Great Wall Sunset Hike at Jinshanling and West Simatai
(followed by
gourmet dinner)
TOUR
1S3: Beautiful Sunset Views at Jinshanling Great Wall
Popularity Ranking: 
*Ranked by the quantity of signups of
all 1-day hiking routes.
Impossible is a word to be found
only in the dictionary of fools. -Napoleon Bonaparte
Highlight
- Witness
something that most travelers never ever reach see-both the dawn and
sunset over the Great Wall. This view will take your breath away, as
well as will be just one of the most photogenic opportunities of
your China see.
- On this walking you will certainly get the best of both Great Wall
worlds, both wonderfully brought back wall, in addition to the wild
as well as remarkable unrestored Wild Wall, making the walking much
more interesting than others.
- Dinner in a good restaurant at the foot of the Great Wall is
included!
Departure:
Our Great Wall hiking is a
private service. What this means is that you can hike on the Great
Wall at any time at your convenience. If you
would much rather be part of a group for
the experience for economic and social reasons,
we'll check to see if there are more signups for the same date as
your own. We'll keep you updated whenever there are more. If you
would like to keep your tour a private one, please let us know and
we'll assign you a guide and driver.
Detailed Hiking Itinerary: (10 km/6
miles on mountain, 3 hours
of hiking)
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 In order for you to catch the sunset we’ll be starting
your tour later in the day. You will be picked up from
your hotel between 10 and 11am, and from there we’ll
drive out to the Simatai West Great Wall. The Simatai
West to Jinshanling path-and-wall-top walk is about 11
kilometers (7 miles). You’ll take in 37 watch towers: 14
watch towers on the Jinshanling section and 23 towers in
the Simatai West portion.
While the eastern portion of Simatai has been
permanently closed, the western section of the Simatai
Great Wall is still open to hikers. The Simatai section
of the Great Wall is one of the few sections to retain
the original appearance of the Great Wall. It’s very
varied in makeup. Simatai has many characteristics of
other Great Wall sections, and some unique features of
its own. It is often described with the following five
words: perilous, dense, diverse, artful, and peculiar.
The Simatai Section of the Great Wall was originally
constructed in the Northern Qi Dynasty (550–577). It was
rebuilt and extended in the early Hongwu years
(1368–1398) of the Ming Dynasty. Like most sections of
the Ming Dynasty Great Wall often visited today, this
section also underwent construction under the
supervision of General Qi Jiguang (1528–1588).
After about ninety minutes-two hours of hiking we will
eventually cross into the Jinshanling Great Wall. The
Great Wall at Jinshanling is one of the best preserved
parts of the Great Wall with many original features. It
got its name because it was built on the Greater and
Lesser Jinshan ('Gold Mountain') Ranges. The Great Wall
at Jinshanling was initially built from 1368 to 1389 in
the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644), and in 1567 and 1570
rebuilding of the Wall was mainly directed by General Qi
Jiguang (1528–1588). The most special features of this
section are the 31 watchtowers. According to the
different terrain, the watchtowers were built in
different shapes: tall or short, rectangular or square,
with three to five embrasures. Most watchtowers are one
or two floors. A rare three-floor watchtower can be
found at the west end of the Jinshanling section (which
unfortunately is currently a military restricted area).
Before we climb down from the Jinshanling Great Wall,
we’ll stay in order to view the sunset over the Great
Wall. This experience will be a nature lover’s delight,
and is also a great opportunity for photos. It is sure
to be a moment you will never forget, and we guarantee
it will be a highlight of your China experience.
After climbing down the wall we'll
have dinner at a nearby guesthouse. The homemaker right
here is going to serve you authentic Chinese food such
as Kong Pao Poultry, Green Pepper and also Pork, Fried
Tofu in Spicy Sauce, also Sweat & Sour chicken, as well
as vegetables (great for vegetarians). What's more
important is that all the veggies she uses are grown in
his very own yard, so it is organic and also fresh!
Adhering to supper we'll drive back to Beijing, where
you will be left at your hotel, finishing your scenic
tour. If you are capturing a flight or train, we'll send
you to the airport terminal or station for a moderate
fee.
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Note: Please remember to bring your own
snacks and the following:
* Tough hiking boots, sunscreen and sunglasses
* Backpack, and snacks or energy/protein supplements you
want to have before dinner
* Extra cash for driver/guide tips
* Don’t forget your camera!
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Check 
Read
complete itinerary of Route 1A: 
