Route map
Route illustration. Your guide will confirm the final trail, access and travel times before departure.
Detailed itinerary
Day 1 · Shixiaguan-Badaling
Begin at Shixiaguan near the less-developed Badaling defenses. The mountain pass provides an introduction to older walls and the way the fortifications follow the ridges. Your guide sets a sustainable pace for the week rather than rushing the first climb. Continue to the countryside inn named in the program for dinner and overnight.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner. Overnight: Good Fortune Inn.
Day 2 · Huanghuacheng Lakeside
Explore Huanghuacheng above the reservoir, where the defensive line meets a landscape of water and forested slopes. Walk the accessible ridge and connecting paths, pausing to trace sections descending toward the shoreline. This is the first planned camping night, and the approved overnight location is identified in your departure arrangements.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner. Overnight: Planned Great Wall camp, subject to permission.
Day 3 · Jiankou
Spend a day within the Jiankou landscape before attempting the crossing to Mutianyu. Forested valleys, old towers and steep ridges reward a measured pace and regular stops. The walking line is chosen around local access and your group’s confidence on uneven ground. Return to the listed countryside lodging after the hike.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner. Overnight: Good Fortune Inn.
Day 4 · Jiankou-Mutianyu
Walk from Jiankou into restored Mutianyu, where repaired ramparts make the change in conservation especially apparent. Towers and valley views provide frequent places to pause along the permitted route. After descending, transfer toward Gubeikou. The planned plan includes a camp there, with equipment and permissions confirmed before the journey.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner. Overnight: Camping on the Great Wall at Gubeikou.
Day 5 · Gubeikou-Jinshanling
Follow the Gubeikou–Jinshanling corridor through older defenses and a sequence of changing towers. The walk offers a close view of the pass’s military position and the gradual transition toward Jinshanling’s larger structures. End the day at the arranged campsite, allowing the evening to remain part of the outdoor experience.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner. Overnight: Planned Great Wall camp, subject to permission.
Day 6 · Jinshanling to West Simatai
Explore the ridge between Jinshanling and the western Simatai area. Follow the entrances and direction specified for your date, comparing weathered stretches with repaired steps and parapets. After the hike, leave the eastern ridges for Huangyaguan and settle into the hotel at the foot of the Wall.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner. Overnight: Huangyaguan Hotel.
Day 7 · Huangyaguan Sky Ladder
Finish the week with Huangyaguan and the Sky Ladder. The route rises through a different fortress landscape before reaching the steep stairway toward the upper defenses. The guide sets an appropriate turning point for the group. After the final descent and lunch, follow the agreed return arrangements to Beijing.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch.
Planning your visit
A week of hiking calls for preparation for steep steps and consecutive active days. Confirm each camp’s permission, the balance of camping and inns, and the walking distance assigned to each day.