China7 days
Great Wall on Foot: Four Sections, Seven Days from Beijing
Hike the Huangyaguan, Wohushan, Jinshanling, and Simatai West sections over four days, with three nights in Beijing's city center.
This seven-day itinerary alternates between guided hiking on four distinct sections of the Great Wall and three nights based in central Beijing. The wall sections span different centuries—the Huangyaguan rebuilt during the Ming Dynasty, the Wohushan rising 665 meters above sea level, the Jinshanling where local farmers repurposed fallen bricks for their homes, and the Simatai West with its varied watchtower designs. Between hikes, the route includes the Summer Palace, Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, and a walking tour through a traditional Hutong neighborhood. Two nights are spent in village guesthouses near the wall itself, offering direct contact with rural communities that border the structure.
Highlights
- Hike the Huangyaguan section, built in the 6th century and rebuilt between the 14th and 17th centuries, with views across misty mountain ridges
- Walk the Wohushan section at 665 meters elevation, a 13.6-kilometer stretch engineered during the Ming Dynasty
- Hike 12 kilometers to Jinshanling, exploring the inner defensive circle and learning how local brick harvesting shaped the wall's erosion
- Trek the Simatai West section over mostly restored ground, observing the varied watchtower designs that punctuate the ridge
- Overnight in a village guesthouse and a farmer's house, with meals prepared by local residents
- Tour the Summer Palace's classical gardens in Beijing, once the residence of China's ruling emperors
- Walk through the Forbidden City, a 15th-century complex of ancient wooden structures that served as the political and ceremonial center of China's imperial families
- Visit a traditional Hutong neighborhood on foot, observing the alleyways and courtyard layout that define Old Beijing
Day by day
1Arrival in Beijinghotel in the city center · hotel · neighborhood surrounding your hotel · local restaurant · Beijing airport
Welcome to China. Upon arrival in Beijing, your private driver meets you at the airport and transfers you to a hotel in the city center. After you've had time to freshen up and settle in, a message with meeting details will be waiting at the hotel reception. In the early evening, gather for a group briefing on your tour itinerary. Afterward, take an orientation walk through the neighborhood surrounding your hotel to begin getting acquainted with the city. The day concludes with a group dinner at a local restaurant, giving you a chance to meet your fellow travelers and sample Beijing's culinary offerings.
2Summer Palace and First Steps on the Huangyaguan SectionSummer Palace · Huangyaguan section of the Great Wall · hotel near the wall
After breakfast, your guide meets you in the hotel lobby for a morning visit to the Summer Palace, a classical imperial residence featuring intricate gardens. In the early afternoon, you travel to the Huangyaguan section of the Great Wall. During the journey, your guide explains the history of this 26-mile section, which was built in the 6th century during the Northern Qi Dynasty and later reconstructed between the 14th and 17th centuries under the Ming Dynasty. Upon arrival, you walk along the battlements, taking in the view of distant mountains across the ridgeline. You stay overnight at a hotel near the wall.
3Gubeikou and Wohushan: Ming Dynasty Wall and Village StayGubeikou · Huangyaguan West section of the Great Wall · Wohushan section · local village guesthouse
Begin with a morning hike around the Huangyaguan West section of the Great Wall before driving approximately two hours to Gubeikou. After lunch, you'll hike the Wohushan section, a 13.6-kilometer stretch built during the Ming Dynasty. Standing at 665 meters above sea level, this section is considered a masterpiece of wall engineering, renowned for its historical significance and architectural ingenuity. The hike takes three to four hours, allowing time to absorb the remarkable views and design details that make this section distinctive. In the evening, you'll stay in a local village guesthouse, an opportunity to spend time with friendly residents and gain insight into their daily life and culture in this remote corner of Hebei Province.
4Jinshanling Hike and Farmer's House OvernightJinshanling · inner defensive circle within the wall · local farmer's house in the village of Erdaoliang Jinshanling
A four- to five-hour hike covering 12 kilometers brings you to Jinshanling, with breaks for lunch, photography, and rest throughout the day. Your guide explains the local vegetation and points out sections of the wall where farmers removed bricks to construct their own homes, resulting in visible deterioration of the structure. You visit an inner defensive circle within the wall, which served as a secondary fortification in case of attack. You spend the night at a local farmer's house in the village of Erdaoliang Jinshanling.
5Simatai West: One Final Hike Along the Great WallSimatai West · your guesthouse · a restaurant run by a local farmer · Beijing
After a home-cooked breakfast at your guesthouse, you continue your Great Wall adventure with a hike to Simatai West. This 7-mile route covers mostly paved ground, though sections remain unrestored, requiring you to navigate stairs and steep inclines as the path winds through the landscape. As you hike, take time to photograph the wall snaking through hillsides, crowned by watchtowers that each possess their own character—some topped with flat roofs, others with rounded ones. The architectural variety reflects centuries of construction and repair across this ancient structure. Midway through, you'll stop for lunch at a restaurant run by a local farmer, a chance to rest and refuel before continuing. After completing the hike, you head back to Beijing for your final overnight stay, bringing your Wall exploration to a close.
6Beijing City Walking Tour: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, and HutongTiananmen Square · Forbidden City · traditional Hutong neighborhood
A day-long walking tour of Beijing begins with a metro ride to Tiananmen Square, one of the world's largest public squares. You then walk to the Forbidden City, a 15th-century complex of wooden structures that functioned as the political and ceremonial center of China's imperial families. After exploring the site's architecture and courtyards, your guide leads you through a traditional Hutong neighborhood, where you observe the alleyways and intimate courtyard layout that characterize Old Beijing's residential fabric.
7Beijing Departure
Your seven-day journey through China concludes today. Depending on your flight time, you may relax at your hotel until checkout, or spend a final few moments enjoying Beijing's streets and sights. We hope this visit has left you with memorable memories as you make your way home.
Where you go
- 1Beijing
- 2Tiananmen Square
- 3Forbidden City
Included
- · 4 x nights accommodation in double room in 3-star hotel
- · 2 x nights accommodation in double room at a local guesthouse
- · 3 x breakfast, 3 x lunch, 4 x dinner
- · Private transfers in an air-conditioned car
- · Airport transfer on first and last day
- · English speaking guide on excursions
- · Entrance fees included for all included activities
Not included
- Excluded
- · International flights
- · Travel Insurance
- · Chinese Visa