5-Day Small-Group Great Wall of China Hiking Tour from Beijing

Experience the awe-inspiring beauty of the Great Wall of China on this comprehensive 5-day hiking tour from Beijing. In a small group limited to 15 people, you’ll walk in the footsteps of ancient warriors, discover the complex architecture of the wall and enjoy the breathtaking scenery. On several evenings, you’ll have the opportunity to interact with local families and feast on traditional Chinese home-cooked meals with local families. Don’t miss out on this unforgettable Great Wall of China hiking tour!

This 5-Day Great Wall of China hiking tour gives you the chance to walk on various sections of this man-made architectural masterpiece, measuring 5,500 miles (8,851 km) with a history of more than 2,000 years. As you explore the wall from its renovated sections of the wall to parts in their original condition, you will see how stunning it truly is and learn about its long history. This trip entails long walks averaging 6 miles a day and some steep inclines, but will be balanced with comfortable transfers, accommodations, meals and interaction with local families.

See the Itinerary section below for details on each day. 

Schedule details

Departure Dates:

Select a month to view a calendar of availability and departure details.

Departure Point:

9 Dragons International Youth Hostel, Beijing

Departure Time:

7:30-8am

Return Details:

Returns to your Beijing hotel

Pricing information

Click the link below to check pricing & availability on your preferred travel date. Our pricing is constantly updated to ensure you always receive the lowest price possible.

Additional information

Inclusions:

• 4 nights accommodation
• All transfers from departure point and between sites as listed
• Entrance fees
• 2 bottles of water per day
• All meals included
• Dumpling-making demonstration
• Bilingual guide
• Hotel pickup and drop-off
• Local guide

Exclusions:

• Gratuities (optional)

Additional Information:

• Confirmation will be received at time of booking

Itinerary:

Day 1: Beijing, Eastern Qing Tombs, Huangyaguan
Meet your guide in the morning and then drive to the Eastern Qing Tombs, one of the best-preserved mausoleum complexes in China.

After lunch, your guide will drive you to the Huangyaguan (Yellow Cliff Pass) section of the Great Wall for your afternoon hike of 1.8 miles (3 km). Huangyaguan captures the essence of the Great Wall, with its diverse architecture contained in one section. Climb up to the mountain peak and see the Phoenix Tower and the Bagua (Eight Trigrams) Village, a labyrinth designed to confuse and entrap the enemy. Admire the view of the cliffs and crags as the wall snakes off into the distance.

Spend the night in a simple and comfortable hotel with a private bathroom.

Day 2: Huangyaguan-Panlongshan-Jinshanling
Begin with a 6 mile (10km) hike at Panlongshan (Coiling Dragon Mountain), famous for its strategic position for military defense. There are 84 towers on the Panlongshan Great Wall, providing picturesque architectural and natural scenery. The climb is challenging in certain areas, but reasonable compared to the rest of the Great Wall. Arrive at Jinshanling (Golden Mountain Range), where you will be driven to a 3-star hotel at the foot of the Great Wall for your overnight stay. Enjoy dinner at the hotel or a local restaurant.
      
Day 3: Jinshanling-Gubeikou-Huanghuacheng
Continue your hike of 6 miles (10 km) westward from Jinshanling until you reach the General Tower at Gubeikou, an important defensive point protecting the northern gateway to the capital. Gubeikou is one of the less developed sections of the wall, making the hike more challenging. Enjoy lunch on the wall (included) and savor the view of the beautiful countryside. Then, hike to a small village at the foot of Huanghuacheng. In the evening, enjoy a pleasant evening of Chinese hospitality over dumpling-making and conversation with a local family.

Spend the night in Huanghuacheng with a local farmer's house. Two guests will share a room together, and bathrooms will be shared with the family. The condition of the house is simple and clean. Enjoy an authentic Chinese experience as you stay overnight in a local family's house! Learn about the lives of rural Chinese people as you live alongside them.

Day 4: Huanghuacheng-Xishuiyu
Continue your trek of the Great Wall, climbing 5 miles (8 km) from Huanghuacheng (Yellow Flower Wall) to Xishuiyu (Western Water Resort). As Huanghuacheng has not benefited from restoration, this section makes for a unique wall experience. When you reach the middle section of the wall, you’ll see the countryside covered with yellow flowers (from April to October). Continue on to the Xishuiyu section, where part of the wall is submerged. In 1974, China built the Xishuiyu Reservoir, and when the water level rose, some low-lying sections of the wall were submerged under the water. As you stand on the dam of the reservoir, this grand sunken wall is still visible under the water’s glimmering surface.

After a day of hiking, you’ll be driven to a local village where you’ll spend another evening with a local farmer and his family. Feast on a delicious Chinese dinner and stay overnight in the farmer’s cozy home, where you’ll be well taken care of before your final day of hiking. The overnight accommodations will be similar to the night before.

Day 5: Jiankou-Mutianyu
Spend your last day climbing 6 miles (10 km) up to Jiankou (Arrow Nock), the most beloved section of the Great Wall for most hikers. Jiankou is famous for its ruggedness and wild beauty, as well as for the majestic views it affords. As soon as you reach the peak of Jiankou, you’ll see a watchtower and enjoy panoramic views of the whole valley. This section of the wall is not commonly visited by tourists, so you can enjoy a few moments of tranquility.

From Jiankou, continue to Mutianyu (Admiring Field of Valley), a section of the wall that has been well-restored. Mutianyu is notable for its Ming dynasty guard towers and striking views of the valley and wall below.
 
There are three options to meet your driver in the parking lot: hike down, take a cable car or ride a toboggan. Enjoy a tasty barbecue fish lunch at a local restaurant and then head back to Beijing. For dinner, dine on mouth-watering Peking duck, a quintessential Beijing dish. You will then be dropped off at your hotel in Beijing.

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Local Operator Information:

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