Itinerary
- Day 1
Beijing
Arrive in Beijing on your own schedule. Your tour leader meets you at the hotel reception at 5pm for a welcome meeting. If you get there early, the central district is walkable from most locations, with Tiananmen Square about 40 minutes on foot and the Temple of Heaven just 15 minutes away. An optional group dinner happens in the evening if you're interested.
- Start point
- 42 Beiwei Rd, Xicheng Qu, China (Xiao Xiang Hotel, Hotel reception, 17:00)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Xiao Xiang Hotel)
Optional Activities
- Group dinner (optional)
- Explore Beijing's central district on foot
- Visit Tiananmen Square
- Visit Temple of Heaven
Landmarks/POIs Tiananmen Square Temple of Heaven 
- Day 2
Beijing
Start with Tiananmen Square, one of the world's largest squares and historically significant. From there, you'll head to the Forbidden City, the former imperial palace with over 900 buildings across 720,000 square metres. The rest of your day is open, so you can wander Beijing's hutong alleyways or take it easy. Evening options include Beijing Opera or an acrobatic display if you want to do something.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Xiao Xiang Hotel)
Included Activities
- Visit Tiananmen Square
- Visit Forbidden City
Optional Activities
- Explore hutong alleyways
- Beijing Opera (optional)
- Acrobatic display (optional)
Landmarks/POIs Tiananmen Square Forbidden City 
- Day 3
Beijing to Shanhaiguan
Drive to Shanhaiguan, about 4 to 5 hours away, where the Great Wall meets the Bohai Sea. You'll visit Laolongtou (Old Dragon's Head) and then move on to the First Pass under Heaven. This is your first chance to walk the wall itself, plus you'll see the Great Wall Museum. Expect to walk roughly 4 kilometres, taking around 2.5 hours total.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Shanhai Jiari Hotel)
Included Activities
- Visit Laolongtou (Old Dragon's Head)
- Visit First Pass under Heaven
- Walk on Great Wall
- Visit Great Wall Museum
Landmarks/POIs Laolongtou (Old Dragon's Head) First Pass under Heaven Great Wall of China - Shanhaiguan - Day 4
Shanhaiguan
Head out early to walk a section of the Great Wall while seeing how people live in the surrounding rural areas. The path takes you to Jiaoshan Pass where the wall climbs into the mountains, with rocky terrain, concrete slopes, a short metal ladder, and large steps to handle. If conditions allow, you can push to a higher point for better views. Later this afternoon, drive to Sahe near Panjiakou reservoir where the wall actually crosses under the water.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Tangshan Beiguo Lanting Wenhua Hotel)
Included Activities
- Walk Great Wall to Jiaoshan Pass
Optional Activities
- Continue up to high point for views (weather and energy permitting)
Landmarks/POIs Jiaoshan Pass Great Wall of China - Jiaoshan - Day 5
Sahe to Eastern Qing Tombs
Take a boat across Panjiakou reservoir with views of the wall running along the ridges. Afterward, drive about 90 minutes to Luowenyou and walk around 5 kilometres on a rugged, steep section with sweeping vistas. The terrain has gravel and scrambling areas with overhanging trees. Then it's a 90-minute bus ride to your hotel at the Eastern Qing Tombs near Zunhua.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Qing Feng Hotel)
Included Activities
- Boat excursion on Panjiakou reservoir
- Walk Great Wall at Luowenyou
Landmarks/POIs Panjiakou Reservoir Great Wall of China - Luowenyou - Day 6
Eastern Qing Tombs to Huangyaguan
Start early at the Eastern Qing Tombs, China's largest and most complete imperial burial site with five emperors and 15 empresses. You'll enter some beautifully carved tombs from the 17th and 18th centuries. Then drive to a point on the Great Wall and walk into Huangyaguan, a restored section with concrete terrain and handrails. The walk goes up to a tower, down to another tower near the river, then crosses the river to reach your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Ming He Guesthouse)
Included Activities
- Visit Eastern Qing Tombs
- Enter imperial tombs
- Walk Great Wall into Huangyaguan
Landmarks/POIs Eastern Qing Tombs Great Wall of China - Huangyaguan - Day 7
Huangyaguan to Jinshanling
Travel from Huangyaguan to Gubeikou, about a 2-hour drive. You'll walk up onto the Great Wall along a mountain path, passing 16 beacon towers with views of distant wall sections. After leaving the wall at Jinshanling, head to your hotel where you'll stay for the next two nights.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Guesthouse (Rui Xiu Shan Zhuang Guesthouse)
Included Activities
- Walk Great Wall from Gubeikou to Jinshanling
Landmarks/POIs Great Wall of China - Gubeikou to Jinshanling 
- Day 8
Jinshanling
Walk one of the most interesting sections between Jinshanling and Simatai. The route has ruined parts, steep climbs, and many steps. You'll pass 18 watchtowers that offer the only shade and good viewpoints. Go as far as allowed before heading back to Jinshanling.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Guesthouse (Rui Xiu Shan Zhuang Guesthouse)
Included Activities
- Walk Great Wall between Jinshanling and Simatai
Landmarks/POIs Great Wall of China - Jinshanling to Simatai 
- Day 9
Jinshanling to Beijing
Drive back to Beijing, roughly 3 hours depending on traffic, and arrive in early afternoon. The late afternoon is free, so you might check out the Summer Palace or Temple of Heaven if those interest you.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Xiao Xiang Hotel)
Optional Activities
- Excursion to Summer Palace
- Excursion to Temple of Heaven (Tiantan Park)
Landmarks/POIs Summer Palace Temple of Heaven - Day 10
Beijing
Tour ends at your Beijing hotel. You're free to leave whenever you need to. If your flight is later in the day, the hotel has luggage storage available.
- Meals
- Breakfast
