing you to
compare and contrast the two styles. We'll eventually
cross over onto the Sandaoguan Great Wall, where some of
the wall was built on cliffs at an angle of 90 degrees!
Your last day will start with a trek on the Jiumenkou
Great Wall, and from there will descend to Huangtuying
village to see the ruins of an anceint fortress.
[TOP]
|
CHALLENGING LEVEL:
●●●●●
POPULARITY
RANK:
See the very eastern most
of the Great Wall in sea and hike the toughest parts of
the Wall |
Route 3X1: Jiankou-Mutianyu-Huanghuacheng-Xishuiyu-Shixiaguan-Badaling
Experience the rougher side of the
Great Wall with this challenging hike. We start out at
Jiankou, an increasingly popular section that is famed
for its breathtaking ruins and picturesque mountain
setting. We’ll cross over into Mutinayu, one of the most
photographed portions of the Great Wall. Mutianyu,
largely restored is set in a valley with watchtowers
that dot the horizon. The next day we’ll hike the
Huanghuacheng-Xishuiyu trail, and here you will get to
discover an incredible sight, the Great Wall underwater!
This program concludes with a visit to Badaling, but
it’s not the Badaling that you often hear about. This
Badaling is unrestored and in its natural state, and
makes for an invigorating hike. We’ll end at Shixiaguan,
which is one of the most intact portions of Great Wall
still remaining and which is situated in a dreamy
setting of mountain and rolling hills. [TOP]
|
CHALLENGING LEVEL:
●●●●●
POPULARITY
RANK:
See the very eastern most
of the Great Wall in sea and hike the toughest parts of
the Wall |
Route 3X2:
Gubeikou-Jinshanling-West
Simatai-Shixiaguan-Badaling
Our program begins at Gubeikou, a
strategically vital section of the Great Wall that even
played a large part in the defense of Beijing against
the Japanese in the 1930s. Largely unrestored, the
hiking here is a great source of exercise. We’ll soon
make our way to Jinshanling, a picture-perfect setting
with grand brickwork and watchtowers as far as the eye
can see. For the night, we’ll camp in a Jinshanling
watchtower, an experience you are sure to cherish. The
next day we’ll make our way to the western portion of
Simatai (the rest of the section is closed for the time
being), which, like Gubeikou, has been left in its
natural state. The climbing here is steep, so the
trekking here will be a bit tougher than what you’re
used to. We’ll close out your Great Wall adventure by
visiting Badaling, but don’t worry; this isn’t the
touristy Badaling that is always packed to the gills.
This Badaling is unrestored “Wild Wall” that is much
more interesting to hike than its other namesake. We’ll
finish at Shixiaguan, an almost unbroken piece of Great
Wall that is set in a lovely patch of hill and
mountains. [TOP]
|
CHALLENGING LEVEL:
●●●●●
POPULARITY
RANK:
See the very eastern most
of the Great Wall in sea and hike the toughest parts of
the Wall |
|
|
