Off-the-beaten Great Wall Treks for Seven Days

A bit out of the ordinary, we begin our hike at the Old Dragon Head, the Great Wall's eastern-most point where the wall touches the Yellow Sea. 

We'll start hiking west through Shanhaiguan and Jiaoshan, stopping through some local villages on the way. 

The next day we will hike to Sandaoguan, an exquisite piece of wall that features both an unrestored "Wild Wall" and a restored wall. 

Afterward, we'll rough it by hiking from Dongjiakou to Xiaohekou, rugged unrestored sections that will be a challenge to climb, but the experience will be extraordinary. 

The following day we'll take a brief respite from the Great Wall to visit the East Qing Tombs, the resting place for much of China's final ruling dynasty. 

We'll then resume our hike by trekking Huangyaguan, representing a miniature composition of the entire Great Wall. 

We'll then end your adventure by going on the most famous Great Wall hike. Starting from the western end of Simatai (the rest is closed for the time being), we'll pass through Jinshanling before ending in Gubeikou, a strategically important part of the wall that last saw action Japanese invaded in the 1930s. The wall here is highly photogenic, and its steepness and partly-dilapidated state are sure to give you a good work out.

We kick off your adventure in a fitting way by hiking the unrestored section of Badaling, which is often passed over by Chinese tourists. This hiking here is steep and challenging, but the experience will be stimulating. 

We’ll cross over into Shixiaguan, a dramatic and preserved piece of the wall situated among mountains and rolling hills. 

The next day the scene will shift to Hunaghuacheng, and from here, we will hike to Xishuiyu. The hiking here is a challenge, but you’ll be rewarded by a fantastic sight when we reach Xishuiyu-the Great Wall underwater! 

The next day we will trek at Jiankou, a gorgeous section dotted with epic ruins and set up in the mountains. We will soon move into Mutianyu, one of the most photographed areas of the Great Wall, and which features a toboggan ride on the way down! 

The following day we will begin at Gubeikou, a strategically important part of the wall that even saw action during the Japanese invasion of the 1930s. We will pass over into Jinshanling, wherein one of its watchtowers is where we will camp overnight. 

The next day we will move into west Simatai (the rest of Simatai is closed for the time being), where the unrestored “Wild Wall” and steep steps will give you quite the workout. 

We’ll then drive to Huangyaguan, a section of that is a composite of the entire Great Wall set in a gorgeous valley. 

We’ll conclude your odyssey by visiting the Baiyangu Marble Wall, an often overlooked unrestored section that features a 1.5k long marble wall.

With 5-7 hours of hiking per day, this hike is only for those serious about exploring the Great Wall. We begin at Badaling, not the tourist one, but a quiet unrestored section noted for its challenging terrain. 

We’ll move into Shixiaguan, a mostly intact portion set among the mountains and hills. The scene then shifts to Hunaghuacheng, where we will trek until we reach Xishuiyu, which is famed for its underwater portion of the Great Wall. 

Next, we’ll tackle Jiankou, a mostly neglected section that features awe-inspiring ruins set against some of the most beautiful scenery imaginable. We’ll get a break when we cross over into Mutianyu, a primarily restored section where the hiking is relatively tame. 

The following day we’ll be at Gubeikou, a vitally important section that saw some fighting during the Japanese invasion of the 1930s. 

From here, we’ll hike into Jinshanling, where that night we will camp out in one of its countless watchtowers. 

The next day we’ll encounter west Simatai (the rest is closed for the time being), which features some of the steepest hiking you’ll find. 

Our final trek will be at Hunaghuacheng, and while the wall is on the rolling hills by the beautiful lakes, making for some challenging trekking.