7-day Great Wall Hiking Tours

Day By Day Itinerary

Day 1 Beijing-the Old Dragon Head-Shanhaiguan-Jiaoshan Great Wall
Almost four-hour drive  from Beijing to Old Dragon Head Great wall  (400km) After lunch, we will visit the old Dragon's Head and hike from Old Dragon's Head directly to Shanhaiguan Pass(also know as the First Pass Under Heaven). It will take us 1-1.5 hour on the way to pass villages until we see the Gate towers of the Shanhaiguan Pass. After one-hour's visit of Shanhaiguan Pass and the Great Wall Museum inside, we will be transferred to the hotel to have a rest. We will stay at First Pass Hotel in Shanhaiguan Pass (a simple but clean hotel with private washroom and hot water shower).

Day 2 Jiaoshan-Sandaoguan Great Wall

Today we will hike from Jiaoshan to Sandaoguan (Three-layer of wall Pass), it will take us 5-6 hours. (as the cable car will not open until May holiday) Hiking from the bottom of Jiaoshan Mountain up directly and enjoy the beautiful bird-view of Shanhaiguan city in the early morning sun-light. Hiking partly on the wall and partly by following a wild mountain trail in a northeasterly direction for about three to four hours, you will find yourself in the beautiful valley overlooked by Mt. Longevity: huge stones, quiet forest and crystal creeks. In the shadow of Mt. Longevity sits the little village of Sandaoguan with about 35 families living in it. Walk down to Sandaoguan village. After a short rest, we will drive about one and a half hours to Dongjiakou village, stay in the local farmer's home, very simple but clean (two-bed, with no private washroom and hot water for shower.).

Day 3 Dongjiakou-Chengzhiyu-Xiaohekou Great Wall

In the early morning, we will hike up the mountain in Dongjiakou village for the beautiful arch-stones with relief and Cihou, a special structure on the Wall could only be seen in this part of the Wall (about one hour). Then we will go around the Donjiakou village for the ruin of the fortress and chat with the villagers, who are the descendants of the builders and guards of the Great Wall. The rest of the trek to Xiaohekou takes us about 5 hours, passing Chengziyu village on the way (where we will have our lunch at). At the end of the trek, we will drive from Xiaohekou to Eastern Qing Tomb, stay in Qingfeng hostel nearby (two-bed one room, with private washroom).

Day 4 Eastern QingTomb-Huangyaguan Section Great Wall

In the Morning, we'll visit to the Eastern Qing Tomb which far surpass in splendor and majesty of their more famous predecessors, the Ming Tombs, They form a countryside version of the Forbidden City and are nearly as elaborate. Tastefully restored for the most part, this Imperial city is vast, grand, and less crowded. A half-an-hour-drive will take us to Huangyaguan Pass, after our lunch in the hostel. After a brief rest in the hostel (two-bed one room with private washroom) We will drive to Taipingzhai and hike for about one hour westward to Huangyaguan. Overnight at the hostel of Huangyaguan (two-bed one room with private washroom)

Day 5 Huangyaguan- Qianganjian 2# Village (about 4-5 hours hiking) -Simatai Section Great Wall

Huangyaguan is situated in a beautiful valley in the heart of the Yanshan Mountains. We start our walk heading up the steep renovated steps towards what appears to be a sheer cliff face. This is where we encounter "Heavens Ladder", a steep climb of over 200 steps leading us up to the cliff face. Once we have caught our breaths, the path continues gradually up to the top of the ridge and once again the old Wall, which follows the contours of the mountain. We drop down into the nearby valley and clamber along the Wall as it gradually descends to the valley below. Meet our bus waiting and drive from Qianganjian  village to Simatai (about 3 hours). Overnight in the Youth hostel at the bottom of Simatai (three-bed one room, with private washroom).

Day 6 Simatai-Jinshanling Section Great Wall

Today we will trek westward for about 12km on the wild wall until we arrive at our camping site in Jinshanling Section. Have picnic lunch on the way. Then we will trek until we arrival at Jinshanling part of the Wall. Enjoy the breath-taking sun-setting and sky dotted with stars. Stay in the hostel at the bottom of the Wall.

Day 7 Jinshanling-Gubeikou Section Great Wall

Continue trek west from Jinshanling to General Tower in Gubeikou, on the way, you will pass a military area where you have to trek a short distance country road away from the wall. Today's trekking is easy because the Jinshanling section of the Great Wall is still kept well. At the end of the trek drive back to Beijing, the end of the tour