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9-day Great Wall Trek from Old Dragon's Head to Beijing
Not to miss any important sections of the Great Wall from the ocean to Beijing
An ancient poem states:
The daytime mountain climbing and watching the beacon fires, the evening drinking horses, and the river crossing. Camping for ten thousand miles without a city, the rain and snow have even the desert. When I hear that the jade door is still covered, I should drive my life to the light cart.
BRIEF ITINERARY
Day 1: Oceanside Great Wall
Drive 4 hours to the Old Dragon's Head, where the eastern end of the Ming Dynasty Great Wall's initial starting point is the only place where the Great Wall meets the sea. Its superior geographic situation, coupled with the elaborate construction of military defense projects, imposing, sea, and sky, has been described as "The history of humankind. A Thousand Wonders." Relax in a beautiful courtyard hotel in the ancient town of Shanhaiguan.
Day 2: Jiaoshan
Walk 4 hours to hike Jiaoshan, where "the Great Wall has hung upside down on the peak, overlooking the Pass in front of us," said an old poem. Stay in the same ancient town hotel in Shanhaiguan.
Day 3: The East Qing Tombs
A 3-hour tour to the East Qing Tombs, the premier imperial consort mausoleum complex of the Qing dynasty in which 14 tombs buried five emperors, 15 empresses, 136 concubines, and one prince. We rarely come across this UN cultural heritage site on our trip to the Great Wall. Later, discover a panorama of the Huangyuan Great Wall for 1 hour. Lodge at Huangyaguan hotel at the foot of the Great Wall.
Day 4: Huangyaguan Pass
Trek four hours from the Peace Fort to Huangyaguan and the Sky Ladder, famous for its steepness and splendor. The Great Wall here is 1450 years old, and it was a crucial pass in the Ming Dynasty to defend against the Manchu invasion. Later, transfer to Jinshanling. Overnight in a courtyard hotel by the Wall.
Day 5: Jinshanling and West Simatai
Hike 3 hours from Jinshanling to West Simatai. The Great Wall here meanders and twists, with a broad view. The Great Wall rises and falls between the mountains and the rivers in an incredibly majestic situation. In particular, it is densely packed with enemy towers, exquisitely constructed and of various forms. Tonight, camp in the General's towers inGubeikou, the headquarters in every battle.
Day 6: Gubeikou
Trek 4.5 hours from the Gubeikou tower you camp in last night to Jinshanling. Gubeikou became a vital gateway to Mongolia, the Ming dynasty's capital, and was known as "the place where the throat is strangled and tends to the Shuoshuo Desert, while the sky is left with a key to pillow the Xiongguan Pass" due to its majestic terrain. The battlefield Gubeikou was where the Chinese army fought against the Japanese invasion in the 1930s. Move to Jiankou and stay in Miss-U-Much hostel.
Day 7: Jiankou
Prepare to be awestruck on a climb to Jiankou where the mountain's shape looks like an arrow, with the collapsed ridge opening as its arrow nock. Because it was built on a cliff with a strange peak and a steep mountainous terrain, the Jiankou section is the Great Wall's essence. Stay at the same hostel as last night.
Day 8: Jiankou and Mutianyu
Venture from Jiankou onto Mutianyu, a section of the Wall that has been largely restored and popular for visiting foreign leaders and celebrities. The advantage of the Great Wall at Mutianyu is the beautiful scenery, the majestic Great Wall hidden among the pines and cypresses, which makes the most beautiful picture. Try the toboggan slide at the end. Camp on the Great Wall again at the lakeside Huanghuacheng.
Day 9: Lakeside Huanghuacheng
We finalize our 9-day trek at Huanghuacheng, the only lakeside Great Wall around Beijing. During the Ming Dynasty, it was also known as the "Main Town Pass" and was a central military town in Beijing. Catch the stunning view of the Wall diving into the water. Today is the last day of our Great Wall hike.
MEMORABLE TIME
DAY-BY-DAY DETAILED TREK ITINERARY
Day 1: Beijing to Old Dragon's Head
Day 3: East Qing Tombs to Huangyaguan
Day 1: Beijing to Old Dragon's Head
We will make the 4-hour drive the Old Dragon's Head and Shanhaiguan Pass, the First Pass Under Heaven. We will start our hike at Old Dragon's Head, also known as Laolongtou. We will enter the Shanhaiguan Great Wall Museum, where we will learn about this section of the wall's history and military strategy and display military relics. After dinner, you will tour the Old Town ofShanhaiguan.
INCLUDED
Meals: B, L, D
Accommodation: Shanghaiguan Hotel or similar
Day 2: Jiaoshan Great Wall
Day 3: East Qing Tombs to Huangyaguan
Day 1: Beijing to Old Dragon's Head
The Jiaoshan Peak is two miles away from Shanghaiguan. Though relatively diminutive in size, this is the first actual mountain the Great Wall passes heading west, and known as “the first mountain of the Great Wall.” Jiaoshan ancient wall provides you a sense of historical vicissitude. The wall appears more and more crumbled and deformed as you forge ahead. We will drive to Dongjiakou Great Wall and overnight there.
Walk: 9 kms
Hours: 4
INCLUDED
Meals: B, L, D
Accommodation: Shanghaiguan Hotel or similar
Day 3: East Qing Tombs to Huangyaguan
Day 3: East Qing Tombs to Huangyaguan
Day 4: Peace Fort to Huangyaguan and Sky Ladder
We will make the short trip to the East Qing Tombs, which is among the finest, best-preserved, and the largest of China's extant tomb complexes. Five emperors, four empresses, five imperial concubines, and one princess are arrayed based on the traditional concept of placing the most senior and most distinguished in the center.
We will also walk the Huangyaguan Great Wall and the fortress where there is a Bagua pattern, a specially designed labyrinth designed to confuse and entrap the enemy.
INCLUDED
Meals: B, L, D
Accommodation: Huangyaguan Hotel or similar
Day 4: Peace Fort to Huangyaguan and Sky Ladder
Day 4: Peace Fort to Huangyaguan and Sky Ladder
Day 4: Peace Fort to Huangyaguan and Sky Ladder
Today we'll start with Peace Fort (Taipingzhai) that begins from Banlagang Mountain in the east and arriving at Guafu Tower (Widow Tower) in the west. There are six watchtowers, one battlement, and one shortcut leading to the wall.
Waking westward, we will get to the steepest segment of this section, the Huangya Sky Ladder. This long stairway stretches to the top of the ridge, seemingly leads to the sky. Climbing over the ladder, we will reach the primitive Great Wall built in the Northern Qi Dynasty, marking the Huangyaguan section's end.
We will drive to Jinshanling to sleep tonight.
Walk: 9 kms
Hours: 4
INCLUDED
Meals: B, L, D
Accommodation: Huangyaguan Hotel or similar
Day 5: West Simatai to Jinshanling
Day 4: Peace Fort to Huangyaguan and Sky Ladder
Day 5: West Simatai to Jinshanling
Our hike will start from Simatai, and we will make our way west along the Wall into Jinshanling. The Wall runs from a deteriorated wild state to the restored in the end to allow hikers to compare the differences between the two wall status. In particular, the Great Wall is winding and twisting, with a comprehensive view. There are densely packed enemy buildings, exquisitely constructed, and diverse in forms. It is hardly comparable to the Great Wall in Badaling, Shanhaiguan, Jiayuguan, and other places.
Tonight, we will camp on the Great Wall in an ancient watchtower.
Walk: 8 km
Hours: 3.5
INCLUDED
Meals: B, L, D
Accommodation: Camping on the Wall
Day 6: Jinshanling to Gubeikou
Day 4: Peace Fort to Huangyaguan and Sky Ladder
Day 5: West Simatai to Jinshanling
Gubeikou is mostly Wild Wall. It was first built during the Northern Qi Dynasty (550-557) and rebuilt in Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). There are 172 watchtowers, 14 beacon towers, 16 passes, three water passes, three barbarians, and six fortresses along with it.
In 1933, the 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 a battlefield in the modern world.
We will transfer to Jiankou to sleep tonight.
Walk: 11 km
Hours: 4.5
INCLUDED
Meals: B, L, D
Accommodation: Miss-U-Much Hostel
Day 7: The Magic Jiankou
Day 9: Huanghuacheng Lakeside
Day 8: Jiankou to Mutianyu
Jiankou is the part where the mountain's shape 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 picture is priceless with its morning fog. Here 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.
Walk: 9 km
Hours: 4
INCLUDED
Meals: B, L, D
Accommodation: Laohe's Inn
Day 8: Jiankou to Mutianyu
Day 9: Huanghuacheng Lakeside
Day 8: Jiankou to Mutianyu
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 famous for visiting foreign leaders and celebrities.
We will transfer to Huanghucheng to sleep.
Walk: 9 km
Hours: 4
INCLUDED
Meals: B, L, D
Accommodation: Good Fortune Inn
Day 9: Huanghuacheng Lakeside
Day 9: Huanghuacheng Lakeside
Complimentary Airport Drop-off
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 Wall's highest point is a broken watchtower, and from there, you will have a broad panoramic view of the whole valley. From this summit, the Wall dives steeply downwards into the valley.
We will drive back to Beijing in the late afternoon.
New from Summer 2022 - Kayaking at the Great Wall *Get the experience of 1-hour kayaking at the foot of the Great Wall for $69.
Walk: 10 km
Hours: 4
INCLUDED
Meals: B, L
Accommodation: Holiday Inn Express or similar
Complimentary Airport Drop-off
Complimentary Airport Drop-off
We will transfer you to the airport from your hotel in Beijing for free. It's our appreciation to you for having chosen us for your lifetime Great Wall experience.
What else our service includes
* Entrance fees to the Great Wall sections
* Daily meals (when hiking on the Great Wall)
* The privilege of camping on the Great Wall and exclusive access tothe camping watch tower
* All other accommodation along the Great Wall
* All necessary camping gears such as tents & bags
* Quality vehicle, professional driver and English-speaking tourguide
* Free membership card
* A credit of USD50 toward your next China national tour with us.
Farm Kitchens
From a farm-to-table lunch to a morning breakfast watchtower delivery, we offer a dining experience that reflects the unique ingredients and creativity of every part of the Great Wall we travel. After an active day on the Wall, it's time to see what other great choices are on the menu.
Have a food allergy or a restricted diet? Just let us know, and we'll make sure there are meal options available to you
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