7 Day Great Wall Odyssey

Day 1 · Shixiaguan-Badaling

Shixiaguan (Stone Gorge) Pass is 5km southwest of the Badaling section of the Great Wall. It is one of the most intact parts of the whole Great Wall. Despite severe damage, the volute wall set in the lofty mountains reveals its grandeur. However, a castle in Shixiaguan was pulled down during the Great Leap Forward. Nevertheless, the Wall remains relatively intact because of its strategic location. Shixiaguan Pass was initially built in the reign of Ming Emperor Wanli (about 1600 AD), which was then a key pass guarded by a large number of soldiers.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Good Fortune Inn

Day 2 · Huanghuacheng Lakeside

Huanghuacheng is the only section that sits beside the lakes, so it is called Lakeside Great Wall. Since the lake breaks this section of the Great Wall into three segments naturally, its uniqueness might surprise you.

The Huanghuacheng Reservoir lies here, shaped like a curved moon. The Wall's highest point is a broken watchtower, and from there, you will have a broad panoramic view of the whole valley. From this summit, the Wall dives steeply downwards into the valley.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Camping on the Wal

Day 3 · Jiankou to Mutianyu

From Jiankou we will cross over onto Mutianyu, a section of the Wall that has been largely restored. Although it has gotten a face-lift, it avoids the army of tourists that plague Badaling. 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 the teachings of Chairman Mao.” Mutianyu has also become famous for visiting foreign leaders and celebrities.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Camping on the Great Wall at Gubeikou

Day 4 · Gubeikou-Jinshanling

Gubeikouis mostly Wild Wall. It was first built during the Northern Qi Dynasty (550-557) and rebuilt in Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The Wall here streches for about 40 kilometers with 172 watchtowers, 14 beacon towers, 16 passes, 3 water passes, 3 barbarians, and 6 fortresses along with it.

In 1933, the Chinese army fought against Japanese invasion troops at Gubeikou. In the four-month-long battles, the Chinese soldiers killed over 5,000 enemies but lost 9,000 their own lives. You can see that Gubeikou is not merely a relic, but it remained a battlefield in the modern world.

We will return to Beijing in the late afternoon.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Camping on the Wal

Day 5 · Jinshanling to West Simatai

Our hike will start from Simatai, and we will make our way west along the wall into Jinshanling. It is the classic Great Wall that hikers are very thrilled about. Wall enthusiasts have done. The Wall runs from deteriorated wild state to the restored in the end to allow hikers to compare the differences between the two wall status.

Tonight, we will camp on the Great Wall in an ancient watchtower.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Huangyaguan Hotel at the foot of the Wall

Day 6 · Huangyaguan Sky Ladder

Today we'll start with Peace Fort (Taipingzhai) that begins from Banlagang Mountain in the east and arriving at Guafu Tower (Widow Tower) in the west. There are six watchtowers, one battlement, and one shortcut leading to the wall.

Waking westward, we will get to the steepest segment of this section, the Huangya Sky Ladder. It stretches to the ridge, seemingly leads to the sky. Climbing over the ladder, we will reach the primitive Great Wall built in the Northern Qi Dynasty, marking the end of the Huangyaguansection.

We will transfer to Baiyangyu tonight.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Baiyangyu Hostel

Day 7 · Baiyangyu

Baiyangyu enjoys the outstanding reputation of marble Great Wall. "Baiyangyu" literally means "White Sheep Valley." A river called Baiyang River passes the valley from north to south. There used to be a grand water pass of the Great Wall bridging the valley, which now divides the Baiyangyu Great Wall into two sections – East and West. The east branch of the Wall has a 1.5km unique marble wall, 10km high and 5m complete, rarely seen among other wall sections.

We will end this adventure tonight.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch