3B Great Wall Under Water links Chengde, Panjiakou, Xifengkou. The program balances walking, transfers, meals and overnight arrangements across a longer section of the Wall.
Summary
3B Great Wall Under Water links Chengde, Panjiakou, Xifengkou. The program balances walking, transfers, meals and overnight arrangements across a longer section of the Wall.
Route map
Schematic route · not to scale
Route stop
Brief itinerary
Day 1 · Beijing to Chengde
Day 2 · Chengde-Panjiakou and Xifengkou Great Wall
Day 3 · Xifengkou to Beijing
Detailed itinerary
Day-by-day route details from our original tour program. Confirm the departure time, walking distance, meals, lodging and permitted campsite in your booking proposal; these may change with access and weather.
Day 1 · Beijing to Chengde
Accommodation: Farmer's Inn
Meals: Lunch and dinner
Water: Unlimited bottles
Your guide will meet you at your hotel between 7:30-8:00 AM. You will then head for Chengde by private car. Once in Chengde, you will visit the Mountain Resort (known as the Bishushangzhuang in Chinese), a vast imperial garden once used as the summer retreat of the Qing Dynasty, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The resort is famous for 72 scenic posts.
After lunch, you will visit the Small Potala Palace (Putouzongsheng in Chinese), which was modeled after the Potala Palace of Tibet. It makes up one of the “Eight Outer Temples of Chengde”. You can enjoy the fusion of Chinese and Tibetan architecture at the palace and marvel at the Buddhist sculptures and orange yellow-tiled roofs.
After visiting the palace, you will check in a local hotel. You’ll enjoy a delicious dinner and an evening walk around the city of the Qing emperors' former summer retreat.
Day 2 · Chengde-Panjiakou and Xifengkou Great Wall
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Farmer's Inn
Water: Unlimited bottles
You will meet your guide at your hotel between 7:30-8:00 AM and drive directly to the Xifengkou Natural Resort, located 60km/37 miles northwest of Qinxi County, Hebei province. Upon arrival, you will take a boat to the Panjiakou reservoir where you can enjoy a picturesque picnic lunch by the lake and the wall.
After lunch, you will start your afternoon hiking on Xifengkou Great Wall. For about 5km/1.5 miles. At the Xifengkou section, you will witness the unique spectacle of “the Great Wall under the water.” The view of the flickering ancient Great Wall between mountains and blue waves, the straight isolated watchtowers and beacon towers on the peaks, and the green ranges of hills all will give you a feeling of wonder and amazement.
That night you will rest up and recharge by staying in a local farmer’s house. The farmer and family will prepare you for a splendid dinner. It will also be a memorable experience to dine with a local family. Be sure to get a night of good sleep, because you will have a lot to see tomorrow!
Day 3 · Xifengkou to Beijing
Meals: Breakfast and lunch
Water: Unlimited bottles
After waking up at 7:00 AM and having breakfast in the hotel, you start climbing Xifengkou. There you will have the pleasure of exploring some of the natural wonders of Beijing. The attractions here rarely get crowded. If there are tourists, it's mostly Chinese, so this will feel truly more authentic than visiting most of the sites in Beijing or more of the Great Wall's well-known sections.
Due to the Panjiakou Reservoir construction, the central part of the wall has been submerged by the rising water. However, it is still dimly visible, making it a unique sight along the Great Wall. Look down at the Xifengkou Great Wall from the top of the mountain, and you will see that it looks like a giant dragon zigzagging through the water. We'll take a walk along the Xifengkou Great Wall for two hours. Afterward, we will drive back to Beijing and arrive at your hotel at around 7:00 PM.
What we confirm
Meeting point and departure window
Admissions, tickets and local transport
Guide language, meals and accommodation
Walking level, luggage and weather plan
Return point or onward connection
Before you proceed
Share the relevant dates, group size and priorities. We will provide the current details in writing and identify anything that must be booked separately or may change with access, schedules or local conditions.
Original Great Wall stonework and watchtowers — from the Great Wall Adventure Club source site.
What makes this experience different
More than a viewpoint
Walk tower to tower and understand how the Wall follows the natural defense line.
A route for your pace
We distinguish gentler restored paths from demanding unrestored ridges before you choose.
Local route knowledge
Entrances, exits, seasonal conditions and transfer logistics are checked for your date.
TerrainStone steps, ridges and uneven historic paths
Best seasonsSpring and autumn; summer and winter need extra planning
BringGrippy footwear, water, layers and sun protection
Designed around real travelers
Every departure is matched to the group’s dates, ages, interests, walking experience and preferred comfort level. Tell us what matters most—quiet trails, photography, history, a physical challenge, family time or a broader China itinerary—and we will explain the most practical options without hiding the tradeoffs.
Questions worth asking before booking
How much time is spent walking, driving and stopping?
Which parts of the route are restored, unrestored, steep or exposed?
What is included, and what should we carry or arrange ourselves?
What changes if weather, access rules or transport schedules affect the plan?
Keep exploring
Compare more multi-day treks or talk to us about a custom route.
