TOUR A5: 
Two Different Great Walls (“Graceful”Mutianyu +“Majestic” Juyongguan)
One Day Tour (With Gourmet Chinese Lunch)

Between 7:30-8:00am you will be picked up at your hotel by your English-speaking guide and driver, and from there we will makethe approximately ninety-minute drive to the Great Wall at Juyongguan. Situated in a valley surrounded by mountains, Juyongguan Pass has long been a military stronghold. As early as the Spring and Autumn Period (770BC-476BC) and Warring States Period (476BC-221BC), the Yan State built fortifications here. In the Northern and Southern Dynasties (386-589), this section was linked to the Great Wall of China. This pass served as a natural barrier to the capital of Yuan (1271-1368) and Ming (1368-1644) Dynasties. Therefore, immediately after the founding of his reign, Zhu Yuanzhang, the first emperor of the Ming Dynasty, ordered the pass to be rebuilt to protect the borders from intrusions of the Mongolian tribe. Many fierce battles were fought here.

The pass is roughly circular with a perimeter of about 4,142 meters (about 4,530 yards). It consists of two passes, one in the south, one in the north, respectively called 'Nan Kou' and 'Badaling'. In the middle of the pass lies a high platform called 'Cloud Platform', which is made of white marble. In the Yuan Dynasty, three stone towers were built on the platform. At the end of Yuan Dynasty, they were burnt down. Later, a temple called 'Tai'an' was built on the site, but it was burnt down during the reign of Emperor Kang Xi of Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), after which only the platform remained. Inside the platform is an arched doorway. On the walls of the doorway, the statues of four heavenly gods and sutra scriptures are carved.

Juyongguan is not just a military stronghold, but also a beautiful scenic spot. Around the pass, beautiful flowers and lush trees dot the mountains. A splendid picture! As early as the Jin Dynasty (1115-1234), it was named as one of the eight best scenery of Beijing. The extant pass was built in the Ming Dynasty. In the Qing Dynasty, reconstruction work was neglected. In 1992 and 2000, the pass was renovated.

After a few hours of exploring the Juyongguan Great Wall, we’ll stop for lunch at a local restaurant. We’ll then drive on to the Great Wall at Mutianyu, which should take a little under an hour. As one of the best-preserved parts of the Great Wall, the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall used to serve as the northern barrier defending the capital and the imperial tombs. First built in the mid-6th century during the Northern Qi, Mutianyu Great Wall is older than the Badaling section of the Great Wall. In the Ming dynasty, under the supervision of General Xu Da, construction of the present wall began on the foundation of the wall of Northern Qi. In 1404, a pass was built in the wall. In 1569, the Mutianyu Great Wall was rebuilt and till today most parts of it are well preserved.

Compared with other sections of Great Wall, the Mutianyu Great Wall possesses unique characteristics in its construction. Watchtowers are densely placed along this section of the Great Wall - 22 watchtowers on this 2,250-meter-long stretch. The Mutianyu Pass consists of 3 watchtowers, one big in the center and two smaller on both sides. Standing on the same terrace, the three watchtowers are connected to each other inside and compose a rarely seen structure among all sections of Great Wall. To get on the wall, you can either walk up or take the cable car, but on the way down you can take a toboggan ride, which is a lot of fun and highly recommended!

Afterwards we will drive back to your hotel, and we should be back by 6:00pm, allowing you to have time for dinner and anything else you want to do that evening.

Mutianyu Chair Lift (Optional for RMB60)

Mutianyu Cable Car (Optional for RMB60)

Mutianyu Toboggan (German technology) - U.S. First Lady visited Mutianyu in April, 2014

Optional Toboggan Run at Mutianyu (extra for just RMB50 or $9, same as cable car/chair lift) You'll surely be intrigued about taking the toboggan down from Great Wall to the entrance gate down the hill. You can ride as fast or as slow as you want. However, it is also a driving test. One person to a toboggan, you have a little handle with which you press down to go faster and pull up to stop. But if you are not intentionally pushing it, it will slow down anyway. "It is funny when we Westerners are on there, because we like to go a bit quicker than the Chinese (ride a lot quicker) and you hear the shrill voices of locals shouting "brake! brake! Slow down!" It is hilarious. Go on it even if it is just to hear that." --taylorstonebridge on LonelyPlanet

Daily Departure: Sign up and you'll be on the way!

We depart daily! Please use the form on the left to submit your order immediately. This is the fastest way to register your tour.
Deadline: 8 PM the night before the hiking date.

Free hotel pick-up & drop-off! Free lunch!