Discovering the Underwater Great Wall
Route 3B: Chengde-Panjiakou and Xifengkou Featuring Great Wall under the Water
Highlights
This three-day program is sure to impress you. We will take you on hikes that will blow your mind, to sections that are partially restored and untouched areas where you can see the real Great Wall. In addition to seeing some incredible natural scenery and the "wild" Great Wall, you'll also get to visit one of China's famous historical towns.
We’ll pick you up from your hotel in Beijing. Your tour will begin from the City of Chengde, three hours away from 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 emperor's residence.
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.
> Read the day-by-day full itinerary below
Prices and Inclusions
PRICES
1 solo trip: $869
2 people: $579 each
3 people: $569 each
4 people: $549 each
5 people: $539 each
6 people: $519 each
7 people: $499 each
8 or more: $459 each
INCLUDED:
* Personal transfers from and to hotel in Beijing
* Entry fees to the Great Wall
* Three lunches, two dinners and two breakfasts
* The privilege of camping on the Great Wall and exclusive access to the camping watchtower
* All necessary camping gears such as tents & bags
* Quality vehicle, professional driver and English-speaking tour guide
* Free membership card
* A credit of $15 when you reserve the next tour with us
TOUR DETAILS
DAY 1: Beijing to Chengde
Accommodation: Farmer's Inn
Meals: Lunch and dinner
Water: Unlimited bottles
Your guide will meet you at your hotel between 7:30-8:00 AM. You will then head for Chengde by private car. Once in Chengde, you will visit the Mountain Resort (known as the Bishushangzhuang in Chinese), a vast imperial garden once used as the summer retreat of the Qing Dynasty, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The resort is famous for 72 scenic posts.
After lunch, you will visit the Small Potala Palace (Putouzongsheng in Chinese), which was modeled after the Potala Palace of Tibet. It makes up one of the “Eight Outer Temples of Chengde”. You can enjoy the fusion of Chinese and Tibetan architecture at the palace and marvel at the Buddhist sculptures and orange yellow-tiled roofs.
After visiting the palace, you will check in a local hotel. You’ll enjoy a delicious dinner and an evening walk around the city of the Qing emperors' former summer retreat.
DAY 2: Chengde-Panjiakou and Xifengkou Great Wall
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Farmer's Inn
Water: Unlimited bottles
You will meet your guide at your hotel between 7:30-8:00 AM and drive directly to the Xifengkou Natural Resort, located 60km/37 miles northwest of Qinxi County, Hebei province. Upon arrival, you will take a boat to the Panjiakou reservoir where you can enjoy a picturesque picnic lunch by the lake and the wall.
After lunch, you will start your afternoon hiking on Xifengkou Great Wall. For about 5km/1.5 miles. At the Xifengkou section, you will witness the unique spectacle of “the Great Wall under the water.” The view of the flickering ancient Great Wall between mountains and blue waves, the straight isolated watchtowers and beacon towers on the peaks, and the green ranges of hills all will give you a feeling of wonder and amazement.
That night you will rest up and recharge by staying in a local farmer’s house. The farmer and family will prepare you for a splendid dinner. It will also be a memorable experience to dine with a local family. Be sure to get a night of good sleep, because you will have a lot to see tomorrow!
DAY 3: Xifengkou to Beijing
Meals: Breakfast and lunch
Water: Unlimited bottles
After waking up at 7:00 AM and having breakfast in the hotel, you start climbing Xifengkou. There you will have the pleasure of exploring some of the natural wonders of Beijing. The attractions here rarely get crowded. If there are tourists, it's mostly Chinese, so this will feel truly more authentic than visiting most of the sites in Beijing or more of the Great Wall's well-known sections.
Due to the Panjiakou Reservoir construction, the central part of the wall has been submerged by the rising water. However, it is still dimly visible, making it a unique sight along the Great Wall. Look down at the Xifengkou Great Wall from the top of the mountain, and you will see that it looks like a giant dragon zigzagging through the water. We'll take a walk along the Xifengkou Great Wall for two hours. Afterward, we will drive back to Beijing and arrive at your hotel at around 7:00 PM.
