Walking the Great Wall of China

Ni Hao! Welcome to China. Your adventure begins in Beijing with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. The capital of the most populous country on earth, Beijing is a food-centric city with ancient sites and modern architecture around every corner. If you arrive early, maybe explore the city at your own pace and wander through the Summer Palace’s beautiful gardens, visit the Lama Temple or try some local cuisine like peking duck or jianbing. After the meeting, settle into your accommodation and maybe get together with your travel crew and head out for dinner – your local leader will have a couple of great recommendations.

This morning, set off on a walking tour with your leader around Beijing. Visit Tiananmen Square – this downtown square is the symbolic centre of Chinese power. Framed by the Gate of Heavenly Peace, Mao’s Mausoleum and the Great Hall of the People, it's a place of pilgrimage for Chinese tourists who consider it the heart of their nation. From here, you’ll enter the Forbidden City, which was built more than 500 years ago. Explore the halls and courtyards and see the grandeur of the Imperial Chinese Court during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Then, continue through Hutong (alleyways or small street between rows of courtyard residences). These narrow alleyways surrounding the Forbidden City are lined with traditional courtyard houses representing the layout and lifestyle of the old Beijing city and local neighbourhoods. The rest of the afternoon is free for you to explore at your own pace.

Make your way to the first section of the Great Wall of your journey. This incredible piece of engineering stretches 6000 km west of Beijing. It was initially constructed to protect Chinese empires from invaders from the north. Even though it failed, it's still one of the country's most remarkable achievements and an iconic destination. Your hike starts at the Mutianyu Great Wall – this section of the wall is one of the more popular and well-maintained sections. As you hike, take in the scenery, snaking through the hills into the distance. Tonight, you’ll stay at Jiankou Village.

The Jiankou section of the Great Wall is commonly considered the ‘Wild Wall’ as it was built along a mountain edge with towers clinging to steep ridges and remains completely untouched. Maybe take on the short vertical climb at Sanshibadeng (Spider-Man Wall) for panoramic views of the original construction and surrounding scenery. As you walk along the sections that aren't maintained by the government, maybe help to protect the local environment and pick up any litter you see. After your hike this afternoon, drive to Gubeikou Village and maybe catch the sunset from atop this magnificent structure.

After breakfast, drive to the Simatai section of the Great Wall. Like the Jiankou section, the Simatai Great Wall retains much of its unrestored character. You'll hike the footpath to the top, then follow the wall to Tower 10, passing steep ridges, uneven stonework and sweeping views of the surrounding mountains and Gubeikou Reservoir. This afternoon, head back to your guesthouse in Gubeikou Village and try your hand at making dumplings with your host.

Today you’ll hike from Panlongshan along the Gubeikou section of the wall to Zhuanduokou Tower in Jinshanling. This part of the wall preserves its original history, dating back to the Ming Dynasty, when it was expanded and reinforced to defend China’s northern borders. Along the way, you’ll pass many watchtowers, including the three-level 24 Window Tower. Parts of the trail are steep and uneven and at times, you’ll leave the wall to walk along country paths through villages and farmland. As you go, take in the scenic views of mountains in the distance. Tonight, you’ll stay in Jinshanling Village.

If the weather is nice, you’ll wake up early this morning to catch the sunrise over the Great Wall before setting off on your final day of hiking. After breakfast, continue from Zhuanduokou Tower to the Jinshanling section of the Great Wall. This section is 7 m tall and 6 m wide, built from large bricks that weigh about 12 kg each. As you hike through the Big and Small Jinshan Mountains, you’ll see the Big and Small Jinshan Watchtowers. This afternoon you’ll head back to Beijing. When you arrive, maybe head out for a farewell dinner with your group to celebrate your journey.