Top 7 Great Wall Hiking Routes with Useful Tips

The best Great Wall hikes and treks are spread all around the remarkable, 520.77-kilometer (323.59-mile) wall in Beijing, which was primarily constructed in the Ming Dynasty (approximately 500 years ago) but dates back to the North Qi Dynasty (about 1500 years ago).

This article focuses on the top 7 Great Wall hiking routes/trails - meaning the classic hikes for every skill level. You can do the hikes on a single day or multiple days, utterly immersing yourself in the history and landscape of this ancient structure.

Thinking of hiking the Great Wall of China more strenuously? We've got you covered, with some spectacular wild Great Wall trails.

How Long to Hike the Great Wall of China?

The Great Wall of China is home to some of the best hikes in China and beyond. To plan your Great Wall hiking tour, you probably wonder how much time you’ll need.

For most travelers, we suggest that you take a one-day Great Wall hiking trip from Beijing to Mutianyu or Jinshangling sections.

For hiking enthusiasts, 2 to 5 days of hiking according to your time availability and level of physical fitness, will greatly enhance your personalized Great Wall of China tour.

If you are a serious hiker, consider a hike ranging from 7 to 14 days to explore both the well-kept/restored and wild, unrestored walls. A once-in-a-lifetime adventure will be promised, especially with camping inside the beacon towers.

Is it Possible to Hike the Entire Great Wall of China?

Theoretically, it is possible for a person to walk the entire length of the Great Wall (21,196.18 kilometers / 13,170.7 miles). In practice, however, it is extremely difficult and almost impossible.

Firstly, many of the Great Walls have completely collapsed or are submerged in farmlands and villages, making it impossible for them to pass on foot. Secondly, parts of the Wall, especially the desert sections, are nothing more than mounds of earth or have completely disappeared.  Thirdly, some walls are inaccessible because they are situated in militarily restricted areas or on cliffs.

7 Best Great Wall Hikes: Classic Routes Suitable For Most Travelers

We've selected the top 7 Great Wall of China hiking routes, to help you find the best trail for your interest and physical ability.

Section Wildness Crowds Scenery Photo Ops Jinshanling to Simatai ★★★☆☆ ★★☆☆☆ ★★★★★ ★★★★★ Mutianyu Great Wall ★★☆☆☆ ★★★☆☆ ★★★☆☆ ★★★☆☆ Jiankou Great Wall ★★★★★ ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ ★★★★★ Huangyaguan Great Wall ★★★☆☆ ★★☆☆☆ ★★★★☆ ★★★★☆ Gubeikou to Jinshanling ★★★★★ ★☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ ★★★★☆ Jiankou to Mutianyu ★★★★☆ ★★☆☆☆ ★★★★★ ★★★★★ Simatai Night Hike ★★★☆☆ ★★☆☆☆ ★★★★☆ ★★★★☆

Voted by Lonely Planet as “one of the best hikes in China”, this is the most spectacular section of the Ming Dynasty Great Wall, combining the beauty of the restored Great Wall with the beauty of the wild Great Wall.

The Jinshanling section features 24 enemy towers, including the famous “General's Tower” and “Text Brick Tower”.

As you hike up to Simatai, from the Fairy Tower to the Wangjing Tower, you are advised to use both hands when climbing the wall to ensure safety.

With over 96% vegetation coverage, dense watchtowers, and excellent facilities, Mutianyu is the preferred section of the Great Wall for family-friendly hiking. Here, the mountains are in full bloom in spring and are dyed with various colors in autumn. And the Wall is shrouded with snow in winter. Famous enemy towers include: Dajiaolou (No. 1 Tower) and Zhengguan Tower (No. 4 Tower).

Why not slide down the Great Wall with Mutianyu toboggan -- is one of the coolest things to do on the Great Wall with your kids.

The Jiankou Great Wall is known for its treacherous, pristine, and stunning views, making it the most exciting Great Wall hike around Beijing. You will hike through collapsed beacon towers and exposed masonry -- a perfect opportunity to photograph the Great Wall.

However, this hike also carries a lot of risk and requires professional preparation and a local tour guide. For example, the “Eagle's Flies” is a near-vertical cliff. The “Stairway to Heaven” is a steep 70°incline with steps only half a foot wide. Therefore, rock climbing skills and ropes are required.

Be sure to avoid hiking the Jiankou during the rainy season from July to August or during the winter icy period.

From a thousand-year-old military town to a photographer's paradise, this Great Wall of China hiking route is suitable for intermediate to advanced hikers. Hiking between the original earth-rammed Great Wall of Panglong Mountain and the exquisite brick towers of Jinshanling allows you to visualize the evolution of the construction of the Great Wall.

Also discover the historical sites, such as the Gubeikou Ancient Town, Yang Linggong Temple, and the half-destroyed Twenty-four Eyes Tower. The rare bricks engraved with the numbers of the Ming Dynasty garrison is another highlight.

Make sure you take in the stunning sunrise/sunset with clouds from the Little Jinshanlou Observation Deck.

A thrilling and beautiful Ming Dynasty Great Wall, the Huangyaguan Great Wall hike stands out for its eight-diagram city design and autumn foliage. It is also home to the well-preserved Widow's Mansion, which legend has it was built with donations from 12 widows. It will be a special experience to hike through a maze of defenses in the only Great Wall of China with an eight-diagram city layout.

The best time to hike Huangyaguan is in autumn when the Taipingzhai section has more than 80% red leaf coverage and is known as the “Greatest Mountain of Red Leaves in Eastern Beijing”. Also, don't miss the free Great Wall Museum.

For those seeking both exciting hikes and beautiful natural scenery, this Great Wall hiking route connecting two of Beijing's iconic original Walls and restored Walls is a good choice. The broken walls, cliffside walls, and run-down staircases of the Jiankou section contrast sharply with the green stone steps and intact enemy towers in the Mutianyu section.

The Jiankou Great Wall, as a wild wall, does have some dangers. It is always recommended that you follow a local guide who is familiar with the route, rather than following a map or navigation on your own.

Last but not least, the night walk on Simatai is fit for everyone. It is recommended to take the cable car up around 5:30 pm while enjoying the sunset. After reaching the Great Wall, walk to the Beacon Tower, which is the most beautiful place to photograph the sunset and stars.

Whether it's with your kids' partner or friends, visiting Simatai at night with a lantern overlooking the illuminated Gubei Water Town is a memorable experience. Capture the imposing enemy towers of different sizes and shapes.

The cable car is POMA's professional-grade gondola with heated seats so you won't even feel the cold in winter.

The Great Wall’s Incredible Unrepaired, Wild Hiking Routes

If you want to go wilder, hiking some unrepaired, rarely-visited parts of the Great Wall, remember before you set off that these trails may lead to labyrinth and even danger - so bring maps, appropriate hiking gear, and most importantly your local guide.

Eighteen Stirrups Great Wall (十八蹬长城): Located in Jiuduhe Township, Huairou District, Beijing, the Wall was first built during the Northern Qi Dynasty. It is named after the two sides of the palisade wall, which are built in the shape of 18 jagged teeth. The most dangerous part is a steep slope with an angle of 85 degrees.

Unilateral Wall (单边墙): The Great Wall was built on the ridge of a mountain, usually with two sides, leaving the middle part for people to walk through. The reason for building a one-sided wall is that the top of the hill is narrow and shaped like a blade.

Jiuyeolou Great Wall (九眼楼长城): Built in the Ming Dynasty, it reaches an altitude of 1,141 meters, which is the highest of all the Great Wall's enemy towers in Beijing, and also the largest in terms of construction scale.

Hike the Great Wall of China with Hi Five Trip

A Great Wall of Hike is a must-do for any active travelers to this ancient wonder. Below we list some of our top-selling Great Wall of China hiking tours:

Work closely with the local expert guide, we can also offer you a tailor-made Great Wall hiking trip based on your hiking level and specific requirements.