6-day Great Wall Trekking with Camping around Beijing

---

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 remain srelatively 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 largen umber of soldiers.

INCLUDED

Meals: B,L,D

Accommodation: Good Fortune Inn or camping on the Great Wall at Huanghuacheng

Huanghuacheng is the only section that sits beside the lakes, so it is called Lakeside Great Wall. Since the lake breaks this section of the Great Wall into three segments naturally, its uniqueness might surprise you. 

The Hanghuacheng Reservoir lies here, shaped like a curved moon. The highest point of the wall is a   broken watchtower, and from there you will have a wide panoramic  view of the whole valley. From this summit the Wall dives steeply downwards into the valley. 

INCLUDED

Meals: B,L,D

Accommodation:  Laohe's Inn at Jiankou 

Jiankou is the part where the shape  of the mountain looks like an arrow, with the collapsed ridge   opening as its arrow nock. It is known for its ruggedness and wild beauty, and you will be in awe of the marvelous views it affords. As soon as we reach Jiankou we will see a deserted watchtower that gives you a panoramic view of the entire valley. In the early morning the  view is priceless with its morning fog. This is the pinnacle of exotic Great Wall scenery.

Once we descend from the Great Wall we  will spend the night at a farmer’s inn. 

INCLUDED

Meals: B, L, D 

Accommodation: Laohe's Inn

From Jiankou we 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 the teachings of Chairman Mao.” Mutianyu has also become popular for visiting foreign leaders and celebrities. 

INCLUDED

Meals: B, L, D 

Accommodation: Good Fortune Inn

Our hike will start from Simatai, and we will make our way west along the wall into Jinshanling. This is the classic Great Wall that hikers are very thrilled about.  wall enthusiasts have done. The Wall runs from deteriorated wild state to the restored in the end to allow hikers to compare the differences between the two wall status. 

Tonight, we will camp on the Great Wall in an ancient watchtower. 

INCLUDED

Meals: B, L, D 

Accommodation: Camping on the Wall

Gubeikou is mostly Wild Wall. It was first built during the Northern Qi Dynasty (550-557) and rebuilt in Ming Dynasty  (1368-1644). Stretching for about 25 miles (40 kilometers), there are 172 watchtowers, 14 beacon towers, 16 passes, 3 water passes, 3 barbarians, and 6 fortresses along it. 

In 1933, Chinese army fought against Japanese invasion troops at Gubeikou.  In the four-month-long battles, over 5,000 Japanese soldiers were killed while 9,000 Chinese soldiers died.  You can see that Gubeikou is not merely a relic but it remained as a battlefield in modern world. 

We will return to Beijing in late afternoon. 

INCLUDED

Meals: B, L