Great Wall Walking Adventure

Arrive in Beijing, China’s capital and home to icons such as the Forbidden City – free arrival transfers operate from both Capital Airport (PEK) and Daxing Airport (PKX). Around 6pm we meet the tour leader and fellow travellers to get acquainted and hear about the adventures ahead, then celebrate with dinner at a local restaurant where we sample the city’s famed Beijing duck – a variety of vegetarian dishes is also served on a lazy Susan. If you want extra time in Beijing, you can arrange additional nights before the tour through your sales representative.

This morning we leave the capital for the countryside and the Great Wall – a 2–2.5 hour journey to the north west of the city. We reach the less visited Huanghuacheng section, beautifully set beside a lake. The name translates as Yellow Flower City, reflecting the summer wildflowers that swathe the surrounding mountains. Today’s walk is relatively challenging over uneven terrain yet the views repay every step. We spend the night in a guesthouse close to this section of the Wall. Walking distance: 5 km / 3.1 miles.

After a short drive of about 1–1.5 hours we reach Mutianyu, a less visited and well preserved section where the Wall snakes over mountains and valleys. Historically it served as a northern defence for the capital and the imperial tombs, and along this 2,250 metre stretch there are 22 watchtowers, 20 of which are open to the public. After exploring Mutianyu we transfer to Jiankou village and enjoy the hospitality of a local guesthouse. Walking distance: 11 km / 6.8 miles.

The wild Jiankou section clings to a mountain ridge, its towers seemingly attached to the steepest of slopes. A highlight is the Spiderman Wall – Sanshibadeng – where you may choose an optional short, near vertical climb for a sweeping panorama; if you prefer to avoid climbing or heights, you can follow a path around and regroup at the viewpoint. This is one of the most photographed stretches thanks to its dramatic construction and scenery. We walk about 4 km in the morning, return to the guesthouse for lunch, then cover a further 4.5 km in the afternoon. You also have the option to watch sunset from the Wall. Walking distance: 8.5 km / 5 miles,

Today we walk the length of the Jinshanling section from Erchi Tower to Zhuandoukou Tower – among the best preserved remains of the Ming era, dating from 1368–1644. Reaching around seven metres high and six metres wide, it incorporates five main passes, sixty seven watchtowers and two beacon towers as it zigzags through the Big and Small Jinshan Mountains – the two Jinshan watchtowers are standouts. The masonry is of huge bricks, each about 12 kilograms – 26 pounds – and you can see varied structures that once served everything from weapon stores to soldiers’ quarters. Walking distance: 8 km / 5 miles.

We hike from Zhuanduokou Tower along the Gubeikou section to Panlongshan, a stretch that keeps the original essence of the Wall and feels like stepping back to the time of the Han Dynasty. We pass numerous watchtowers before reaching the distinctive 24 Window Tower, a three level tower. Walking distance: 13 km / 8.1 miles.

We continue from Panlongshan north gate to the main entrance, then following our walk we drive for about three hours back to Beijing. Walking distance: 3 km / 1.9 miles.

This morning we take a walking tour of the city’s hutongs – the narrow lanes that preserve traditions of old Beijing – before visiting Tian’anmen Square, the world’s largest public square. Later we explore the Forbidden City with its many courtyards and temples. In the evening you may choose to attend the Beijing opera or a Kung Fu show, or unwind with a foot reflexology treatment – your leader can also arrange an optional farewell dinner. If you wish to extend your stay, your sales consultant can help add extra time. Please note that following the pandemic, daily visitor numbers to the Forbidden City are restricted, which can affect ticket availability. Our local team will aim to secure tickets, but if this is not possible we visit the Ancestral Temple and the Temple of Heaven instead – you will be advised at the start of the trip if this change is required.

Our journey ends in Beijing after breakfast and we begin our journeys home – free departure transfers are provided for flights from both Capital Airport (PEK) and Daxing Airport (PKX). If you would like more time in the city, you can speak to your sales representative about extending your stay.