Route map
Route illustration. Your guide will confirm the final trail, access and travel times before departure.
Detailed itinerary
Day 1 · Beijing to Old Dragon's Head
Travel from Beijing to the coast, allowing approximately four hours on the road. At Old Dragon’s Head, see where the Wall reaches the sea, then visit Shanhaiguan Pass and the Great Wall Museum. An evening walk through the old town offers a gentler introduction before the mountain hiking begins.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner. Overnight: Shanhaiguan Hotel or similar.
Day 2 · Jiaoshan Great Wall
Climb at Jiaoshan, where the Wall starts its inland ascent from the coastal plain. The terrain becomes more irregular as the route gains height, with older masonry and broad views over the approaches to Shanhaiguan. The program also mentions a transfer toward Dongjiakou; the evening base is settled in the final accommodation plan.
Walking distance: 9 km. Walking time: 4 hours. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner. Overnight: Shanhaiguan Hotel or similar.
Day 3 · East Qing Tombs to Huangyaguan
Take a break from continuous ridge walking to visit the Eastern Qing Tombs. The arrangement of ceremonial approaches and imperial burial sites reveals another side of northern China’s history. Continue to Huangyaguan to explore the Wall and the fortress’s Bagua-pattern streets before settling into the local hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner. Overnight: Huangyaguan Hotel or similar.
Day 4 · Peace Fort to Huangyaguan and Sky Ladder
Start from Peace Fort and work along the Huangyaguan ridge toward the Sky Ladder. Repeated climbs lead past towers and the higher defensive line. The demanding stairway is tackled only as conditions permit. Afterwards, the program continues toward the Jinshanling area; confirm the evening transfer and property when booking.
Walking distance: 9 km. Walking time: 4 hours. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner. Overnight: Huangyaguan Hotel or similar.
Day 5 · West Simatai to Jinshanling
Explore the West Simatai–Jinshanling corridor, walking between weathered towers and more extensively repaired sections. Changes in parapets and the position of the towers give the scenery an architectural interest as well as a mountain backdrop. The day finishes with the trek’s planned camping experience at the locally approved overnight site.
Walking distance: 8 km. Walking time: 3.5 hours. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner. Overnight: Planned Great Wall camp, subject to permission.
Day 6 · Jinshanling to Gubeikou
Head from Jinshanling toward Gubeikou, moving into an older, rougher landscape. Your guide explains how this corridor guarded the route to Beijing and why it became a battlefield again in 1933. After the walk, transfer toward Jiankou. The planned hostel and its location are reconfirmed as part of the departure arrangements.
Walking distance: 11 km. Walking time: 4.5 hours. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner. Overnight: Miss-U-Much Hostel.
Day 7 · Jiankou
Devote a full walking day to Jiankou’s mountain setting. Climb to a suitable ridge viewpoint, then follow the route chosen for the day’s access and weather. The towers stand above steep, wooded valleys, and surfaces may be loose or broken. Descend to a village inn for the night rather than rushing onward.
Walking distance: 9 km. Walking time: 4 hours. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner. Overnight: Laohe's Inn.
Day 8 · Jiankou to Mutianyu
Walk from the Jiankou area into Mutianyu’s restored section. The transition changes both the footing and the appearance of the towers, offering a useful comparison after several days among older ruins. Leave time for photographs before descending and transferring toward the Huanghuacheng area for the evening.
Walking distance: 9 km. Walking time: 4 hours. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner. Overnight: Good Fortune Inn.
Day 9 · Huanghuacheng Lakeside
Complete the journey beside Huanghuacheng’s reservoir. The route follows ridges and connecting paths toward views of the Wall descending to the water. A lakeside landscape provides a different finish from the earlier high mountain sections. Return to Beijing later in the day, with the listed city hotel or final drop-off confirmed in your booking.
Walking distance: 10 km. Walking time: 4 hours. Meals: Breakfast, lunch. Overnight: Holiday Inn Express or similar.
Planning your visit
This extended route combines hiking, road transfers and simple countryside stays. Your confirmed itinerary identifies the actual overnight base and transfer time for each day.