Great Wall Adventure: 4 Days
Beijing's Best Kept Secrets & the Wall at Dawn
Trip Highlights
- Mutianyu Great Wall — cable car, hike, toboggan
- Wild (unrestored) Great Wall at Jiankou — dramatic ruins
- Forbidden City private early access
- Hutong neighbourhood breakfast
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Arrive Beijing — Imperial Afternoon
Beijing- Check in to boutique hutong hotel
- Temple of Heaven late afternoon (fewer crowds)
- Hutong neighbourhood evening walk
- Peking duck welcome dinner
Stay: Boutique courtyard hotel, Dongcheng
Mutianyu Great Wall
Beijing- Early departure by private car (avoid traffic)
- Cable car ascent to Mutianyu
- 4-hour guided hike — watchtowers 6 to 23
- Optional: toboggan descent
- Picnic lunch on the Wall
- Ming Tombs stop on the way back
Stay: Boutique courtyard hotel, Dongcheng
Wild Wall at Jiankou + Forbidden City
Beijing- Dawn departure: Jiankou wild wall (unrestored, dramatic ruins) — serious hiking
- Iconic Heavenly Ladder and Beijing Knot sections
- Return to Beijing for lunch
- Forbidden City (pre-booked, pre-crowd entry)
- Beihai Park sunset
- Farewell hutong dinner
Stay: Boutique courtyard hotel, Dongcheng
Beijing Morning — Depart
Beijing- Local breakfast in the hutongs
- Nanluoguxiang alley browse
- Airport/station transfer
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What's Included
- 3 nights in a boutique Beijing hotel
- All transfers (private vehicle for wall visits)
- Daily breakfast + 2 dinners
- Expert guide throughout
- All entrance fees
Not Included
- International and domestic flights
- Travel insurance
- Lunches
- Personal spending
Frequently Asked Questions
How difficult is the Jiankou Wild Wall?
Jiankou is rated moderate-to-challenging. The path involves some scrambling over collapsed sections. It is not suitable for young children or those with mobility issues. Mutianyu on day 2 is accessible for all fitness levels.
Can I visit just Mutianyu and skip Jiankou?
Absolutely. We can replace Jiankou with a second Mutianyu visit (different section), a Great Wall Museum, or a Ming Tombs deep-dive.
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