How to book a tour
Discover Great Wall on foot
Tour code: AT011
Duration: 7 days
Route: Beijing
Attractions: Discover Great Wall on foot, enjoy the special experience of lifetime. You also will take join-in tour in Beijing city to visit Beijing must see attractions.
Itinerary:
Day 1 Arrival / Beijing
Upon arrival at Beijing airport, you will be met by our English speaking tour guide and transferred to hotel. Leisure on your own for the rest of the day.
Day 2 Beijingl / Huangyaguan (B, L, D)
Drive to Huangyaguan (Huangya Pass) and visit the Great Wall Museum.
Day 3 Huangya Pass (B, L, D)
Enjoy a full day hike along the Great Wall at Huangya Pass (5 hours).
Huangya Pass acquired its name from the yellow cliffs into which it was built. Built across the Ju River in Jixian County, the pass and its round guardhouse, Phoenix Tower, have an imposing look. The most unique feature here is the Street of the Eight Diagrams, an architectural wonder of the Ming Dynasty lying just below the pass. A labyrinth meant to confuse and entrap invading armies, this fortification design is based on the ancient trigrams of the Book of Changes.
Day 4 Simatai to Jinshanling (B, L, D)
Drive to the Great Wall at Simatai section. Here the wall travels along the ridges of high mountains and, at certain points, along cliffs formed by huge rocks. Hike from Simatai to Jinshanling (approximately 4 hours).
The Jinshanling section is virtually a museum of the architectural styles of Ming-era towers. As many as 67 are found within a distance of only 10 km. The towers are built in a surprising variety of shapes, the largest of which is the impressive Storehouse Tower, so named because of the storehouse on its southern terrace. This tower was used as a garrison headquarters and is protected by special defensive barriers and an extra wall 60 meters downhill.
Day 5 Mutianyu to Beijing (B, L)
Drive to The Great Wallat Mutianyu section and embark on another full-day hike (approximately 5 hours). The Mutianyu section of the Great Wall is known for its beautiful surroundings - dense woods and rich pastures changing colors with the seasons of the year. It winds its way over 1000 meters to the crest of a mountain before turning sharply and dipping downhill, forming a triangle known as the Ox-Horn Wall. Two unique features of this section are the double battlements and branch walls found throughout the area.
Drive to Beijing in the late afternoon.
Day 6 Beijing (Join-in Tour) (B, L)
Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Temple of Heaven
Depart from your hotel in the morning to have city tours to visit the TianAnMen Square, the symbolical heart of China and gathering place for the masses. It is the biggest public square in the world, which can hold one million people. Having a free walk there, imagining the great historic events of the 20th century took place there. You will also see legendary landmarks including the Great Hall of the People and the towering 125 foot granite obelisk, Monument to the Peoples Heroes, honoring those who died in revolution.
Walking across the Golden River Bridge, enter the Forbidden City, the inner sanctum and palace where for centuries Chinese emperors ruled their world. It has 9000-room maze of courtyards, places, and ceremonial halls, where 24 emperors used to live. Forbidden City was indeed a forbidden place, where commoners were kept out for nearly 500 years in the past. Tour the palace and imagine the mystery, intrigue and incredible power that reigned here.
After having lunch at the local restaurant, visit the Temple of Heaven. It was built in the 15th century, a sacred site for ancient Beijing, where the emperor and his 1000 member entourage would retreat twice a year for religious ritual. Surrounded by enormous grounds designed in accordance with fengshshui, the Temple complex consists of the Celebrated Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, a unique wooden and blue-tiled structure built without a nail. It is considered the supreme achievement of traditional Chinese architecture
Day 7 Beijing (Join-in Tour) (B, L)
Summer Palace, Lama Temple, Panda House. Transfer to the airport by own arrangement.
The Summer Palace is the largest and best-preserved royal garden in China with a history of over 800 years. With its cool features - water, gardens and hills, it was the palace of choice for vacationing emperors and Dowager Empresses. It was badly damaged by Anglo-French troops during the Second Opium War (1860) and its restoration became a pet project of Empress Dowager Cixi, the last of the Qing dynasty rulers.
A visit to Lhama Temple (Yonghegong). It is a renowned lama (Lhama) temple of the Yellow Hat Sect of Lamaism, is situated in the northeast part of Beijing city. Lama Temple, or Yanghegong, has a long and varied history. It was originally built in 1694 and originally used as official residence for court eunuchs of the Ming dynasty and was converted to the royal court of Prince Yongzheng(Yin Zhen) a son of Emperor Kang Xi of the Qing Dynasty.
The busiest area of the Beijing Zoo is the famous Panda House, home to giant and lesser pandas of China. It is located in the northwest area of Beijing. Don't miss the small Red Pandas in the trees as you exit. Lakes and gardens abound in the zoo complex which is a weekend destination for families. During the week for school groups make the zoo a very busy place. If you have never seen a Panda don't miss the opportunity.
Service end.