Great Wall One-day Hike from Jiankou to Mutianyu
(With Lunch)

The day usually begins at 8:30 AM. Your guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel. We will drive by a private van to the Jiankou section of the Great Wall and start hiking to Mutianyu.

The Great Wall at Jiankou is located in the district of Huairou, about 80km/50miles northeast of Beijing. Jiankou Great Wall was an important section of the wall in Ming Dynasty (1368 – 1644). Owing to the need for renovation, the wall is regarded as one of the most dangerous sections of the Ming’s wall. For your safety, we are taking the path that is not dangerous but still breath-taking.

Before climbing the mountain, we'll first take a brief visit to a local village called Xizaizhi at the bottom of Jiankou Great Wall. We'll have the unique opportunity to see this typical village where Chinese farmers have been living for hundreds of years, using the same farming methods and inhabiting the same traditions and folk customs that have been passed down for generations upon generations. They still keep what they've been using for farming and living. You can visit their house and yards and you can chat and take photos with them. As you know, 80% of the Chinese living in this land are from the countryside and a large percentage of the population is still living in poverty. "EUROPEAN cities with an African countryside" is how a report published in China this month describes the gap between booming Beijing and the nearby "belt of poverty" in Hebei Province around them - Most Great Wall sections are located in Hebei province.

After saying "Good-bye!" to the village grandma, we'll start our hike just from the entry path opposite to the village. In order to hike on Jiankou, first we have to climb up this path for about 40-60 minutes to reach it. Our hike today will take about 4 hours and will cover 10km/ 6 miles. The Jiankou section is known for its ruggedness and wild beauty, and you will be in awe of the marvelous views it affords. As soon as we reach Jiankou we will see a deserted watchtower that gives you a panoramic view of the entire valley. In the early morning the view is priceless with its morning fog. This section of the wall is not well known by tourists, although if you see a picture of the Great Wall from exotic traveling magazines, chances are it is from Jiankou. This is the pinnacle of exotic Great Wall scenery.

We'll start from Zhengbeilou (see photo above) where is the best place to take photos. This part of the wall is often empty, so you will have some peace and serenity on your hike today. Another highlight of Jiankou is the enemy observation tower known as, "Ying Fei Dao Yang", so named because this watchtower was erected on the highest peak in the area, and eagles and hawks often perch on it. Although the majestic wall is slowly being conquered by small trees and brambles, but the view from the top is still stunning! However, it is pretty far from Zhengbeilou to see "Ying Fei Dao Yang" clearly.

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 popular for visiting foreign leaders and celebrities (former U.S. President Clinton and UK Prime Minister John Major visited Mutianyu on one of their trips to China).

You can hike down to the parking lot, take a cable car, or take a toboggan ride (highly recommended, and lots of fun!) down to meet our driver. We will then drive back to Beijing and drop you off at your hotel. This trip can be taken at any point in the year. Even in winter the snow-covered wall makes for perfect scenery.

It takes about 2 hours to drive back to Beijing from Mutianyu. Before that, we'll stop by a Chinese restaurant to treat you a lunch with traditional stir fries and rice. If you are vegetarian, there is no problem. We'll order special dishes for you.

Finally, your guide will you send you back to your hotel by 5 pm or earlier depending on the traffic. 

Mutianyu Toboggan (German technology)

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 (read 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   People at age 70 have managed the riding successfully. Can you?