| This page is for travelers and adventurists who dream to walk in the Great Wall. There are few people who have walked the entire stretch of the Great Wall, but the distance they have covered varies even though the starting and the end point are same in most cases. It is a great privilege and honor to walk along the Great Wall of China and learn the Chinese tradition and culture practically, rather than reading in books. While walking the Great wall, you will come across a variety of topography, weather conditions; people from various countries and of course plenty of challenges. Alternatively, if you want to walk the Great Wall easy way, you can choose a Walking tour package offered by one of the travel companies. There are packages ranging from 2 days to 15 days. These packages cover just a part of Great Wall and not the entire Great Wall. |
From Jiayuguan through western Hebe walking through the Great Wall is easy though there are no properly mapped trails and proper paths. But from the western border of Beijing municipality to Shanhaiguan walking through the great wall is very difficult. Many adventurers claim that finding the path itself is difficult and you can easily get lost. Many paths abruptly end. The pathway is extremely narrow or it could be extremely rocky.
Picture of the Wall abruptly ending in the peak:
Rocky pathway in Great Wall of China:
Climate: The weather condition can range from – 10°C to 35°C. So carry clothes and jackets to survive heat and extreme cold.
Topography: You will come across fertile farmlands, hard to climb mountain ranges, cliffs and hot deserts.
Food: Do not carry too much food as you will find it difficult to walk with the weight. There are villages along the sides of the Great wall. The shops in these villages contain the basic toiletries, pre-packaged food and snacks. It’s safer to stock upto 3 days of food.
Accommodation: Hotels are available in most of the villages and are very cheap. Do not pay the listed price, always ask for a discounted price if the hotel receptionist doesn’t offer any discount.
Transportation: There are local buses available which is usually about 4-5 RMB per 20 km. But the local buses are available only once or twice a day at early mornings. Taxis are available in most towns and villages, but the taxi drivers over charge foreigners. You will be charged approximately 2 RMB per km.
Picture of Tourists Walking the Great Wall:
Great Wall of China Walking Map:
If you are planning to walk through the entire Great Wall, I highly recommend reading the blog “Walking the Wall” created by Emma and Brendon who have walked the entire stretch of the Great Wall in 2007.
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