Walking the Great Wall of China
Hike one of the Seven Wonders of the World from Mutianyu to Jinshanling Great Wall
Challenge yourself on an eight-day adventure along one of the Seven Wonders of the World – the Great Wall of China. First, explore Beijing, China’s capital, and visit iconic sites like Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. Then, with your expert leader by your side, you’ll hike several sections of the Great Wall, from Mutianyu to Jinshanling, taking in expansive views as the wall winds along the mountain ranges into the horizon. Travel between local guesthouses, enjoying delicious home-cooked meals, and visit the Big and Small Jinshan Watchtowers. Soak in the history of the area as you see parts of the wall still in its original condition and learn about the rich history of the area from local experts.
Start: Beijing, China
End: Beijing, China
- Duration
- 8 days
- Group size
- 1 to 12
- Minimum age
- 15 years old
- Style
Basix: Simple accommodation, local transport and lots of free time
Original: Tourist-class hotels, some meals included and a great mix of included activities and free time
Comfort: Comfortable accommodation, with a relaxed pace of travel and many included meals and activities
Premium: Our best accommodation, exclusive inclusions and our most experienced leaders
- Original
- Theme
Our themes categorise trips based on a common interest or activity, while showcasing the highlights of a destination.
- Walking & trekking
- Physical rating
Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
Why you'll love this trip
- Hike different sections of the Great Wall of China, like the Mutianyu, the 'wild' Jiankou and Gubeikou sections. See the Great Wall in its original form and learn about its longstanding history from a local expert.
- Watch the sunrise and sunset from the Great Wall over the surrounding mountains, farmlands and rivers – a once in a lifetime experience.
- Sit down to home-cooked meals at local guesthouses after your daily hikes. Then, learn how to make one of the most popular foods in China with a local host (dumplings, of course!).
- Pick up rubbish (not mandatory) as you walk along the ‘wild’ Great Wall and help to preserve original sections, unmaintained by the government.
- Visit Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City in Beijing. Explore the narrow Hutong Alleyways and learn about Beijing’s city formations and local neighbourhoods.
Itinerary
Ni Hao! Welcome to China. Your adventure begins in Beijing with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. The capital of the most populous country on earth, Beijing is a food-centric city with ancient sites and modern architecture around every corner. If you arrive early, maybe explore the city at your own pace and wander through the Summer Palace’s beautiful gardens, visit the Lama Temple or try some local cuisine like peking duck or jianbing. After the meeting, settle into your accommodation and maybe get together with your travel crew and head out for dinner – your local leader will have a couple of great recommendations.
- Hotel (1 night)
There are no meals included on this day.
- Beijing - Lama Temple (entrance fee) - CNY25
- Beijing - Summer Palace (entrance fee) - CNY60
- Beijing - Temple of Heaven (entrance fee) - CNY40
It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this time. If you are going to be late, please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.
This morning, set off on a walking tour with your leader around Beijing. Visit Tiananmen Square – this downtown square is the symbolic centre of Chinese power. Framed by the Gate of Heavenly Peace, Mao’s Mausoleum and the Great Hall of the People, it's a place of pilgrimage for Chinese tourists who consider it the heart of their nation. From here, you’ll enter the Forbidden City, which was built more than 500 years ago. Explore the halls and courtyards and see the grandeur of the Imperial Chinese Court during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Then, continue through Hutong (alleyways or small street between rows of courtyard residences). These narrow alleyways surrounding the Forbidden City are lined with traditional courtyard houses representing the layout and lifestyle of the old Beijing city and local neighbourhoods. The rest of the afternoon is free for you to explore at your own pace.
- Hotel (1 night)
There are no meals included on this day.
- Beijing - Hutong walking tour
- Beijing - Tiananmen Square
- Beijing - Forbidden City
Make your way to the first section of the Great Wall of your journey. This incredible piece of engineering stretches 6000 km west of Beijing. It was initially constructed to protect Chinese empires from invaders from the north. Even though it failed, it's still one of the country's most remarkable achievements and an iconic destination. Your hike starts at the Mutianyu Great Wall – this section of the wall is one of the more popular and well-maintained sections. As you hike, take in the scenery, snaking through the hills into the distance. Tonight, you’ll stay at Jiankou Village.
- Guest house (1 night)
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Beijing - Great Wall Visit - Mutianyu Section
Your hiking distance today will be approximately 11 km or 6 hours with an elevation gain of about 550 m. Your travel time will be approximately 2 hours.
You'll need to ensure you have sturdy shoes with a good grip. In the hikes in the next few days, some sections of the wall are not maintained by the government, which means while you’ll see the Great Wall in its original form, some parts of the trail can be steep and slippery.
There is limited shade on this walk, so be sure to carry enough sunscreen and water. Please bring your refillable water bottle with you and you’ll be able to refill it at the guesthouse or from the water container on our vehicle before the hike.
The Jiankou section of the Great Wall is commonly considered the ‘Wild Wall’ as it was built along a mountain edge with towers clinging to steep ridges and remains completely untouched. Maybe take on the short vertical climb at Sanshibadeng (Spider-Man Wall) for panoramic views of the original construction and surrounding scenery. As you walk along the sections that aren't maintained by the government, maybe help to protect the local environment and pick up any litter you see. After your hike this afternoon, drive to Gubeikou Village and maybe catch the sunset from atop this magnificent structure.
- Guest house (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Great Wall - Jiankou section hiking
- Great Wall - Litter collection - Free
Your hiking distance today will be approximately 8.5 km or 7 hours with an elevation gain of about 400 m. Your travel time will be approximately 2.5 hours.
After breakfast, drive to the Simatai section of the Great Wall. Like the Jiankou section, the Simatai Great Wall retains much of its unrestored character. You'll hike the footpath to the top, then follow the wall to Tower 10, passing steep ridges, uneven stonework and sweeping views of the surrounding mountains and Gubeikou Reservoir. This afternoon, head back to your guesthouse in Gubeikou Village and try your hand at making dumplings with your host.
- Guest house (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Great Wall - Dumpling making demonstration
- Great Wall - Simatai section hiking
Your hiking distance today will be approximately 5 km or 5 hours with an elevation gain of about 400 m.
Today you’ll hike from Panlongshan along the Gubeikou section of the wall to Zhuanduokou Tower in Jinshanling. This part of the wall preserves its original history, dating back to the Ming Dynasty, when it was expanded and reinforced to defend China’s northern borders. Along the way, you’ll pass many watchtowers, including the three-level 24 Window Tower. Parts of the trail are steep and uneven and at times, you’ll leave the wall to walk along country paths through villages and farmland. As you go, take in the scenic views of mountains in the distance. Tonight, you’ll stay in Jinshanling Village.
- Guest house (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Great Wall - Panlongshan to Jinshanling section hiking
Your hiking distance today will be approximately 13 km or 8 hours with an elevation gain of about 360 m.
If the weather is nice, you’ll wake up early this morning to catch the sunrise over the Great Wall before setting off on your final day of hiking. After breakfast, continue from Zhuanduokou Tower to the Jinshanling section of the Great Wall. This section is 7 m tall and 6 m wide, built from large bricks that weigh about 12 kg each. As you hike through the Big and Small Jinshan Mountains, you’ll see the Big and Small Jinshan Watchtowers. This afternoon you’ll head back to Beijing. When you arrive, maybe head out for a farewell dinner with your group to celebrate your journey.
- Hotel (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Great Wall - Sunrise
- Great Wall - Jinshanling section hiking
Your hiking distance today will be approximately 8 km or 5 hours with an elevation gain of about 340 m. Your travel time will be approximately 2.5 hours.
With no activities planned for today, you are free to leave at any time. This doesn’t mean your adventure has to come to an end! If you'd like to spend more time in Beijing, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time.
There are no meals included on this day.
Inclusions and activities
4 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 4 dinners
Private Vehicle, Subway
Hotel (3 nights), Guesthouse (4 night)
- Beijing - Hutong walking tour
- Beijing - Tiananmen Square
- Beijing - Forbidden City
- Beijing - Great Wall Visit - Mutianyu Section
- Great Wall - Jiankou section hiking
- Great Wall - Dumpling making demonstration
- Great Wall - Simatai section hiking
- Great Wall - Panlongshan to Jinshanling section hiking
- Great Wall - Sunrise
- Great Wall - Jinshanling section hiking
- Beijing - Lama Temple (entrance fee) - CNY25
- Beijing - Summer Palace (entrance fee) - CNY60
- Beijing - Temple of Heaven (entrance fee) - CNY40
- Great Wall - Litter collection - Free
We’re in the process of figuring out how much CO2-e this trip generates. In the meantime, learn more about our climate commitment.
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Before you book you should know
- This is a walking and trekking trip, so a good level of fitness is essential. Ideally, you should have some experience with hiking or trekking to fully enjoy the journey. Over five days, you’ll be walking an average of 10 km per day, with daily elevation gains of 300 to 500 m. Some parts of the Great Wall are quite steep, so it’s important to come prepared with suitable footwear and clothing for the trek.
- As this trip doesn't spend a lot of time in Beijing, we highly recommend you allow extra time on either side of the trip to explore this great city.
- China’s world-class sites like Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City draw large numbers of local and international travellers. We recommend a little patience and wearing comfortable shoes as you may need to wait before entering the more popular locations on your itinerary.
HOTEL ROOMS:
Some travellers have reported that hotels/accommodation in this region tend to have harder bed mattresses than those they are used to at home. You may like to request an extra quilt or bedding from the hotels if you find this an issue.
SMOKING ROOMS:
Smoking is prevalent in China and hotels generally do not offer specific non-smoking rooms. Larger hotels with central air conditioning will sometimes transport the smell of smoke between rooms. While we ask our hotels to ensure our rooms are well cleaned and ventilated well before occupation in some cases this is not possible, and the smell of smoke may linger. Please speak to your leader about the possibility of changing rooms if you encounter this.
WIFI:
WiFi is often available in hotel reception areas and sometimes in rooms. Your leader will be able to advise on the best places to get connected.
GUESTHOUSES
In smaller, rural locations in China we may stay in guesthouses, which are mostly small family run establishments. Facilities are basic compared to hotels and towels may not be provided. Please note that on occasion the group may be accommodated in separate guest houses within walking distance of each other.
Beijing Chongwenmen Hotel 北京崇文门饭店
No.2 Chongwenmen West Stree, Dongcheng District, Beijing
Beijing
CHINA
Phone: +86 1065122211
Description
Beijing Chong Wen Men Hotel enjoys a convenient location just a 5-minute walk from Chongwenmen subway station, which links to various attractions in Beijing. It is an 8-minute drive from the shopping belt of Wangfujing Street, an 8-minute drive from Temple of Heaven, and a 10-minute drive from Tiananmen Square.
Instructions
An arrival transfer from the airport is bookable with Intrepid. Please advise your flight details no later than 14 days prior to your departure. There are different locaitons at different terminals where you will meet your driver for the pre-arranged arrival transfer, so please refer to below information for more details. Your driver will be holding a sign with Intrepid's logo and your name on it. The maximum waiting time for your driver is 2.5 hours after your flight arrival. In case of flight cancellations, changes, if you experience severe delays at immigration, baggage collection or customs, or if you are not able to find the driver, please contact our local office on the number in the ‘Problems and emergency contact information’ section. There are clear sinages in the airports to navigate but the airports can be very busy and crowded, so please be aware.
Beijing Capital International Airport
If you arrive at Terminal 2, please meet your driver at the entrance/exit #7 after you go through the baggage claim area.
If you arrive at Terminal 3, please meet your driver in front of the white jade screen wall with the dragon pattern, after you walk through Exit B. Exit B is the only international arrival gate in Terminal 3. Please note that Beijing Airport is very crowded so please be patient.
If you are making your own way to the joining hotel:
By taxi (the easiest option): Follow the airport signs to reach to the official taxi stand for meteored taxis. The taxi ride from the airport to our starting point hotels takes about 1 hour and should cost around CNY120. PLEASE AVOID TAXI DRIVERS WHO DON'T WAIT IN THE TAXI LINE FOR CLIENTS AND APPROACH YOU IN THE QUEUE CLAIMING THEY USE METER.
By airport express and taxi: Follow the airport signs to reach to the airport express station. Take the airport express (CNY25, service time: 06:20 to 22:50) to Dongzhimen station, where you may hail a taxi to your hotel. It'll cost around 30CNY. THERE IS NO TAXI LINE AT THIS STATION. AVOID USING TAXIS THAT ARE WAITING JUST OUTSIDE THE STATION EXITS. THEY DON'T USE METER AND TEND TO OVERCHARGE.
Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX): meet your driver at the exit after you clear customs for pre-arranged arrival transfer.
If you are making your own way to the joining hotel:
By taxi (the easiest option): Follow the airport signs to reach to the official taxi stand for meteored taxis. The taxi ride from Beijing Daxing International Airport to our starting point hotels takes about 1.5 hours and should cost around CNY200. PLEASE AVOID TAXI DRIVERS WHO DON'T WAIT IN THE TAXI LINE FOR CLIENTS AND APPROACH YOU IN THE QUEUE CLAIMING THEY USE METER.
By airport express and taxi: Follow the airport signs to reach to the airport express station. Take the airport express (CNY35, service time: 06:00 to 23:00) to Caoqiao station. The taxi station is close to E1 exit of Caoqiao station, where you may hail a taix to your hotel and it will cost around CNY45 AVOID USING TAXIS THAT ARE WAITING JUST OUTSIDE THE STATION EXITS. THEY DON'T USE METER AND TEND TO OVERCHARGE.
Dates and prices
Important notes
1. A single supplement is bookable for this trip, subject to availability. Please contact your booking agent if you are interested.
2. Travelling in China will heavily rely upon using local payment apps – Wechat and Alipay for making payments. It’s essential to install them on your phone and have a data package ready prior to your travel. Please read ‘money matters’ in the Essential Trip Information for more details. You shouldn’t rely on credit card for travel in China.
3. While travelling in China, you won’t have access to social media and some websites. You may consider installing a VPN to access those sites and apps. Please check the Essential Trip Information for more details.
4. Please note that there are some prohibited items for trains and flights in China. Please refer to Packing section of the Essential Trip Information for more details.
Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.
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