A 40-minute steps walking up will lead you to East-Five-Eye watchtower at Simatai West/Jinshanling East. You may take a few breaths before reaching the Wall, and will be rewarded by the breathtaking panoramic view of this amazing human constructions. Take a short break and some photos here, we will then walk westward to Jinshanling. We will get off the wall at Shalingkou at Jinshanling, alternatively you can walk another 30 minutes if you feel energetic and then get off the wall at Zhuanduokou . The unrestored wall, the watch towers, the beacon towers snake on the mountain from east to west. You will have chance to meet local farmer friends, try local home-made food and learn local community development. It is the best place for keen photographers along the wall. The driver will take you to Gubeikou village (20 minutes driving) after the late lunch. You will learn dumplings-making instructed by the host. The dinner is served with dumplings and other local produces together.

We will start the hiking after breakfast at 08:30 from Coaling Dragon Hill (Panlongshan) at Gubeikou toward Jimshanling. It’s wild, original and less-visited. At this time there are usually no other people on the wall, you have the wall to yourself. It will take about 5 hours/9km hiking on the wall. Gubeikou, along with the passes at Shanhaiguan in the east and Juyongguan in the west, was a key strategic target in military campaigns since ancient times. Protecting these three passes was considered vital for keeping Beijing safe from the Mongolian nomads. There was also a fierce battle between Chinese and Japanese in the 2nd World War. The vistas of the sinuous Wall snaking its way over the ridges of the Yanshan Mountain are breathtaking. A lunch will be organised at local restaurant. Our farmer guide will say goodbye to us after lunch. The driver will bring you back to Beijing.