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5 |
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
- Gubei Water Town resort, a rare combo of Great Wall, Mountains, Lakes and Ancient Villages
Map & Itinerary
Map & Itinerary
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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GUBEIKOU / JINSHANLING / STAY IN GUBEI WATERTOWN OF SIMATAI
After breakfast, we will transfer directly by safe van to Gubeikou section of the Great Wall. Upon arrival, hike from Gubeikou to Jinshanling Great Wall and enjoy the breathtaking views with a relatively peaceful hike. At the end of the hike, a short drive will take us to the Watertown at the bottom of Simatai Great Wall. Check-in the comfortable traditional style room in the Watertown.
This watertown is a rare combo of Great Wall, mountains, lakes and old villages. With a massive backdrop of the world famous Simatai Great Wall, we could stroll around and experience at the same time the beauty of the water town as well as the grand Great Wall. Tonight you will be treated with a great dinner.
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.
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Accommodation Guesthouse in the Watertown
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Distance 10km
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Meals BLD
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Time 5-6hrs
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GUBEI WATERTOWN / SIMATAI / STAY IN XIZHAIZI VILLAGE
This morning is left free for us either to climb to the top of Simatai Great Wall for the sun-rising panoramic view of the whole area, or to explore the Watertown and experience unique local customs and participate in native activities (e.g. learining tie-dye, kite painting, need to be booked ahead of time).
Simatai, built on a cliff, is extremely steep. A famous Great Wall specialist said: "The Great Wall is the best of Chinese architecture, and Simatai is the best of the Great Wall." The Simatai Great Wall is not only recognised as the World Culture Heritage Sites by UNESCO, but also the No. 1 site on the list of the "must-see-in-your-life-time" by The Times. This section was constructed under the supervision of Qi Jiguang, a famous general in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). It stretches 3.4 miles (5.4 kilometers), and is separated into eastern part and western part by Mandarin Duck Lake.
At the end of the hike, transfer to Xishuiyu Village.
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Accommodation Guesthouse near Jiankou Great Wall (two persons per room, with private washroom)
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Distance 6km
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Meals BLD
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Time 2-3hrs
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JIANKOU / MUTIANYU
Today we will spend the day on the Jiankou and Mutianyu section of the Wall. Jiankou section of the Wall, recognized as one of most beautiful parts of the "Wild Wall" near Beijing, and much-loved by photographers. Not visited often by "typical" tourists, this section is really rough and broken. Although we will have to be careful walking on it, the opportunity for pictures in this section is unequalled!.
At first, we will climb 40-50mins up to the wall through a mountain trail. Maybe this part will be a challenge for some of you. When we get on the wall, we will continue hike eastward to Mutianyu section of the Great Wall. On the way, we will stop at the topest point to enjoy a birdview of Jiankou Great Wall.
Have a late lunch in a restaurant located at the bottom of Mutianyu Great Wall. After lunch, take a 1.5hrs drive to Huanghuacheng. Check in a local guesthouse and have a rest.
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Accommodation Guesthouse at Xishuiyu Village (2 beds with private bathroom)
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Distance 10km
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Meals BLD
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Time 4-5hrs
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HUANGHUACHENG TO XISHUIYU GREAT WALL
This morning, after check out the hotel, our guide and drive will transfer you to Huanghuacheng section of the Great Wall. 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. This section of the wall is completely unrestored and still remains its plain character since its construction commenced in 1404, two years before the Ming Dynasty moved its capital to Beijing, and continued for 188 years.
There are several up-and-down parts today, however fortunately the mountains here are not that high or steep. First, there is a good trail alongside the Wall, after about half an hour we will get to a watchtower on the cliff. 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.
From the top point, the wall dives steeply downwards into the valley. After picnic lunch at the Great Wall tower, we'll descend down to the lake and take a short boat tour around the lake, viewing distinguished parts of the wall underwater. Seen from the reservoir dam of Huanghuacheng, built on the former site of Xishuiyuguan Pass in 1974, the stately sunken wall is still visible under the water's smooth surface.
Enjoy a late lunch at local restaurant, after a short rest, drive back to Beijing.
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Distance 8km
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Meals BL
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Time 4hrs
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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. Internal flights
** Day 11/ Flight from Yichang to Shanghai (based on economy class);
8. Trains
** Day 04/ High speed train from Beijing to Xi’an (based on 2nd class);
** Day 06/ High speed train from Xi’an to Chengdu (based on 2nd class)
** Day 06/ High speed train from Chengdu to Chongqing (based on 2nd class)
9. Arrangements: the tour cost includes planning, handling, operational and communication charges
10. 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.
