How to Hike the Great Wall of China: Choosing the Best Hikes (with FAQs)

You haven’t seen the Great Wall of China until you’ve seen it on foot. One of the must-see places in China, it is also worthy of its title as “one of the Seven Wonders of the World” and definitely among the top hiking destinations in the country. Whether a day or multi-day trip, the experience of hiking the Great Wall of China is unmatched and will change your perspective with its colorful history.

Planning a hiking trip to the Great Wall can be intimidating. There are a lot of sections and trails, some of them are restored, while many others are unrestored, wild, and even dangerous. This Great Wall of China hiking guide will provide you with all the information you need to know to get some epic hikes and treks.

Are You Allowed to Hike the Great Wall of China?

Whether or not hiking is allowed on the Great Wall depends on the management regulations of the specific section. The Great Wall scenic areas that are open to the public can be hiked as long as you purchase a ticket. Badaling, Mutianyu, Jinshanling, and Simatai sections are well-equipped with safety walking steps, trail markings, and cable car/toboggan, making them suitable for families with children and hiking beginners.

Unrestored but partially open sections Wall, such as the Jiankou Great Wall, can be hiked, but are more physically demanding and suitable for experienced hikers.

The undeveloped Wild Wall is not recommended/allowed for hiking due to the high risk of wall collapse and the lack of rescue facilities. In addition, sections on heritage conservation, such as the Stone Castle at the beginning of the Great Wall where the Old Dragon Head enters the sea, are not allowed to be hiked.

Which are the Best Hiking Sections of the Great Wall

The well-preserved/repaired and authentic wild Great Wall of China in Beijing, such as Mutianyu, Jinshanling, and Simatai, offers the best choices for hiking with a range of trails, activities, tours, and lodging options. It is precisely for these reasons, we recommend the best hikes for your Great Wall Hiking tour from Beijing.

Top Great Wall of China Hiking Routes

Jinshanling to Gubeikou - Challenging Level

Approximately 15 km and requiring roughly 6 - 8 hours of hiking, this route combines both fully restored and slightly restored Wild Walls and offers countless photographic opportunities. The Gubeikou Great Wall is a rare double Great Wall structure in history, combining the Northern Qi Rammed Earth Great Wall and the Ming Masonry Great Wall. The best preserved Ming Great Wall, the Jinshanling Great Wall, is densely packed with towers, including 67 enemy towers, stretching for 2.7 kilometers.

Jinshanling to Simatai - Moderate Level

About 7-8 km, this route takes 4 to 5 hours hiking and is suitable for hikers and photography enthusiasts to capture the sunrise/sunset and the Great Wall under the starry sky. Part of the route is also ideal for families with children. In the Simatai section, you can find the original military fortress -- the barricade wall, leystone holes, and writing bricks are well preserved. In addition, Simatai also provides a night tour.

Huangyaguan - Moderate Level

Approximately 6 - 7 km, this Great Wall hike takes 3 to 4 hours and is unique in that this section of the Ming Wall is built with urns in the shape of Zhuge Liang's eight trigrams. Apart from hikers, this hike is also suitable for the elderly and children.

Easy but a Bit Touristy Great Wall Hikes

Mutianyu - Easy Level

Taking about 3 hours to cover 4 to 5 km, the Mutianyu Great Wall hiking section is suitable for everyone, especially for families. The Mutianyu Great Wall was one of the first Ming Dynasty Great Walls to use the glutinous rice mortar technique, so you can see the white crystals in the cracks of the enemy towers while hiking. Cable cars, toboggans, and accessible trails will make your hike easier.

Juyongguan Pass - Easy to Moderate Level

Juyongguan is one of the important passes of the Great Wall in Beijing, with magnificent scenery, ideal for hiking and photography. The Juyongguan Great Wall is in a loop, and you can choose to hike the east or west route, which takes about 2-3 hours.

The west route is from the west gate to the 14th enemy tower, overlooking the Beijing-Zhangzhou Railway and the Zigzag Railway. The east route is from the east gate of Guancheng to the No.1 enemy tower, with more steps, which is suitable for the more physically fit. You can discover more enemy towers and enjoy the mountain views.

Rarely-visited But Difficult Wild Great Wall Hikes

Jiankou - Challenging Level

Beijing's most dangerous wild Great Wall, a professional-grade adventure route, the Jiankou Great Wall is suitable for professional hikers and requires a professional local guide. There have been many falling accidents here due to no guardrails, no rescue, and some sections have collapsed. Most people can try hiking from Xijiezi to Zhenbei Building, which is about 3km and takes about 2.5h. From Jiankou to Eagle's Flight Inversion is about 5km, which takes about 6 hours of hiking, and requires rock climbing equipment and rope skills. Hiking from Beijing Knot to Jiubeilou is about 8km and takes about 8 hours, only for a professional expedition team.

Jiankou to Mutianyu - Challenging Level

The Jiankou to Mutianyu trek is one of the most classic and challenging Great Wall crossing routes. It is about 10 - 12 kilometres and takes 6 to 8 hours (depending on the route) and is suitable for experienced trekkers. From the broken walls of the Jiankou section, such as the famous "Eagle's Flight", "Heaven's Ladder" and "Beijing Knot", to the well-restored Mutianyu, you will feel as if you have travelled from ancient times to modern times.

Yangbian to Dayingpan - Challenging Level

A classic Wild Great Wall hiking route near Beijing, it is known for its pristine landscape, steep terrain, and spectacular scenery. The Yangzbian Great Wall is the “model project” of the Ming Dynasty Great Wall, with exquisite construction techniques. The Danyingpan Great Wall, on the other hand, is a dangerous terrain with a high density of enemy towers. Some sections of the wall are broken and very steep. The hike is about 10 kilometres and takes about 8 hours.

When is the Best Time to Hike the Great Wall

The best time to hike the Great Wall depends largely on the local weather, the scenery of each season, and the comfort level of the hiking experience. Overall, spring (early April - end of May) and autumn (mid-September - early November), with temperatures between 10-25°C, are the best times for Great Wall hiking. During these two times, the Great Wall is either flooded with flowers or tinted with red autumn leaves, so the scenery is very beautiful. It is possible to take great photos of the Great Wall.

However, avoid the National Day Holiday in October as it is the golden week for travelling. After the National Day is the peak tourist season, Mutianyu and Badaling have more tourists, so it is recommended to choose the less-visited or the Wild Great Wall.

More Tips for Great Wall Hiking

Preparation and knowledge will help you plan a successful and enjoyable Great Wall hiking trip.

Before You Go

1. Check the weather forecast and avoid hiking in rainy, snowy, or windy weather. Hiking the Wild Wall in bad weather is especially dangerous.
2. Choose a suitable hiking trail, or consider walking the Mutianyu for an easy hike.
3. Prepare yourself with a Great Wall map, navigation, etc.
4. It is recommended that you follow a local hiking guide.
5. It is recommended to travel with at least 1-2 companions rather than travelling alone.
6. You are suggested to inform your family/friends of your Great Wall hiking plan, including the route and expected return time.

While Hiking

1. Do warm-up activities before hiking.
2. Rest when you are tired.
3. Don't force yourself to climb steep slopes or broken Great Walls, and stay away from cliff edges.
4. Pay attention to the safety of your feet when taking photos.
5. There are no rubbish bins in some parts of the Great Wall, so you have to take away all the rubbish, including fruit peels, paper towels, plastic bottles, etc.
6. Don't carve words on the Great Wall, don't remove or take away the cultural relic bricks.
7. If you get lost, it is recommended to stay where you are and call the Blue Sky Rescue Team for support (Beijing Tel: 010-69646964).

10 Essentials for Your Great Wall Hiking Pack

1. For the more difficult Great Wall hikes, it is recommended that you choose non-slip hiking shoes; for the easier ones, light walking shoes will do.
2. When hiking the wild Great Wall, such as Jiankou and Simatai, you need to use your hands and feet, so gloves are a necessity.
3. Adequate water. There are no supply points on the Great Wall, and you will easily get dehydrated if you sweat a lot in summer.
4. snacks, such as energy gels/bars, nuts, chocolates, beef jerky, etc.
5. Sunscreen, wide-brimmed hats, sunglasses, magic bandanas, etc.
6. A windproof jacket is a must as there is a big temperature difference between day and night on the Great Wall.
7. First aid kit: band-aid, alcohol pads, elastic bandages, painkillers, gastrointestinal drugs, life-saving blankets, etc.
8. Mountaineering poles
9. Headlamp/torch and spare batteries.
10. Hiking the Wild Wall requires downloading offline maps in advance and preparing emergency communication equipment.

China Great Wall Hiking FAQs

1. How Difficult is Walking the Great Wall of China?

The difficulty of hiking the Great Wall depends on the section you choose, your level of physical strength, and preparation. Overall, the Great Wall, which has been developed as a scenic spot such as Badaling and Mutianyu, is suitable for most people, with a hiking time of 1-3 hours. On the other hand, the unrestored wild Great Wall, such as parts of Jiankou and part of Jinshanling, requires a higher level of physical fitness and outdoor expertise.

2. Do I Need a Guide to Hike the Great Wall?

It depends. However, we highly recommend that you hire a guide while hiking the Great Wall to enhance your safety and make your hike easier. Furthermore, local guides not only have expert knowledge of hiking the Great Wall, but also can provide in-depth explanations of the history and culture of the Great Wall.

3. Can I Camp on the Wall?

It is illegal to camp on the busier, restored sections of the Great Wall, such as Mutianyu or Badaling. However, some local operators and travel agencies offer camping sites at Gubeikou, Jiankou, or Huanghuacheng sections.

Plan Your Great Wall of China Hiking Tour with Hi Five Trip

Our Great Wall hiking trips include family-friendly day tours, private guided multi-day hiking tours, and in-depth trekking and camping adventures.

All our Great Wall hikes are led by professional, local English-speaking guides. Don’t hesitate to customize your own trip to China with a lifetime Great Wall hiking experience.