Experience the magnificence and mystery of the Great Wall, the only man-made structure visible from space. This moderately challenging hiking program gives your an in-depth knowledge of the various layers and sections of this incredible monument, its history, functions, and awesome size. This is a fully escorted program.

ITINERARY

Day 01 Arrive in Beijing
Welcome to Beijing, capital of China. Being one of the biggest cities in the world, Beijing had just celebrated its 850th anniversary of being the Chinese capital. From the imperial Forbidden City to the Great Wall of China, from the Hutong alleys to the wide and straight Changan Avenue and from the courtyard houses to modern skyscrapers, Beijing has a great deal to offer for us to explore its dynamic culture, tradition and heritage. You will be met at the airport by a professional English speaking guide and transfered to five star Prime hotel for check-in. D.

Day 02 Beijing/Sanhaiguan
After breakfast in hotel we start our Great Wall hiking tours by taking a bus to Shanhaiguan (186miles away from Beijing). Shanhaiguan is located to the north of the Bohai Gulf. First built in AD583, it had been renovated from time to time in all the different dynasties until it was built into a formidable military stronghold during the Ming dynasty. As the strategic passage between North China and Manchuria, the Chinese like to call this pass the No.1 pass of the Great Wall. Visit the Great Wall Museum next to the Pass upon arrival. Overnight at Haisheng Garden Hotel. BLD.

Day 03 from Old Dragon's Head to the Jiaoshan part of the Great Wall
After breakfast, put on our hiking gear and start today's trekking at Old Dragon's Head (the beginning of the Great Wall that meets the Bohai sea), to Shanhaiguan for two and half miles, and then continue to Jiaoshan part of the Great Wall for another two and half miles. The old Dragon's Head which extends into Bohai Sea is the starting point of the Great Wall. The Great Wall has always considered being a giant dragon and therefore the starting point is named the Dragon's Head. Jiaoshan is the first mountain peak of the Great Wall from Shanhaiguan. Build in the Ming Dynasty, the Jiaoshan Great Wall were built with mountain stone, and there were also some bricks and long stones. Its height and width are largely decided by the mountain. Usually it is 21 to 30 feet high, and 12 to 15 meters wide. Overnight at Haisheng Garden Hotel. BLD.

Day 04 from Taolinkou to Luweishan to Liujiakou part of the Great Wall
Take bus to Taolinkou Great Wall, then hiking to Luweishan Great Wall. (2.5miles), we will continue our hiking trip to Liujiakou part of the Great Wall for another 2.5miles. Liujiakou Great Wall contains beautiful Ming-era calligraphy bricks in the Wall. The towers here are very close to each other, thus forming an intensive defense system. We will then take our bus to Zunhua and check into Zunhua International Hotel. BLD.

Day 05 Huangyaguan Great Wall
Morning visit to the East Qing tombs which far surpass in splendor and majesty their more famous predecessors, the Ming Tombs, They form a countryside version of the Forbidden City and are nearly as elaborate. Tastefully restored for the most part, this Imperial city is vast, grand, and less crowded. After lunch, we start hiking the Great Wall at Huangyaguan, The Great Wall at Huangyaguan was named for the yellow cliffs into which it was built. Huangyaguan was first constructed in 557 A.D. and rebuilt with bricks in the Ming Dynasty. The whole Great Wall lies on a precipitous ridge of mountains. It has an eastern cliff as a screen against invasions and a western precipice as support. It had ancient defensive structures such as fortress, high-wall, water pass, beacon tower and sheer precipice. Huangyaguan Villa Hotel. BLD.

Day 06 from Simatai to Jinshanling
We will depart Huangyaguan by bus to Jinshanling which was named because it was built on the Jinshan Mountains. The Jinshanling Great Wall was initially built from 1368 to 1389 in the Ming Dynasty, and in 1567 or 1570 rebuilding of the Wall was mainly directed by General Qi Jiguang. The Wall is about 21 to 24 feet high and 15 to 18 feet wide, which is made of brick and stone. The Jinshanling Great Wall has an elevation of 2100 feet. This part of your trek is one of the most beautiful sections of the Great Wall, and takes you to Simatai. The distance of around 5miles, covering 32 watchtowers over old brick-made steps, there are sections of renovated and original wall with fantastic viewpoints. Today's hiking enables us to encounter as many as 150 watchtowers, battlements, terraces and turrets of the wall. Yunfoshan Resort Hotel. BLD.

Day 07 Mutianyu Part of the Great Wall
We will take our bus to Mutinayu and then climb 1000 steps to reach the wall and start hiking this part of wall with15 battlements, a fantastic display of architecture. Upon reaching Jiankon Great Wall, hike for one more hour down a steep slope to the valley floor. Once on the valley floor, we will hike till we reach the bus. We will then be taken to Huanghuacheng where we stay at Huanghuacheng Hotel. BLD.

Day 08 Huanghuacheng Great Wall
Full day trekking along the Great Wall at Huanghuacheng (Yellow Flower Fortress). This part of the Great Wall is probably one of the most difficult sections for hikers. It is completely unreconstructed and runs over a little reservoir. The view as you climb to the top is stunning. Here the Wall is particularly precipitous so you should expect lots of steps and difficult climbing at some points. Overnight at Zhongshang Hotel. BLD.

Day 09 Juyongguan/Beijing
Full day trekking along the Juyongguan Great Wall. Juyongguan is site of an ancient military town which is replete with military installations, watch towers, official residences, temples, a Confucian school and other structures. The present Pass was initially built in the Ming Dynasty and received much renovation later. It is a very important strategic place connecting the inner land and the area near the northern border of China. The Juyongguan Pass has been known for its strategic importance for more than 2,000 years. Drive back to Beijing in late afternoon and check into five star Prime Hotel. BLD.

Day 10 Beijing City Tour
We will start our Beijing city tour from the largest square in the world, the Tian'anmen Square where you can feel the heartbeat of China. Bordered by the Great Hall of the People, Mao's Mausoleum and the National Museum of China, Tian'anmen Square has witnessed many of the historical events happened in China since 1911. We then walk to the Forbidden City, the complex of imperial palace, which were home to the Emperors for over 500 years. Grand halls and courts gradually give way to more intimate domestic quarters, giving an insight into the pampered isolation of the emperors. After lunch we will visit the Summer Palace, the largest imperial garden in China. The Summer Palace was first built in the Qing emperor Qianlong's time in 1751 and burned down in1860 by the French and British army and restored by the Dowager empress Cixi for her own enjoyment. It became a favorite haunt of Cixi, who preferred it to the Forbidden City, and named it Yihe Yuan meaning the garden of health and harmony. Peking duck dinner. Prime Hotel. BLD.

Day 11 Beijing
Your Absolute Free Time in Beijing. Optional City Tours of Hutong and Temple of Heaven Available.

Day 12 Return
Transfer to the airport and fly home today. B

Level: moderate

Prices & Departures for 2004

Available	12D/11N On Request
Per Person in Double
2-5 participants	$1870
Single Room Supplement	$480
6-9 participants	$1620
Single Room Supplement	$410
10 or more participants	$1380
Single Room Supplement	$340

We reserve the right to substitute any of the mentioned hotels in the itinerary with properties of the same or similar class should the circumstances require us to do so.

(Subject to change)