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1-day
Great Wall Hiking |
Great Wall Hiking Map
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Breaking News
Starting on June 17, 2010, Simatai has been
closed for renovation by the government. However, Great Wall
Adventure Club has managed to make the previous Great Wall hike
at this location more exciting and invigorating by developing
new paths and programs following a series of trials and close
inspections. |
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Average Challenging Grade:
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Climb the Great Wall to be a hero! -Chairman
Mao
Our 1-day Great Wall hiking programs is our bread and butter and
is what made us famous. With our 1-day programs you can see the
best of the Great Wall in style and comfort, and which will also
allow you to be back in Beijing by
nightfall. Except for snow and inclement weather, these programs
are available all year round. With these programs you can see
the most famous sections of the Great Wall, the ones that you
have probably scene on postcards, National geographic, and the
like. You can venture across the dramatic ruins of
Jiankou, walk
through the graceful watchtowers of Mutianyu, visit the
relatively tourist-free sections of
Huanghuacheng and
Xishuiyu,
or take the challenge of our most popular Great Wall trip, the
hike between Gubeikou and
Jinshanling, which gives you the full
Great Wall experience, from tastefully restored watchtowers and
brick to the spectacular real “Great Wall” in its unrestored
splendor. Your travel guides are fully licensed to provide
stimulating and thoughtful tours for hikers to the Great Wall,
and are with you throughout your trip, allowing you to have a
fun, informative, and safe trip.
In addition to our hiking tours, we have also added non-private bus tours
to hike on Jinshanling, Badaling and Mutianyu. Some trips also
includes another free tour to the Ming Tomb’s Dingling Tomb.
In order to make the cost as low as possible, we’ll group you
and other travelers together into a Toyota mini-van. These tours
are perfect for budget travelers.
CHOOSING YOUR GREAT WALL HIKING ROUTE: 1AA, 1B AND Their
Sunset Version 1S1, 1S2
Tour 1AA
(the hike from Gubeikou to
Jinshanling) is our best selling
route. At Gubeikou, you can see Great Wall that was built both
2000 years ago and 400 years ago. So this tour lets you see the
most ancient portions of the wall. In other sections such as
Jiankou or Mutianyu on 1B and 1S, you can only see the parts
built about 400 years ago. Also, Gubeikou was used as a
battlefield during China's war of resistance against the
Japanese invasion (WWII). It is a surprise to many hikers that
the Great Wall was used as a battlefield during WWII. In
addition, Jinshanling is a UNESCO Heritage Site and has all the
unique features in construction and design that the Great Wall
utilizes to defend the country effectively.
1S2 is
primarily the sunset version of hiking from Gubeikou to
Jinshanling (1AA) with dinner included.
For 1B and
1S1, both the hike from
Jiankou to Mutianyu are the same, and 1S1 starts later around
noon. For 1S1 you'll have the chance to finish your hike and view
the Great Wall during the sunset. You can take photos of the
sunset, which is a wholly unique opportunity. 1S costs a little
bit more because of the late start time. For both tours, the Jiankou Great Wall is the greatest spot to take the most
breath-taking shots (although you can take great pictures with
1AA, too) of the dramatic ruins of the Great Wall. However, Mutianyu is a rebuilt section of the Wall, so if you want to see
the original Great Wall, you can stay longer at Jiankou. At
Mutianyu, if you take 1B, you can try the toboggan ride to get
down from the wall, which is a thrilling and exciting way to end
your time on the wall (the ride is fit for all ages).
1B was the best
seller of 2010 and
1AA
is currently the best
seller of 2011. Both take you to
unrestored sections, therefore you'll find most of the Wall has
been overtaken by foliage leaving only a footpath to walk along.
"Once on the wall you'll be treated to magnificent views in all
directions," said a former Great Wall hiker.1S1
and 1S2 are new
sunset routes that was created from the
feedback and input from many clients who wanted to catch the
beauty of sunset on the Great Wall. If you have time and are
interested in sleeping in the Great Wall's watchtowers, you can
consider taking the overnight route
2AA,
which combines the values of 1AA and 1B into one, or 2SS1 and
2SS2 that include sunset and sunrise viewing.
| Private Tours and Trip Codes |
Is This trip for me? |
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With this relaxing half-day tour, you can
take in what is perhaps the most photographed portion of the
Great Wall in a comfort and worry-free way. After being picked
up at 8am (or 1pm if you wish) we'll make the drive to Mutianyu,
which features some beautifully restored wall. Mutianyu is known
for its watchtowers, the way it slopes and glides across the
hills, and for its sweeping vistas. Mutianyu (which was featured
in the Karate Kid remake) which has played host to world leaders
on their China state visit, is a very easy walk, and can be
experienced by young and old alike. For the kid in you, there is
a thrilling toboggan ride down from the wall which can be done
at the end of your walk.
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CHALLENGING LEVEL: ●○○○○
POPULARITY RANK:
Great for busy traveler
Flexible departure in the morning or afternoon
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Due to the recent closure of the Simatai Great Wall for repairs
and maintenance, Route 1A has been replaced with this
alternative route. Although it is unfortunate about the
temporary closure of Simatai, this program still offers all that
you would expect from a premium Great Wall experience. You still
get the classically restored and graceful peaks of the Jinshanling, and the unrestored “wild wall” of Gubeikou (which
takes the place of Simatai). This makes for a wonderful lesson
on the uses and purpose of the Great Wall, as the sections here
were placed at a highly strategic point to keep out northern
invaders. Not being nearly as crowded as other Great Wall
section, this Great Wall hike is an excellent way for a family
to spend a day at the Great Wall!
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CHALLENGING LEVEL: ●●●●○
POPULARITY RANK:
Vist the Great Wall built
2000 years ago
Super views
Highest physical demand |
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This Great Wall hike, which is relatively
easy, makes for a great family day out at the Great
Wall. Like the hike from
Jinshanling to Simatai, this program is a exceptional for those
who only have a little time in Beijing and want to get the most
out of their Great Wall experience. This hike starts at the
Great Wall of Jiankou, which features some amazing ruins and
scenes of rustic beauty. The wall here is in its unrestored
state, and is quickly becoming popular for photographers and
Great Wall enthusiasts alike. Midway through the hike you'll
pass over into the Great Wall at Mutianyu, which might be the
most famous section of the Great Wall. With grand watchtowers
and lovely brickwork, it is striking contrast to Jiankou,
allowing you to compare and contrast these two sections of the
Great Wall.
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CHALLENGING LEVEL: ●●●○○
POPULARITY RANK:
Beautiful views, often the
photographer's paradise
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This Great Wall hike is similar to Route 1B, but rather than
starting in the morning, you will be picked up from your hotel
at 2pm, arriving at the
Jiankou Great Wall later in the
afternoon. Jiankou is renowned for its dramatic ruins and is a
prime example of the unrestored “wild wall”. Midway through your
hike you'll cross over into the Great Wall at
Mutianyu, a prime
piece of restored Great Wall which bends and twists over the
countryside. From Mutianyu, you will have the chance to witness
the gorgeous sunset that will drape itself over the wall, so
make sure you have your cameras ready! As this hike starts later
in the day you'll be able to escape the heat, making this trip
suitable for all ages.
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CHALLENGING LEVEL: ●●●○○
POPULARITY RANK:
See the sunset
on Great Wall |
Jingshanling
has long been the representative of the Great Wall in both
paintings and photographs, such as when the Great Wall is
showcased in important places, such as the National Congress
Hall of China. Watching the sunset over Jinshanling is a
unique chance to catch the natural beauty and grandeur of
the Great Wall. By taking our Sunset tour from
Gubeikou to Jinshanling, you will
be amazed by the views you have only seen on TV and travel
magazines. Seeing the Great Wall at sunset will give you
both the impetus and passion to shoot like a professional
photographer rather than just a Great Wall hiker.
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CHALLENGING LEVEL: ●●●●○
POPULARITY RANK:
Vist the Great Wall built
2000 years ago
Magnificent sunset view |
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In addition to spending time on one one the best sections of the
Great Wall, you'll also get to explore the Eastern Qing Tombs,
which is the final resting place for many of China's last ruling
dynasty. The day starts with a drive out to the Great Wall at Huangyaguan. The great thing about Huangyaguan
was that it was designed as a miniature version of the
entire Great Wall, giving you an understanding of the
Great Wall's functions and features without having to
walk the whole thing! From there we'll drive
to the Eastern Qing tombs, a sprawling tomb complex that many
feel is much more exciting than the Ming Tombs. Here is the
final resting place of five emperors, four empresses, five
imperial concubines, and one princess of China's last imperial
dynasty, the Qing.
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CHALLENGING LEVEL: ●●○○○
POPULARITY RANK:
Cultural tour with Great Wall
hike for those who are more interested in China's
history |
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This program, which is recommended for
families, offers a wide range of opportunities for fun and
enjoyment. You can experience an unrestored section of the Great
Wall in its natural state (Lianhuachi), in an uncrowded and
relaxed environment, as this section is relatively unknown to
tourists. Afterwards, you'll take in one of the most famous parts
of the Great Wall at Mutianyu, which is renowned for its
picturesque vistas and has been visited by scores of world
leaders on their China visit. On the way home, we'll pay tribute
to modern China, with a visit to Beijing's Olympic Park, and
especially its two standout features, the Bird's Nest Stadium
and the Water Cube.
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CHALLENGING LEVEL: ●●○○○
POPULARITY RANK:
Good for families
Lower cost |
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The trip will start with
a drive to the Great Wall at Huanghuacheng. Huanghuacheng, which
is fast becoming popular with hikers, features classically
restored brickwork and the way that it glides and bends across
the mountainside. Situated along a lake, Huanghuacheng is a
picturesque section of wall, so remember to bring your camera.
About halfway through the hike we'll pass over into Xishuiyu, a
section of the Great Wall, a little known section of Great Wall
that is unrestored, meaning that the “wild wall” starts to take
hole. As we walk along the ruins of the wall here, you will get
to see something truly special, the broken Great Wall running
underwater.
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CHALLENGING LEVEL: ●●●○○
POPULARITY RANK:
Picturesque of Great Wall |
 Route 1L:
Shentangyu-Mutianyu
(Coming this
summer)
With about 2/3 of the hike from Jiankou to Mutianyu, this
route is perfect for those who do not want to hike for long
hours but still experience the taste of hiking and view the
Great Wall.
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CHALLENGING LEVEL: ●●○○○
POPULARITY RANK:
Picturesque of Great Wall |
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Great Wall Single Section Group Tours and Trip Codes |
Is This trip for me? |
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When you see a photo from the Great Wall of China, chances are
it is from the section at Badaling. The portion of the wall at
Badaling has undergone heavy restoration, and in 1957 it
was the first section of the wall to be open to
tourists.
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CHALLENGING LEVEL: ●○○○○
POPULARITY RANK:
Nearest Great Wall
section to the city
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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 Chairman Mao”. You can hike
down to the parking lot or take a toboggan (highly
recommended, and lots of fun!) down to the bus.
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CHALLENGING LEVEL: ●○○○○
POPULARITY RANK:
Best-rated section
of the Wall close to the city
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You will have about 3 hours for your
hike from the Great Wall at Huanghuacheng to Xishuiyu, the
beautiful sections of the Great Wall by water.
The distance is about 8km. You'll be hiking about 12
watchtowers. This is wild section of the Great Wall.
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CHALLENGING LEVEL: ●●○○○
POPULARITY RANK:
Group tour that
shares the cost to hike this famous wild Great Wall
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