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Great Wall Hiking |
DAYS |
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Holiday Overview
Holiday Overview
Highlights
- The Eastern Qing Tombs, one of China's most intact and well-preserved ancient imperial tomb complexes, house the remains of five Qing Dynasty emperors
- Famous Wild Wall & Photography Hotspots
- Combines the old with the new
Map & Itinerary
Map & Itinerary
This tour starts with a visit to the East Qing Tombs, the burial site for most of China's last ruling dynasty. You'll then be taken to the Great Wall at Huangyaguan, which features classic brickwork, imposing watchtowers, and immense natural beauty. After Huangyaguan we will embark for the classic Jinshanling hike, a restored piece of wall that will gradually deteriorate into its natural state as we cross west onto the Gubeikou section of Great Wall. Our next hike will be at Huanghuacheng, which features classically restored brickwork and some stunning scenery. The last day you'll be driven to the Jiankou Great Wall, which features dramatic peaks and ruins that are a photographer's dream.
Holiday Itinerary
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EAST QING TOMBS / HUANGYAGUAN
This morning, we will drive about 3 hours to the spectacular East Qing tombs. The East Qing Tombs make up an imperial mausoleum complex from the last feudal empire (Qing Dynasty 1644-1911) in China,. which far-surpass their more famous predecessors, the Ming Tombs, both in splendor and in majesty. These tombs form a countryside version of the Forbidden City and are nearly as elaborate. Tastefully restored for the most part, this Imperial City is vast, grand, and less crowded.
After lunch, we will make a one hour drive to Taipingzhai Village near Huangyaguan Great Wall. Huangyaguan is considered to be a miniature of the Great Wall of China. In this section, you can find the stone base built in the Northern Qi Dynasty (550 - 557) and the brick battlements laid in the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644). From here, we will hike for about one hour and a half, westward, to Huangyaguan Pass. Because the cliff rocks to the east of the pass are mostly yellow and they look gilded at the sunset, the pass got its name Huangya (Yellow Cliff) Pass.
Walking westward for 550 yards (503 meters) from the Huangya Pass, you will get to the steepest segment of this section, the Huangya Sky Ladder (黄崖关天梯). Stairs there are not very smooth. Some of them even crack in the middle. Stretching to the top of the ridge, this long stairway seemingly leads to the sky. Climbing over the ladder(over 200 steps), you will reach the primitive Great Wall built in the Northern Qi Dynasty, marking the end of the Huangyaguan section.
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Accommodation Courtyard hotel in Huangyaguan (two beds per room, with private washroom)
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Distance 5km
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Meals LD
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Time 2-2.5hrs
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JIANSHANLING / GUBEIKOU / STAY IN JINSHANLING
After breakfast, we will transfer directly by safe van to the Jinshanling section of the Great Wall. This is a 10 km hike from the renovated staircases of Jinshanling Great Wall westward to the authentic fortresses of the Gubeikou Great Wall. The scenery here is stunning and the photo opportunities endless. The Jinshanling to Gubeikou Great Wall hike is quit long but we can regain our strength during lunch at a local farmhouse about 30% into the hike. As there are no steep climbs a normal physical condition is enough to enjoy the trip.
Note: Gubeikou to Jinshanling hike would be a little bit more difficult than the Jinshanling to Gubeikou hike, because the west terrain of Gubeikou is lower than the east part of Jinshanling, and travelers need to walk up from Gubeikou to Jinshanling. Both of this two trekking lines are stimulation and refreshing.
The hike starts with a climb of the infamous staircases of the JinshanLing Great Wall. The Jinshanling section has a total length of 10km with intact watchtowers almost every 100 meter. As we walk south, the Great Wall becomes less renovated, tourists become sparse and new views unfold. Just before we reach the restricted military zone we take a detour of the wall and up a hill top where you have a fantastic 360 degrees view of the Great Wall winding on the mountain ridges. We head down a small dirt trail that leads to a local farmer who will serve us an excellent lunch.
With renewed strength we follow a 5 km trail that curls alongside the wall, over the hills, trough a small forest and pops out of the bush at the General tower of the Gubeikou Great Wall. At the end of the hike, take a short drive to Jinshanling.
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Accommodation Hostel at the bottom of Jinshanling Great Wall (two persons per room, with private washroom)
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Distance 10km
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Meals BLD
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Time 5-6hrs
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HUANGHUACHENG / XISHUIYU / STAY AT XIZHAZI VILLAGE
In the morning, take a 2-hour drive to Huanghuacheng, then start our hike westward to Xishuiyu. Huanghuacheng Great Wall is the only one section in Beijing that was built through a lake. The whole section is defined in three segments by water. When summer arrives in full bloom, the entire village below is awashed in a sea of yellow wild flowers ('yellow flower' is 'huanghua' in Chinese). Hence the village name Huanghuacheng (Huanghua City in English), and by turn the Great Wall section acquires its name.
Here is a great place to take photos, one of which must be of the moon-shaped reservoir at the bottom of the mountain. Then, after another half-an-hour hiking, we will reach the highest point in this area, on the pinnacle of which there is a broken watchtower. From this vantage point you will have a nice sunny panoramic view of the whole wide valley, stretching even further toward the west.
Unfortunately, from here on, the Wall is really too broken to traverse safely, so we will instead follow a pleasant mountain trail downwards into Xishuiyu Village, where our driver will be waiting to take us to the Jiankou section of the Wall, where we will enjoy a comfortable night in the home of a local family (2 beds with private washroom).
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Accommodation Guesthouse at Xizhazi Village (2 beds with private bathroom)
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Distance 8km
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Meals BLD
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Time 4hrs
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JIANKOU / MUTIANYU
The Great Wall at Jiankou is located in the district of Huairou, about 80 kilometers (2 hrs) north-east of Beijing. Today we will spend the day on the Jiankou and Mutianyu section of the Wall.
Firstly, from Xizhazi village, we will take a small mountain trail behind one of the villagers’ houses straight up to the wall. This part takes about one hour, and it is not that easy. When we get to the top, you will find the effort worth it - there is a deserted watch-tower(正北楼) right where we emerge onto the Wall, from which you will have a panoramic view of the whole valley, of the Xizhazi village below, and of the wall itself, snaking and disappearing over the mountain crest. This is a great place to catch your breath and take pictures.
The hike along the wall will take about 4 hours, and it is unlikely you will meet any other tourists along the way. Looking toward to the west, one of highlights is the enemy observation tower known as, "Ying Fei Dao Yang" (鹰飞倒仰), so named because this watchtower was upright on the highest peak in the area, and eagles and hawks have to fly over it vertical-up toward to the sky. Although the majestic wall is slowly being conquered by small trees and brambles, the view from the top is still stunning!
Walking along the wall to the east, you will be impressed by a big change, emerging from the peaceful, authentic section of the Wall, so full of history, onto the restored portion of the Wall at Mutianyu, full of tourists! You will enjoy your lunch at a restaurant near Mutianyu, known for its delicious fish, rainbow trout, before ending your trek this afternoon and returning to Beijing.
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Distance 10km
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Meals BL
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Time 4-5hrs
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Price Policy
Tour Price Policy
Additional details
1. Before you pay deposit to book the tour, we haven’t made any reservation yet. The train, flight tickets and the hotel may different from the itinerary listed.
2. The visiting order of the scenic spots in the itinerary may change according to the traffic condition and other unforeseen things.
3. Tourist insurance is a must before going, please provide us the confirmation of insurance company when sign up.
The price includes
1. Entrance Fees: to scenic spots as listed in the itinerary
2. All the activities fee mentioned in the itinerary: Hutong rickshaw in Beijing; Sichuan Opera show in Chengdu;
3. Private Transfers: Transfers between airports, hotels and scenic spots while sightseeing during the trip by private air conditioned vehicle with a driver.
4. Meals: All meals as indicated in the itinerary (B-breakfast, L-lunch, D-dinner), include Peking duck dinner in Beijing; Hot pot dinner in Chengdu.
5. Guide: As outlined in the itinerary an English-speaking guide and driver will be provided in each city, who will remain with you throughout your time in that city. A new guide and a new driver will meet you at each city on your tour, to provide you with the best local knowledge available
6. Hotel: hotel fees are based on two people sharing one room with king-size bed. All hotels as listed in the above itinerary serve daily western or Chinese breakfast
7. Arrangements: the tour cost includes planning, handling, operational and communication charges
8. Travel Agency Liability insurance
The price does not include
1. International airfare or train tickets to enter or leave China
2. China entry visa fees
3. Excess baggage charges
4. The medicine for the sickness or accident while on the way
5. Personal expenses: expenses of a purely personal nature such as laundry, drinks, fax, telephone calls, optional activities, sightseeing or meals which are not included in the tour itinerary
6. Meals: any meals which are not specified in the tour itinerary
7. Single room supplement
8. Please notice that the price will be much higher during the festival of Labors’ Day, National Day, spring festival
9. Tips to tour guide and driver (recommended USD10-15/guest/day).
10. Tourist accident insurance. NB - you are strongly suggested to buy travel and health insurance before you start out from your home country.
Payment conditions
To confirm your reservation, you must pay a deposit of 30% of the total amount due via the payment link that your local agent will share. The balance is due 30 days prior to departure. The quoted exchange rate is valid for the next 7 days – if the deposit is not paid within this time, the quote will be re-calculated.
Terms and conditions for cancelation
i. Cancellation of the Tour by CAT (local agent):
CAT reserve the right to cancel the postpone tour at any time up to the date final payment is due under the following condition: in our opinion, health and/or safety factors related to conditions in China would make the tour inadvisable. And in this case, all money paid by the participants will be refunded. If the tour is postponed, CAT will offer all those who have signed up the opportunity to have the same tour for a later time, but the price may be changed according to the season. We will notify you of any change, and give you a reasonable period
of time to make your decision. Consumers may, but are under no obligation to, take the tour under these new terms. After final payment has been made, we may cancel the tour only if, in our opinion, health and/or safety factors related to conditions in China would make the tour inadvisable. Since cancellation in this case involves factors which may arise suddenly and are entirely outside our control, including but not limited to natural disasters, civil unrest and epidemic disease, we cannot guarantee a full refund in this case. This is because payment will already have been made to finalize the arrangements and reservation.
ii. Cancellation of the Tour by Consumer:
Any cancellation must be made by sending an email to the local agent. The cancellation fee varies according to how many days prior to departure the cancellation is made:
· More than 30 days prior to departure: 5% of the total holiday cost
· Between 30 and 22 days prior to departure: 25% of the total holiday cost
· Between 21 and 8 days prior to departure: 50% of the total holiday cost
· Between 7 and 3 days prior to departure: 75% of the total holiday cost
· Less than 3 days prior to departure and after the departure date: 100% of the total holiday cost
All cancellations must be in writing and will be effective upon receipt by CAT. No refund will be made to those participants who break the journey regardless of the portions of the package unused. If, owing to serious illness or injury, the participant withdraws from the tour, a refund will be subject to the consent of the local travel agent.
No refund will be made to those participants who have failed to secure valid travel documents such as passport or visas.
