Beijing · HIKING & TREKKING
16 reviewed
Below are the 15 best great wall hikes in Beijing right now: what each one costs, how long it takes, and which kind of traveller it suits. Start at number one; it’s there for a reason.
Hike Jinshanling Great Wall in a small group for a wild-to-restored route, great photos, and a hearty local lunch.
“Unreal from start to finish!! Denit (sorry if spelt wrong) was amazing with his knowledge and just an all round lovely person. The good/restaurant after was some of the best food I’ve had in Beijing!! Couldn’t recommend enough! Thanks so much!”
Jinshanling Great Wall trek with fewer crowds, restored and ruined towers, and photo help, plus flexible add-ons like Forbidden City or Summer Palace.
“Jack was a fantastic guide (probably the best one during our whole vacation in China)! He gave us lots of background information about the great wall and its history and could answer each of my questions! The lunch was also delicious! Regarding the great wall: Jingshangling is just breathtaking! It‘s perfect for those who like to enjoy the pure nature of the great wall without the mass tourism like on other sections. Our driver was very friendly, too, but relatively in a rush for my taste. The organization of the tour could have been better as we lost 1 hour in the morning because we needed to pick up one…”
Small-group Jinshanling Great Wall hike with early pickup, included admission and shuttle bus, and 3 hours on a quiet 6 km stretch.
“Good communication beforehand with Zachary the guide. Was picked up on time and the coach was comfortable. A very different walk to Mutianyu and would highly recommend as not busy. Sturdy shoes and a walking stick were a great help.”
Small-group hike from Simatai West to Jinshanling with restored and original Great Wall sections, plus lunch and bottled water.
“This was a great day trip to the Great Wall! Luis took us to a beautiful part of the wall that was not very crowded and had a lot of the original stones. Luis was a great tour guide and took beautiful pictures of us! He taught us a lot about the history of the wall. This is a very active and strenuous hike, so make sure to bring good shoes. The lunch was also very good, and the transportation was comfortable. We could not recommend this more.”
Skip-the-line Forbidden City and early Tiananmen Square, then walk Mutianyu Great Wall with a small-group guide, pickup, and included tickets.
“Actual tour was great but China’s pollution made our visit unpleasant”
Private Jinshanling Great Wall trek from Beijing with hotel pickup, quieter views, photo stops, and a local Chinese lunch.
“We signed up for just the transportation service due to the time constraint and it worked perfectly. The driver was on time to pick us up, the ride was comfortable and we left our luggage in his car. We finished the hike earlier than the agreRead more”
Hike and cruise the lake-side Huanghuacheng Great Wall near Beijing. Low crowds, boat views, and a smooth one-day plan.
“The part of the wall we went to was very pretty and nearly empty of tourists save for our relatively small group. Cici gave us a lot of information about the wall's construction in both English and Chinese, and was a friendly guide throughout. Answering so many questions, simple such as how to tell which side faced out of China to more complex ones such as about signalling on the wall. She kept us going and we never felt rushed. After the tour Cici gave us some recommendations for places to visit in Beijing.”
Private Great Wall hike from wild Jiankou to restored Mutianyu, with hotel pickup, a pro guide, included lunch, and flexible descent options.
“Great tour. Booked one day in advance and driver picked us up at our hotel right on time We did this off-season, so maybe not as easy peak season. We intentionally picked a day with expected low pollution count to get better visibility. Wind is the key to clearing things up. We could see all the way to Beijing. Picked up Jack our guide en route out of the city. Traffic always intense so plan mentally for a grind out of the city. Driver dropped us at trailhead and guide Jack led us up the 40 minute track to the first tower. Probably the toughest part, but doable for anyone…”
Hike the wild Jiankou Great Wall then finish on restored Mutianyu, with a private guide, included tickets, lunch, and Beijing pickup.
“Peter is an amazing guide and took care of everything to make this a fabulous and memorable trip. High standard of car picked me up and took me to Great Wall. Peter explained the history of the wall during the journey. The hike was truly breRead more”
Private hike from Huanghuacheng Great Wall to Xishuiyu, with hotel pickup, lunch, snacks, tickets, and reservoir views.
“Excellent tour! Driver and tour guide Danny were were waiting for me right at the time they said they'd come pick me up. Since this was my first trip to China, Danny gave me one massive history lesson on the country, and it was actually very iRead more”
Small-group Mutianyu Great Wall hike: 5 km past 20 watchtowers with an uphill cable car, bus pickup from Beijing, and tea and snacks.
“It was amazing! I would love to it again! They provided a lot interesting information that I didn’t know about the Great Wall of China and the this beautiful country. 💚 🇨🇳”
Private Jinshanling Great Wall hike from Beijing with hotel pickup, an English-speaking guide, and photo stops on an original unrestored section.
“I took the private solo trip for 3 days, with Rocky my guide.. he was absolutely wonderful. He told about the history about the sites we visited, what I liked the best was the information given... it was like he was narrating a story. Which made the Read more”
Private Great Wall hike from wild Jiankou to restored Mutianyu with picnic lunch, hotel transfers, and one-way cable car or toboggan descent.
“We had a great day trip. The Jiankou section was absolutely amazing to see. Our guide Justin was kind and knowledgeable about the area and history. We also had some extra time in the afternoon because we walked fast and could join a tea ceremony which was a real cultural experience. Highly recommend this tour.”
Two days of Great Wall hiking from Jinshanling to Gubeikou with a small group, early access, and a farmer guesthouse stay.
“Amazing. Our highlight of China so far. The two days are different and well worth doing both. We were well looked after and enjoyed home cooked dinner and breakfast. Thank you. 100% recommended.”
Private trekking from Gubeikou to Jinshanling on the Great Wall with local lunch, watchtower history, and hotel pickup for $209.
“It took me a while to decide which operator to use as there were so many offering the same thing. Then I chanced upon the Greatwall Trek Club and they were offering hikes along Gubeikou and Jinshaling with lunch in between. Although theRead more”
