Great Wall Tour
Hiking or viewing the Great Wall is a must for Beijing first-time visitors. One daunting question facing each visitor is Which part of the Great Wall should I climb?Opposite to the wrong conception that the Wall is a roller-coaster of masonry running in an unbroken line across north China, the Great Wall of China doesn't form a continuous line - the Wall is in bits, same as the Wall around Beijing. The Wall was built in different times and dynasties. All these bits and pieces overlap in time and place. Check out the Great Wall sections around Beijing.
So, which section to hike? Actually you have your own favorite sections to hike, which largly depends on the your time, tolerance for large crowds, personal interest and budget etc. Before your visiting the Great Wall Beijing, googling the information on the Wall or check out our version of "Which section of the Great Wall should I climb?" for your reference.
Beijing Xinhua International Tours offers the travel service to the different sections of the Wall with different Great Wall tours for the same section. So first choose your favorite bits of the Wall, then choose your favorite tours.
The Wall around Beijing
The Wall East of Beijing
Remark: Simatai Great Wall has been closed since June 17, 2010 The opening date is unknown. For Jinshanling - Simatai Great Wall hike, you will turn round at the middle way back to Jinshanling.
| Best Selling & Different Sections of the Great Wall Tours: |
| » Simatai Great Wall Tour ( Temporarily closed ) | |
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The Simatai section of the Great Wall is located in the northeast of Miyun County, 140 kilometers from downtown Beijing. Simatai Great Wall is cutted into two parts by the Simatai Reservoir, over which there is a chain bridge running through east to west. Simatai is one of the few stretches of the Wall that still preserve the original look of that period. To the west there 15 watchtowers snaking on the sloping hills. To the east there are 16 watchtowers atop peaks up to 1,000 meters high. The views are amazing. (The Wall temporarily closed on June 17, 2010 ). Simatai Great Wall Private Day Tour from US$ 60 Simatai Great Wall One Day Bus Tour from US$ 40 Jinshanling & Simatai Great Wall Day Tour from US$ 65 Simatai Great Wall & Chateau Changyu AFIP Day Trip from US$ 80 Simatai Great Wall & Chateau Changyu AFIP 2 Days Tour from US$ 180 Chunhuiyuan Hot Springs Simatai Great Wall day Tour from US$ 70 Jinshanling & Simatai Great Wall 2 Days Tour from US$ 165 Mutianyu, Jingshanling & Simatai Great Wall 3 Day Tour from US$ 260 Badaling, Juyongguan, Mutianyu, Jinshanling & Simatai 4 Days Tour from US$ 350 Badaling, Huanghuacheng, Juyongguan, Mutianyu, Jinshanling & Simatai 5 Days Tour from US$ 410 |
| » Gubeikou Great Wall Tour | |
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Gubeikou Great Wall is mainly composed of two parts – Panlongshan Great Wall and Wohushan Great Wall. “Panlongshan” literally means “Coiled Dragon Mountain” while “Wohushan” literally means “Crouching Tiger Mountain”. The two mountains faces each other with a valley in between from south to north, a strategic passage in the ancient times linking Inner Mongolia and Beijing. Now the valley has been turned into a fast developing Gubeikou Township under Miyun County of Beijing City. Wohushan Great Wall is now still completely wild and unrestored, not officially opened to the public while Panlongshan Great Wall is partially opened by the local government. So when people talk about Gubeikou Great Wall, very often they refer to Panlongshan Great Wall. The entry to Panlongshan Great Wall is inside the Gubeikou Village under the administration of Gubeikou Township, which boasts one of the most beautiful villages around Beijing. Gubeikou Great Wall Day Tour US$ 60 Gubeikou Jinshanling Great Wall Day Tour US$ 75 Gubeikou Jinshanling Great Wall 2 Day Tour US$ 195 |
| » Juyongguan Great Wall Tour | |
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The Juyongguan Pass is located in the valley sandwiched by the Jundu Mountains and the ending of the Taihang Mountains. . The Pass we see today was planned by General Xuda and completed in the first year of the reign of the Emperor Hongwu of the Ming Dynasty ( 1368 ) and the years that followed, it was renovated again and again. The Great Wall around the Pass extends over 4 km snaking the ridge of the mountains forming the valley. The natural landscape surrounding the Pass is extremely beautiful. Juyongguan Great Wall Half Day Tour from US$ 25 Juyongguan Great Wall and Underground Palace Day Tour from US$ 40 Badaling & Juyongguan Great Wall Day Tour from US$ 55 Juyongguan-Badaling-Mutianyu Great Wall Day Tour from US$ 50 Target Shooting & Juyongguan Great Wall Day Tour from US$ 40 Badaling, Juyongguan, & Mutuanyu Great Wall 2 Day Tour from US$ 165 Badaling, Juyongguan, Mutianyu, Jinshanling & Simatai 4 Days Tour from US$ 350 Badaling, Huanghuacheng, Juyongguan, Mutianyu, Jinshanling & Simatai 5 Days Tour from US$ 410 |
| » Ruined Badaling Great Wall Tour | |
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Ruined Badaling Great Wall ( now officially named Ancient Badaling Great Wall ) is 10km southwest of the restored Badaling Great Wall. So, as its name hints, this section of the Great Wall is partially restored and more adventurous, not easy to climb. It is the least touristy section of the Great Wall around Beijing, which is offically opened to the public. Ruined Badaling Great Wall Day Tour from US$ 35 Overnight on Ruined Badaling Great Wall 2 Day Tour from US$ 150 |
| » Xiangshuihu Great Wall Tour | |
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The bit of the Great Wall east of Moshikou Pass is locally referred as Xiangshuihu Great Wall perched on a steep slope over 1000 meters long with 5 towers. “Xiangshuihu” literally means “the gurgling lake Great Wall”, named after the the rippling sound of water flowing through the ancient pass in the valley below the Great Wall. Xianshuihu Great Wall Day Tour from US$ 35 |
| » Luanling Great Wall Tour | |
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Luanling Great Wall ( Or Lu An ling Great Wall) has two sections – east and west. Its west section is forbbiden for hiking due to treacherousness and wildness. Standing on the east section of Luanling Great Wall, you have better views of its west section, as well as Lianyunling Great Wall and Xuangshuihu Great Wall. Luanling literally means "Donkey Saddle’s Mountain”. Luanling Great Wall Hiking Day Trip from US$ 35 |
| » Huanghuacheng Great Wall Tour | |
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Huanghuacheng (literally meaning "Yellow Flower City") Great Wall, about 85 km north of downtown Beijing, is one of the most ruined sections of the wall in Beijing. It has become popular with hikers in recent years. It is an informal section of the Wall. To its west is Xiaoxihu Great Wall ( or the Great Wall of Huanghuacheng Reservior). Huanghuacheng Great Wall Half Day Tour from US$ 30 |
| » Zhuangdaokou Great Wall Tour | |
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Zhuangdaokou Great Wall Pass is located on the mountain sandwiched by Zhuang Dao Kou Village down in the south and Er Dao Guan Village down in the north. So to cross the Zhuagdaokou Great Wall Pass, we are required to hike south from Zhuang Dao Kou Village, climb up to the mountain valley, pass through the Zhuangdaokou Great Wall through the gateway (Zhuang Dao Kou Pass), then continue to trek on the mountain north of the Great Wall, before we reach Er Dao Guan Village down the mountain. Crossing Zhuangdaokou Great Wall Pass Hiking Day Trip from US$ 30 |
| » Xiaoxihu Great Wall Tour | |
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Xiaoxihu Great Wall is actually is the extended Huanghuacheng Great Wall at the Reservoir Section. Xiaoxihu Great Wall is located in the Xishuiyu Village of Jiuduhe Township where the Huanghucheng Reservoir is located. The Huanghuacheng Reservoir cuts the Great Wall into three sections. Xiao Xi Hu Circuit Hiking Day Trip from US$ 35 |
| » Jiangjunguan Great Wall Tour | |
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Lying on the north of Jiangjunguan Village is a section of the Great Wall built in Ming Dynasty, locally referred as “Jiangjunguan Great Wall”. “Jiangjunguan” literally means “a general’s pass”. This place used to be an important pass with military importance, the reason why the fort was built here. Jiangjunguan Great Wall is the first Great Wall pass (fort) in Beijing from the east. Jiangjunguan Great Wall and Village Day Tour from US$ 35 |
| » Bolitai Great Wall Tour | |
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The bit of the Wall in Bolitai Village, or we call it “Bolitai Great Wall” is quite different from Badaling Great Wall and Mutianyu Great Wall. The Great Wall here is made of slabs and stones, not bricks made in kilns. Only one section of the wall around the Village has been cleared and cleaned, bushes and saplings removed from the wall for easy walking. The cleaned wall here takes you about 2 hours’ walking. Sightseeing Driving and Bolitai Great Wall Day Tour from US$ 35 |
| » Yunmengshan Great Wall Tour | |
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Yunmengshan Great Wall is such named because it is located to the east of Mt. Yunmeng ( Yunmengshan Mountain ). Yunmengshan literally means “a mountain always covered by mist". Yunmengshan is locally refered as “Huangshan of North China” due to its stunning view. Yunmengshan Great Wall is a small bit of the Wall around Beijing. It was built under the General Qi Jiguang during the Ming Dynaty (1368 -1644). To its west, is located Mutianyu Great Wall, to its east Gubeikou Great Wall and Jinshanling Great Wall. Yunmengshan Great Wall Hiking Day Trip from US$ 40 |
| » Changyucheng Great Wall Tour | |
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Changyucheng Village is named after one of the famous military city circlng an important pass of the Great Wall called “Changyucheng”, which literally means “长峪城 – Long Valley City”. Bordering Hebei Province, Changyucheng Great Wall boasts to have one of Beijing’s highest Great Wall towers at the sea-level of 1400 meters with stunning views. Changyucheng Village & Changyucheng Great Wall Day Tour from US$ 35 |
| » Multi-Day Great Wall Tour Packages | |
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Staying at a local inn under the Great Wall, tasting the farmhouse food, exploring those different sections of the Great Wall and immersing yourself in the breathtaking mountain views, all these experiences are our aims for these unique Great Wall hiking tours ranging from 2 days to 5 days around Beijing. Jinshanling Great Wall 2 Day Tour from US$ 170  Gubeikou Jinshanling Great Wall 2 Day Tour from US$ 195 Jinshanling & Simatai Great Wall 2 Days Tour from US$ 165 Mutianyu, Jinshanling & Simatai 2 Day Great Wall Tour from US$ 175 Badaling, Juyongguan, & Mutuanyu Great Wall 2 Day Tour from US$ 165 Mutianyu, Jingshanling & Simatai Great Wall 3 Day Tour from US$ 260 Badaling, Juyongguan, Mutianyu, Jinshanling & Simatai 4 Days Tour from US$ 350 Badaling, Huanghuacheng, Juyongguan, Mutianyu, Jinshanling & Simatai 5 Days Tour from US$ 410 |
| » Hire a Car or Van with driver to the Great Wall | |
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Hire a car or van with a driver and explore the Great Wall around Beijing on your own and at your own pace! We have a rental car fleet with all various vehicles different in size. Your rental car and licensed driver in Beijing will help you see what you are going to see and see it all! All our chauffeurs have received strict training in the limo service professionalism. They will offer you the quick and safe limo service.
Great Wall Car Rental Rates |
| » Great Wall Customized Tour | |
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Visit the Great Wall of China? If none of our sample Great Wall tours meets your expectation and you would like to plan your own Great Wall trip, then just tell us the the sections of the Wall you want to visit, and your time on the Wall, we will tailor make a Great Wall tour to fit your needs. You will receive our proposed itinerary with estimated tour cost in 24 hours.
Plan your own Great Wall Trip |
| Great Wall Hike FAQS: |
Q: The Great Wall sections around Beijing.
A: The Great Wall of China doesn't form a continuous line - the Wall is in bits.
Most of the sections people see around Beijing are twentieth-century restorations of an original that is a mere 500 years old dating back to Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644), an era of the huge 17-year reconstruction led by Qi Jiguang(1528 –1588), prime architect of the Wall. In 1568, at the age of 40, Qi found himself given the task of the upgrading the Wall along the northern frontier from Beijing to the sea. Qi Jinguang retired in 1585 and died in 1588. Work on the Wall continued steadily for the next 60 years, till the end of Ming Dynasty and the coming of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), ruled by "barbarians" the Manchus, who halted the Wall construction which was supposed to keep them out.
The bits of the Great Wall around Beijing can be divided into three categories - "Formal", "Informal" and "Wild" in terms of the local administration and management on the walls. The bits of "Formal Great Wall" are officially open to the public with government administration in terms of security, toilets, parking, restaurants etc. "Informal Great Wall" bits are softly open to the hikers with limited repairs and renovations from the local villages and jurisdictions. "Wild Great Wall" bits are officially forbidden for hiking to protect the original Great Wall as well as for safty reason because they are crumbling, overgrown, barred to walkers without any repairs.
In the recent years these "Wild Great Wall" sections have become a mecca for adventure holidaymakers. As one of the measures to protect the wild Great Wall, a new regulation " Penalty on organized Wild Great Wall Hiking" was enforced by Beijing Cultural Relics Adminstration in December, 2010.
There are over a dozen of "formal" and "informal" sections of the Wall snaking across the northen mountains around Beijing. Most of the sections of the remaining Wall have their own names. Usually their names are given with regard to geographic location, historical factor or just the necessity of the local tourism promotion. Starting from east to west, the major bits of the Wall around Beijing are Jiangjunguan Great WallBolitai Great WallSimatai Great Wall (now temporarily closed)Jinshanling Great WallGubeikou Great WallYunmengshan Great WallMutianyu Great WallJiankou Great Wall (wild)Xiangshuihu Great WallLuanling Great WallHuanghuacheng Great WallZhuangdaokou Pass Great WallXiao Xi Hu Great WallBadaling Great WallRuined Badaling Great WallJuyongguan Pass Great Wall and Changyucheng Great Wall.
• Changyucheng Great Wall: 100km northwest of Beijing downtown
• Badaling: 80km northwest from Beijing, busy, popular, breathtaking veiw of the wall winding
• Ruined Badaling: 90 northwest from Beijing, ruined and broken
• Juyongguan: 60km northwest from Beijing, closest section, heavily renovated, steep
• Xishuiyu Great Wall: 90km Northwest of Beijing
• Zhuangdaokou Great Wall: 90km north of Beijing
• Huanghuacheng: 85km north from Beijing, original, broken, steep
• Luanling Great Wall: 90km north of Beijing downtown
• Xiangshuihu Great Wall: 90km north of Beijing
• Jiankou: 90km north from Beijing, original, broken, ruined, treacherous
• Mutianyu: 85km north of Beijing, green, wonderful scenery
• Yunmengshan Great Wall: 120km northeast of Beijing
• Gubeikou: 110km northeast from Beijing, broken, original, risky
• Simatai: 140km northeast of Beijing, rugged, steep and hazardous
• Jinshanling: 150km northeast of Beijing, wild, rugged, steep and hazardous
• Bolitai Great Wall: 120km northeast of Beijing
• Jiangjunguan Great Wall: 110km northeast of Beijing
Q: Which section of the Great Wall should I visit?
A: Below are our suggestions only for your reference:
1) If you don't have much time, but you still want to have a glimpse of the Wall, especially on a busy day, choose Juyongguan Great Wall.
2) If you want to see the gorgeous section of the Wall in Beijing and don't mind the tourist crowd, go to Badaling Great Wall.
3) If you want to visit the Wall with a beautiful green scenery and environment, visit Mutianyu Great Wall or Huanghuacheng Great Wall.
4) If you travel with kids or seniors, go to visit Mutuanyu Great Wall.
5) If you want to hike the wild and original bits of the Wall, go to hike Jinshanling Great Wall ,Yunmengshan Great Wall, Gubeikou or Simtai Great, or put them together.
6) If you don't want to see "people watching people', and look for a least tourist section, then go to Ruined Badaling Great Wall.
7) Jiankou Section of the Wall is not recommended due to wildness and treacherousness.
8) If you want to hike the Wall with a short visit to the local ancient villages, you may choose Changyucheng Great Wall, Zhuangdaokou Great Wall, Luanling Great Wall, Xiangshuihu Great Wall, Bolitai Great Wall and Jiangjunguang Great Wall.
Q: Which section is touristy and less touristy?
A: Jinshanling, Yunmengshan, Zhuangdaokou Great Wall, Luanling Great Wall, Bolitai Great Wall, Jiangjuguan Great Wall, Gubeikou, Simatai and Ruined Badaling Great Wall are less touristy. Badaling Great Wall is most crowded. It is better to hike the Wall during the weekdays instead of weekends. Strongly advise you not to visit the Wall during China public holidays. On these special days you will waste much of your valuable time on the way from your hotel to the Wall. On the Wall, you have to take group photos since there are a great number of people on the Wall.
Q: Do you offer sleeping on the Great Wall tour? Which sections?
A: Overnight on the Wall under the stars or in a tent inside a watchtower, a unique and unforgettable life experience. At present we offer camping on Jinshanling Great Wall and Ruined Badaling Great Wall.
Q: Can I stay overnight in a hotel or inn at the base of the Great Wall?
A: If you want to stay overnight at the base of the Great Wall around Beijing, below are some of the inns and hotels for your consideration. Many of the inns and courtyard hotels are still open in winter by the Great Wall.
Juyongguan Great Wall Hotel the Cummune by the Great Wall Great Wall Courtyard Inn Huanghuacheng Fuwang Courtyard Farmhouse the Schoolhouse by the Mutianyu Great Wall Jinshanling Hotel Simatai Great Wall Courtyard Hotel the Chateau Changyu AFIP Global BeijingQ: Do you offer Jiankou Great Wall Hiking Tour?
A: At present we don't offer any Jiankou Great wall tour because it is not legally opened to the public yet, risky and treacherous as well. A legal section of the Wall has a local administration with the entrance fees collected, a police station set up and security guides dotted the Wall. If you have some troubles, you will be soon be taken care of.
Q: What's the best season for Great Wall hiking?
A: In Beijing, all the legal sections of the Wall are open to tourists all year round. The ideal months for the Great Wall hike fall on spring, early summer, autumn (later March, April, May, June, September, October and early November). If you happen to visit the Wall in summer ( later June, July and August), be prepared for heat stroke prevention – sunglasses, sun cream, sun block, hat, water. Winter Great Wall Hike is a bit challenging mainly due to the frozen weather in later December, January and early early February each year in Beijing. You are advised to dress warmly – winter hat with ear flap, ear warmers, gloves, scarf, warm jackets and ther winter accessories. The Great Wall hike is impossible only because the road access to sections is blocked due to the heavy snow. If you plan to do the hike in winter, we do suggest you check the weather report.
Q: Any accessible section of the Great Wall for wheelchair users?
A: Badaling Great Wall is wheelchair-friendly, the only accessible section of the Wall around Beijing. A special flat lane is built for wheelchair users to get to the third watch tower of the Great Wall. Even two elevators are equipped for easy ascending the wall if you book the elevator service in advance.
Q: How to get to the major sections of the Great Wall around Beijing by public transport?
A: There are several ways of traveling to the Wall using public trasport.
Take a Public Bus to the Great Wall
Badaling Great Wall: Take bus 919 back to Beijing (RMB 16) or the train from either the Badaling or Beijing North Train Station stations (RMB 17). The last bus 919 leaves at 5 PM.
Juyongguan Great Wall: You can use the same bus 919 or the the train from either the Badaling or Beijing North Train Station stations (RMB 17). The last bus 919 leaves at 5 PM.
Bus No. 919 ( Air Conditioner Bus )
Bus Terminal: Deshengmen (德胜门快车)
Destination: Badaling Great Wall, Weihe Drifting, Wenquan Holiday Village
Bus Fare: RMB 16
The first Bus: 6:00am;
The last bus: 5:00pm
Tel: 63360283
Mutianyu Great Wall:
Bus No. 916
Bus Terminal: Dongzhimen (东直门长途站)
Destination: Mutianyu Great Wall ( actually the bus stops at Huairou Distric and then you take a mini bus from Huairou to Mutianyu Great Wall)
Bus Fare: RMB 12
Mini Bus Fare: RMB 40
Bus Operation Time: 6:00-20:00
Tel: 64671346、64608131
Jinshanling Great Wall or Simatai Great Wall
Bus No. 980
Bus Terminal: Dongzhimen Long Distance Bus Station (东直门长途站)
Destination: Simatai Great Wall. Actually the bus stops at Miyun County and then you take a mini bus from the downtown Miyun to Simatai.
Bus Fare: RMB 15
Minibus Fare: 10
Bus Operation Time: 6:00-18:00
Tel: 64671346、64608131
Take a taxi to the Great Wall
You can also charter a taxi for day trips to the Great Wall. The drive ranges from 1.5 hour to 2.5 hours from the city center according to the different sections of the Great Wall. Below are the approximate taxi fares to the different sections of the Great Wall with waiting for about 2-3 hours while touring the wall:
Beijing Mutianyu Great Wall: 85km – RMB 600
Beijing Badaling Great Wall: 80km – RMB 500
Beijing Simatai Great Wall: 140km – RMB 700
Beijing Juyongguan Great Wall: 60km – RMB 400
Beijing Jinshanling Great Wall: 160km RMB 800
Beijing Gubeikou Great Wall: 150km – RMB 750
Beijing Jiankou Great Wall: 85km – RMB 650
Beijing Huanghuacheng Great Wall 85km – RMB 600
Q: What is the level of hiking for the Great Wall tour?
A: It is a beginning - intermediate level. The hike from Jinshangling to Simatai, Gubeikou to Jinshanling takes about 4-6 hours, Yunmengshan Great Wall respectively, the touchest hike. Don't forget to bring a mobile phone, water, hiking boots, sunscreen, sun-glasses, insect repellent, cap and some snacks etc.
Q: Can we take a cable car up to the Great Wall?
A: Yes, the cable car is optional. The cable car is available on Badaling, Mutianyu, Jinshanling and Simatai. We suggest you hike up the Great Wall and take the cable car down the wall.
Q: Can we visit some local village while driving from the section to the next section?
A: Yes. We can arrange the visits to some local villages on the spot when you are interested in mixing with the locals.
Q: Do your tour guides speak English? Are they knowledgeable on the history of the Wall to be visited?
A: Yes. We will arrange English speaking tour guides to escort you from the beginning to the end. They have received special training in learning the history and construction of the Great Wall.
Q: Any tips on what dress to take for each of the seasons?
A: April, October, and earlier November: long shorts, overcoat; May, June, July and August: Summer dress - many T-shirts shorts; December, January and early early February: winter hat with ear flap, ear warmers, gloves, scarf, warm jackets and ther winter accessories.
Q: Do we have a van or car for our own use?
A: Yes. You have a van or car exclusively for your own use from the beginning to the end.
| Questions & Answers: |
Here is only for Questions and Answers. ( For anyone who wants to have an enquiry or tour booking, please fill in our Online Enquiry. )
