Route map
Route illustration. Your guide will confirm the final trail, access and travel times before departure.
Detailed itinerary
Day 1 · Old Dragon's Head
Begin at Old Dragon’s Head beside the Bohai Sea and continue to Shanhaiguan Pass. The museum visit introduces the defenses and their position between coast and mountain. After dinner, walk through the old town before returning to the hotel. This first day sets the historical scene for the inland stages that follow.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner. Overnight: Shanhaiguan Hotel or similar.
Day 2 · Jiaoshan
Walk at Jiaoshan, where the Wall begins climbing away from the coastal plain. The planned distance is approximately nine kilometers, with time to negotiate rougher surfaces and enjoy views back toward Shanhaiguan. Successive towers reveal how the defenses adapted to a steeper landscape. Stay at the hotel specified for this part of the route.
Walking distance: 9 km. Walking time: 4 hours. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner. Overnight: Shanhaiguan Hotel or similar.
Day 3 · East Qing Tombs to Huangyaguan
Visit the Eastern Qing Tombs, then continue to Huangyaguan. Imperial burial architecture offers a useful change from continuous ridge walking, while the later fortress visit returns the focus to military design. Explore the distinctive street pattern within the defenses and settle into the local hotel before tomorrow’s more energetic climb.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner. Overnight: Huangyaguan Hotel or similar.
Day 4 · Peace Fort to Huangyaguan and Sky Ladder
Follow the line from Peace Fort toward the Huangyaguan Sky Ladder. The day combines watchtowers, steep steps and views over the fortress landscape. The planned walk is about 8.5 kilometers, but access and the group’s pace determine the higher turning point. Confirm the evening transfer and overnight base in the final program.
Walking distance: 8.5 km. Walking time: 4 hours. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner. Overnight: Huangyaguan Hotel or similar.
Day 5 · Jinshanling to West Simatai
Walk between Jinshanling and the western Simatai area, studying the variety of towers and the contrast between repaired and older surfaces. The exact direction depends on the entrances used for your departure. After the hike and a local meal, spend the night at the approved camp arranged for the group.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner. Overnight: Planned Great Wall camp, subject to permission.
Day 6 · Gubeikou-Jinshanling
Explore the Gubeikou–Jinshanling corridor, moving through fortifications that show the strategic importance of this mountain pass. The route brings weathered ridges and larger towers into the same day. Allow time to rest between climbs, then follow the agreed transfer to the overnight base for the final Jiankou stage.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Day 7 · Jiankou-Mutianyu
Conclude with the Jiankou–Mutianyu traverse. Rough mountain masonry gives way to a more extensively restored section, making the final day a useful comparison with the earlier coastal and eastern routes. Descend at the point agreed with your guide, have lunch and complete the return to Beijing under the confirmed schedule.
Walking distance: 11 km. Walking time: 4 hours. Meals: Breakfast, lunch.
Planning your visit
This route has a different finish from the inland seven-day trek: it starts at the coast and ends at Mutianyu. Confirm daily travel times, the camping night and the final pickup point.