Beijing Great Wall
One Day hiking tour to Huangyaguan Great Wall
Located 130 kilometers from Beijing, Huangyaguan section is a great choice for experiencing an interesting hiking tour meanwhile you can keep far away from the crowded tourists in other sections.
If you only have one day and want to stay far away from the bustling and hustling tourist sites while do a hiking on the Great Wall, Huangyaguan section in Jixian County may be a nice choice. Have a private car is the best choice if you plan to be back in one day.
Prepare the necessary things, such as the bottled water and something for lunch; start early in the morning to head to Huangyaguan Great Wall directly, the transfer needs about three hours. For a moderate hiking tour, the hiking distance may be 6 kilometers, but for a hard hiking, you may need hike for about 10 kilometers. Here, we would like to give you some guidelines for the 10 kilometers' hike.
Huangyaguan section was first built in North Qi Century, and was rebuilt in Ming Dynasty. The whole part was built on the steep mountain ridge with cliff in the east and sheer mountains in the west. Comparatively, although it does not have the great majesty as Badaling section, and do not have the adventurous character like Jiankou section, Huangyaguan is a very good choice for hiking. Here, you can avoid the crowded tourists and leave yourself in a very peaceful world, integrate yourself to the nature and old construction thoroughly.
In the very beginning, the wall is intact and the hiking is very easy. You can see the small villages at the foot of the Wall. After about one hour, you will reach a high peak where you can overlook the valley and also the Huangyaguan fortress, far below. Standing at the fortress, you are able to visit its Baguan pattern, a specially-designed labyrinth used to confuse and entrap the enemy. If you are interested in it, you can walk down to it and visit carefully inside.
Continue your hiking and the road forwards is not that easy. The restored wall is no longer existed and the rest of the parts are all dilapidated walls - desolate scene. Hike along the half of the wall to the heavenly ladder. This part was not built with bricks, but make of stone with only half side of wall and the other half is sheer crags, so, be very careful. The heavenly ladder is actually one part of very steep road with stone ladders. It is impossible to finish this part at a breath. The roads towards are more difficult. They are almost the narrow winding paths, and many parts of them are covered with the dense trees, and it is better to pass these parts hand in hand.
Walking downwards, the hike is comparatively easy. On the way to the foot of the Wall, you will have enough time to appreciate the beautiful scenery, and looking far away, you also can see the Jinhai Lake, which is just likes a bright mirror enchasing within the mountains.
Your day hiking tour will come to a good end when you are at the foot of the Great Wall. After a short break, you may drive back to Beijing. To celebrate today's blazing adventure, we believe you deserve a big dinner.
