3 Days In-depth Beijing Great Wall Hiking Tour: Jiankou to Mutianyu & Gubeikou-Jianshanling-Simatai

Hiking Duration: Approximately 5 hours covering a 10km trek

Your private guide will be waiting for you in the lobby of your hotel in the morning. Today, you will start hiking the great wall from the rugged and untouched Jiankou section of the Great Wall to the well-restored beauty of the Mutianyu section. The entire hike will take approximately 5 hours for a 10km trek.

It takes about 2.5 hours to drive to Xizhazi Village, which is the starting point for hiking the Jiankou Great Wall. After hiking for approximately 1 hour, you will reach Zhengbeilou Tower on the wall atop the mountain ridge. Then, after passing multiple ancient watchtowers and trekking up and down along the mountain ridges, you will reach Mutianyu Great Wall in about 3hours. You will hike through the crumbling brickwork with many soil-grown obstacles, the totally unrestored section of the Wall.

There will be a sharp contrast when you arrive at Mutianyu, with its gloriously restored Great Wall masonry and watchtowers. Take a leisurely stroll for about 1 hour from No.23 Tower to No.10 Tower along its sturdy blockwork ramparts and then will descend from the wall.

Then, you will be transferred to the beautiful Gubei Water Town where you will stay overnight.

Hiking Duration: Approximately 4- 5 hours covering a 10km trek

After breakfast, you will embark on an exhilarating hike along the Gubeikou to Jinshanling section of the Great Wall. Compared to other sections of the great wall, this section has more rural and historical charm.

Gubeikou, known for its strategic importance, was a protective barrier for Beijing against northern Mongol invasions. Here, history enthusiasts and outdoor adventurers can walk in the same footsteps as ancient soldiers. As you traverse its ancient battlements, you're greeted with panoramic vistas of undulating hills and vast countryside. There are two main sections of the Wall here: the Panlongshan Great Wall and the Wohushan Great Wall. You will hike the Panlongshan Great Wall (Coiled Dragon Mountain), which is dotted with 40 towers, each with its unique features and look. The entire hike will take approximately 4-5 hours for a 10km trek, but this section is easier than Jiankou to Mutianyu Section.

Suggested Route:

Gubeikou Village - Panlongshan Great Wall - 24-Eyes Window Tower - Jinshanling Great Wall

Your hike begins at Gubeikou Village, which serves as the gateway to the Panlongshan Section. A two-hour hike will lead you to the 24-Eyes Window Tower. Then, you will need to detour along the basins of the Spider Valley. From here it is a gentle walk through the cornfields to the hilly trail to reach the Jinshanling Great Wall, which takes about 1.5 hours. Soon, you will reach West Five Window Tower of Jinshanling Great Wall, where we are going to spend one-hour hiking and photo taking and then descend from Zhuanduokou.

After the hike from Gubeikou to Jinshanling Great Wall, you will be transferred to Gubei Water Town again for an overnight stay.

Hiking Duration: Approximately 3 hours covering a 5km trek

After breakfast, drive for about 30 minutes to reach the Jinshanling Great Wall. Today's hike includes a 3-hour trek from the Jinshanling Great Wall to the western section of the Simatai Great Wall, covering a distance of approximately 5 km.

The Jinshanling Great Wall is one of the most photogenic parts of the Great Wall. It was named after the Greater and Lesser Jinshan Ranges, also known as the "paradise of photographers."

Your hike will start at the Zhuanduokou Pass, from where we will traverse the eastern section of the Jinshanling Great Wall, passing through iconic watchtowers such as the General Tower, Lesser Jinshan Tower, and Big Jinshan Tower, each with its unique charm and historical significance and excellent photo opportunities. After enjoying the views from these towers, we will head east towards Simatai and exit the Great Wall at East Five Window Tower at Simatai West. This section of the Great Wall is wild, ruined, original, preserved, and half-restored.

Your hike concludes at Simatai West, one of the most majestic sections of the Great Wall and also one of the less crowded ones. It’s steep slopes and remote location provide a profound sense of tranquility and adventure. Finally, you will head back to the Beijing city and be escorted to your hotel in Beijing.