Hiking from Jiankou (Zhengbeikou) to Mutianyu is one of the most popular Great Wall hiking routes. It’s a good combination of an unrestored section of the wall that is wild enough and the restored Mutianyu. Jiankou is half ruined, wild and untouched, and you won’t see big crowds. It has a wild beauty and ruggedness that cannot be described unless you visit it.

How long will the hike take?

Most first-time Jiannkou hikers walk uphill via Xizhazi village at an average speed of 2.3km per hour. The entire hike from Jiankou (Zhengbeikou) to Mutianyu usually covers 3 -5 hours with some breaks regardless of individual fitness, age and/or length of stride.

How difficult is it to hike from Jiankou to Mutianyu?

You don’t need ropes, climbing gear, or any hiking / backpacking experience. This hike is suitable for most people with average fitness. I’ve seen all age groups have successfully hiked from Jiankou towards Mutianyu, from children under ten, to senior citizens. The majority of Jiankou hikers are here for the first time. However, weather conditions can make the hike from Jiankou to Mutianyu a lot tougher than what you have expected. For example, in hot summer, you feel much more difficult dut to the heat and humidity. In winter, frozen snow and ice on the Wall make the Wall difficult to walk through.

Xizhizi village to Zhengbeikou: The difficulty of the walk from Xizhazi to Zhengbeilou is moderate for most of us. It’s an hour physically demanding hike uphill to reach Zhengbeikou Tower while the initial trail from Xizhazi with not much of infrastructure is a little bit hard to follow.

Zhengbeikou to Ox Horn Edge: You can easily hike from Zhengbeikou to Ox Horn Edge – only some loose bricks and stones but no steep slopes along the way. There are several deserted watch towers for you to explore. At Ox Horn Edge, there are several places where you have to walk along the edge, quite high above the ground due to the overgrown bushes in summer. The bushes may push you over the side. There are also steep slopes with loose bricks and stones.

Climbing up Ox Horn Edge (reaching the highest tower then walk down) usually takes 1hour in spring or around 1.5 hours in summer. Serious and experienced rock climbers may want to climb up Ox Horn Eege, but most would better to avoid Ox Horn Edge for the reasons of the safety.

Mutianyu has many stairs, some are quite steep. For most people the worst part of the hike at Mutianyu could be walking down from tower 20 to 19 as the section between the two towers is around 70 to 80 degrees in height with about 440 vertical steps. Watch the steps if you have hip, ankles or knee issues. You can easily walk on the rest of of Mutianyu once walking down from tower 19.

Statistics: 3 – 5 hours of walking over approx. 8km. Start height 600m, finish height 318m, highest point 1,044m (the tower on Ox-Horn Ridge). Total climbing up approx. 580m, total climbing down approx. 980m. The elevation of Zhengbeilou is 991 meters (3250 feet).

Overall, It’s a beautiful hike with spectacular views and plenty of spots to rest and not really strenuous. Anyone looking for a Wild Great Wall experience – this is THE place to go. I would highly recommend the Great Wall one day hike from Jiankou to Mutianyu for you. The scenic hike is suitable for moderately fit first time Great Wall visitors. It’s worth leaving your footprints.

Costs: Admission fees for Jiankou / Mutianyu is RMB 20 / 45,  Fees can be paid at each point.

Recommended time for visit: Plan your whole day around the Great Wall hike from Jiankou to Mutianyu. Leave early from Beijing, allow at least 2 hours to arrive at Xizhazi village, 4-5 hours trekking time and another 2 hours to return to Beijing.

Best time for hiking: Spring summer and fall will offer the best views. Winter could be dangerous due to snow and ice. Avoid to go when it is raining / snowing.

Related Tours: Jinshanling to Simatai West Hiking Tour

                         Jiankou Hiking plus Mutianyu Toboggan Ride

Related Links:  Mutianyu travel guide

the Forbidden City will be closed to the public in the afternoon of every Monday for maintainance and renovation except national holidays and summer holidays (between July 1st and August 31st). After the implementation of the half-day closure policy from January this year, Monday afternoons will continue to be closed to the end of this year from April 1st. Considering the big demand from holiday travellers, the Museum won’t close on legal holidays and during the summer from July 1st to August 1st.

At the heart of Beijing, the Forbidden City receives 15,000,000 visitors every year, a figure is permanent rising since 2010, than in 2012 exceeded 15,340,000 visitors. Especially during “golden weeks” and summer vacation,it becomes very crowded to travel through the Forbidden City. The large number of visitor causes a lot of pressure to expose relics and preserve buildings. So the museum has launched a pilot plan to close every Monday afternoon from Jan.1 to March 31,2013. After the implementation of the half-day closure policy from January this year, Monday afternoons will continue to be closed to the end of this year.

The museum gets rest, but the staff don’t. They will carry out maintenance work on the ancient buildings and relics. Finally there’s some time for inspection and maintenance. And, there is a lot more to be done, as the Museum gets ready to open more areas to the public in the coming days.

There is no end to the hiking adventures that we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open. If you want to share your favorite hike, share it with me! I love hearing amazing and inspiring off-the-beaten-path hiking adventures from all over the world. I want to hear YOUR stories! I’m always on the look out for places I can visit, or that I can recommend to folks who write to me for recommendations. And it’s not just me, it’s the entire Internet hiking community that will say thanks. We want you to tantalize us with your latest hiking adventure.

I will feature your story (3-4 photos with a blog post, 250-500 word max or a video!) in the Guest Post section of my blog. Share a few photos. This is optional, but remember what they say a picture is worth???

Here’s how to submit:

Drop me an email at service@wildgreatwall.com and put  ”Guest Blog: “A brief description of your hike” in the subject of your email. Tell us where in the world this hike is located. Describe why it’s one of your favorites, throwing in juicy details like waterfalls, animal encounters, or beautiful vistas. Or if you have a really short moment you’d like to share, share it in the comments section below!

Looking forward to hearing from you!  Meanwhile, happy travels!

Hiking is one of the oldest forms of adventure sport. It fulfills one of the deepest human needs to explore one’s surroundings. Hiking requires physical fitness and a will to explore uncharted territory. You don’t have to be a wilderness survival expert to go off hiking the Great Wall. You just need to have a sound grounding in the basics of the outdoors. Here is a list of things you need to get into hiking and enjoy the experience.

Keep your feet happy

I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to take good care of your feet. Everyone has different feet. High arches, flat or wide feet. What works for one person, may not be suitable for the next. Some important things to look for in a hiking shoe are a good grip, good support that will allow your foot to bend and flex naturally as you walk, and a waterproof exterior.

Wear shoes you’ve worn before so you aren’t dealing with areas that can form blisters from new shoe stiffness. Don’t feel like you have to have a big hiking boot if you are just doing shorter hikes at the local parks. Tennis shoes will do just fine. If you will be going on a multi-day hiking trip, you will need a pair of backpacking boots. Whatever type of outdoor footwear you decide to use, be sure they are going to be comfortable. You don’t want to get 5 or 10 miles into the hike only to find out that you have developed a nasty blister and can hardly walk.

Wear merino wool hiking socks–Wool is a great fabric for wicking moisture away from your foot, which will lessen the chance of blisters forming. Good hiking sock need to be thick and very hard wearing with terrific thermal properties. Good hiking socks should also have thickened areas around the toe, ankle and heel as these are the area that will get the most wear. When you try on the shoe with a sock, it should feel like a house slipper with a firm fit, but very cozy. You will know when you feel it. Once you’ve found the right fit, your whole body will thank you, your outdoor adventures will feel so much better!

Find a good backpack

A good backpack will fit on your body well, has comfortable shoulder straps, and easy-to-get-to pockets. Make sure that your backpack can stand the forces of nature. By buying a backpack that has a lot of space you will have enough room to fit everything you need. Day packs are easy to find almost anywhere these days, so go to your local gear store and try one on. You will pick a great backpack by using these tips .

Water and Food

If you are hiking for half a day, take two or three liters of water with you. Don’t even think of starting on a hike that takes you more than a mile from home without a bottle of water along. If you run out of water, you have only a day or so to figure out a solution. Some people like bottles, some people like hydration bladders. I prefer the hydration bladder because I drink water more frequently along the way. If you are hiking, you are losing moisture and you need to replenish it. Drink water as often as possible, because if you are thirsty on a hike, you are already dehydrated. You can live 3 days without water.

Whether going on a 5-mile walk or a 500-mile long-distance trek, you should have some food along. A day hike requires simple, tasty, cold snacks. I like to pack prepackaged, non-refrigerated food for snacks, like summer sausage, crackers, fruit cups, energy bars, etc. You can also take fresh veggies or fruit and they shouldn’t suffer too much. It’s a good idea to eat a meal before you get out, but always take snacks. Multi-day hikes require much more planning and preparation than a simple day hike.

Clothing

Hiking clothing is specially designed apparel for hiking. Use sunblock, wear long sleeves, wear a hat, and bring along a rain jacket when it’s necessary. Once you’ve used some convertible hiking pants, you’ll wonder how you ever hiked without them. There are so many clothing items now available for outdoor activities; find the right things and wear them in layers that you can remove as you get warmer during the hike. The perfect, packable way to stay warm in the high altitudes of Montana is to wear fleece jackets. Cotton doesn’t work very well, as it can get damp and stay that way next to your body.  

Hiking poles

They are also very helpful. You may or may not use it, but I do have it that may come in handy. They enhance your stability and support on all types of terrain. Your hips, knees, and ankles take a lot of pressure over the course of a hike. When shopping for trekking poles, your key considerations should be weight, price, shock absorption, shaft construction and the type of grip. If you have lower joint issues, hiking poles can add comfort and enhance the enjoyment of a hike–and lessen the soreness after the hike is over.

This seems like a lot of information to share with a first-time hiker, but after getting out on a few hikes, this will all be very routine and just part of the prep for a great day outside.

Of all the activities you can do, hiking exercises your body and your mind, and nourishes your imagination, improves your mental, physical and spiritual health. Your mind and body will benefit from active encounters with nature. Hiking also gives you time to think or avoid thinking. The view from the trail is so much more interesting than the view from your treadmill. After completing a challenging section of trail, you may find you feel that there’s nothing you cannot accomplish.

You don’t have to be in perfect shape to start. Even if you are overweight, getting physical can lead to health benefits. Regular exercise such as hiking can also lower cholesterol and blood pressure, as well as help you manage your weight and build and retain bone density. However, if you already have a condition such as high blood pressure, check with your doctor first. You’d better plan routes and check the weather in advance, choose trails and distances that match your physical ability.

What are the benefits of the Great Wall hiking?

If you’re looking for stunning scenery of the Great Wall in relative isolation as well as interested in coming closer to nature? Or if you’re searching for a healthy, low-cost Great Wall holiday. If you do, then a Great Wall hiking & camping tours may be just the thing for you. The Great Wall is always the ideal destination for hiking-lovers. A Great Wall hiking & camping will get you the clean, crisp mountain air, immerse yourself into the history - defending against the Mongolian warriors, although times have changed, achieve total peace of mind. In short, the Great Wall hiking & camping are the ideal combination of history and nature.

At WildGreatWall.com your hiking routes are not simply the shortest distance between two points. We take you to secluded, unspoiled sections of the Great Wall with few tourists; They are usually peaceful, often wild. Unlike the view obtained through the windows of a tour bus, walking on the wild Great Wall in the clean, fresh air to relax the body and mind and to get fine conversations going is truely amazing! You will realize the best, and often the only way, to really experience the Great Wall is to pass through it on foot.

Every place WildGreatWall.com visits is special – and we want it to stay that way. Our small groups mean you will get away from crowds, your guide will always be available and you can receive the personal attention you deserve. On each of our active Great Wall hiking tours, we focus on a different section of wild Great Wall, getting you out of the vehicle, and into the scenery,  giving travellers a SHORT, SHARP adventure travel experience. You won’t need any training or any exercise to try hiking on wild Great Wall. It’s not just a holiday, you will learn more about the world and yourself! You’ll cherish the wonderful outdoor memories for the rest of your life. What are you waiting for??  Go take a hike!!