Reaching out the Wild Badaling Section
TOUR 3X1: Jiankou-Mutianyu-Huanghuacheng-Xishuiyu-Shixiaguan-Badaling
Highlights
This three day program crams a lifetime of Great Wall memories in just 72 hours! You’ll be taken on two of the trendiest Great Wall hikes as well as experiencing Badaling, which is perhaps the most popular and most-photographed section of the Great Wall.
Jiankou-Mutianyu is fast becoming the most popular Great Wall hike, and it’s pretty easy to see why. Dramatic ruins, unrestored Great Wall, amazing views, sweeping peaks and valleys, tastefully restored brickwork and watchtowers-Jiankou-Mutianyu has everything you could ever want in a Great Wall hike. With Huanghuacheng-Xishuiyu, you’ll get to witness the rarest of sights-the Great Wall underwater!
This hike concludes with a visit to Shixiaguan-Badaling. Badaling, which has played host to countless world leaders during their official China visit, is probably the most famous section of Great Wall, and was the first to be open to the public. However, we will get to hike on the unrestored portion of Badaling, which will make for a much more interesting and memorable experience.
Great Wall 3-day Trek Prices and Inclusions
A few agents claim they can do so but that's not true. What they usually mean is that they may take you to the foot of the Great Wall to camp on the ground or to sleep at a guesthouse. Not us. For each participant (even children), we must pay a hefty relic preserving fee to the Great Wall administration office. This fee allows for you to camp on the Great Wall, hence why the price for this program is higher than most. Great Wall Adventure Club (GWAC) is the only company approved by the Great Wall Administration Office to offer camping for international guests. This is what sets us apart from other operators.
TREK DETAILS
DAY 1: Jiankou to Mutianyu
Hiking Distance: 9 kms/5 miles
Hours to Take: 4
Accommodation: Hostel at Jinshanling
Meals: Lunch and dinner
Water: Unlimited bottles
If you elect to spend the night camping, we’ll be sure to wake up early in order to catch the sunrise over the Great Wall, so be sure to have your cameras ready!
The hiking today will cover about 10km/6miles. The Jiankou section is known for its ruggedness and wild beauty, and you will be in awe of the marvelous views it affords. Be sure to see the watchtower known as “Eagle on the peak”, this tower is extremely high and forms the highest reaching point of the Jiankou section. This is the pinnacle of exotic Great Wall scenery.
From Jiankou you will cross over onto Mutianyu, a section of the wall that has been largely restored. Although it has gotten a face-lift, it avoids the army of tourists that plague Badaling.
Mutianyu offers some breathtaking views of the valley and wall below, and if you look to your right you’ll see a large sign engraved in the side of the mountain encouraging you to “Cherish Chairman Mao”. Mutianyu is often visited by leaders of foreign countries.
You can hike down to the parking lot, take a cable car, or take a toboggan ride (highly recommended, and lots of fun!) down to meet our driver, who will drive us to our inn for the night. Tonight, we'll overnight in a village called Huanghuacheng Village. We'll stay in a “farmotel” called "Good Fortune Restaurants & Lodge"
DAY 2: Huanghuacheng-Xishuiyu
Hiking Distance: 9 kms/6 miles
Hours to Take: 4
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Camp at Huanghaucheng Great Wall
Water: Unlimited bottles
We will wake up at 7:30AM with breakfast at the hotel. We will then continue our trek, this time from Huanhuacheng to Xishuiyu.
Huanghuacheng, like Jiankou, is fast becoming popular with hikers and tourists who are looking for something a little different in their Great Wall experience. The wall here is a combination of both restored and unrestored areas, giving your hike a little more variety and adventure. When you reach the middle of the wall you will be able to see that the countryside is swathed in yellow, as masses of wild flowers come into bloom. We will then cross over onto the Xishuiyu section.
Today’s hike is quite special-part of the wall is under water! In 1974 China built the Xishuiyu Reservoir, and when the water level rose, some low-lying sections of the wall were submerged under water. Seen from the dam of the reservoir, this stately sunken wall is still visible under the water’s smooth and glimmering surface.
Following our hike today our driver will take us back to Beijing, where you will be dropped off at your hotel, ending the tour.
Today, we'll camp on the Great Wall at Huanghuacheng, the quietest and zero crowded part of the Great Wall with lakes down the mountain. Enjoy the peace under the moonlight and wake up to welcome the sunset. Have a Chinese breakfast delivered to the Wall before you walk down.
DAY 3: Wild Badaling-Stone Pass
Hiking Distance: 10km/8miles
Hours to Take: 4.5
Meals: Breakfast and lunch
Water: Unlimited bottles
After an early morning breakfast we will be driven to the Badaling Great Wall. The ruined Badaling Great Wall (now officially named “Ancient Badaling Great Wall”) is 10km southwest of the restored Badaling Great Wall. So, as its name hints, this section of the Great Wall is partially restored and more adventurous, while not being easy to climb. Its hikers are mainly foreign travelers instead of domestic travelers, who prefer hiking at the restored Badaling Great Wall.
After about 2-3 hours of hiking, we’ll cross over into Shixiaguan (Stone Gorge) Pass, 5km southwest of the Badaling section of the Great Wall. It is one of the most intact parts of the whole Great Wall. In spite of serious damage, the winding wall set in the lofty mountains reveals its grandeur. However, a castle in Shixiaguan was pulled down during the Great Leap Forward. Nevertheless, the wall remains relatively intact because of its strategic location. Shixiaguan Pass was originally built in the reign of Ming Emperor Wanli (about 1600 AD), which was then a key pass guarded by a large number of soldiers. There are sites such as official residences, the ancient castle, clay walls and brick walls in the village.
After another 2-3 hours of hiking, we’ll walk down the Great Wall to drive back into Beijing at about 5 -6 pm. You will be dropped off at your hotel, ending your tour.
