Suggestions for hiking please

[s0ma25]

Hi there, I'm new to this site and think it's a great resource for anyone. I had no idea there were so many aspects to the Great Wall.

I apologise in advance if this question has already been answered, I searched but found nothing to answer my specific question. Some background first, I'll be visiting China in around April 2010, travelling up the eastern seaboard via Shanghai to Beijing and see the sights there. From there my general plan was to go into Mongolia then back into China, heading west eventually to Lhasa.

While heading west I'd like to walk the more interesting, scenic, significant sections of the Great Wall, anything up to 100-200 kms at a time, before jumping off to see other attractions along the way, then getting back onto the Great Wall again for the next interesting section.

As an example, I could walk a certain distance before getting off at Datong, then taking a train to Xi'an to see the attractions in that region, before getting the train to Yinchuan (if that section of the Great Wall was worth seeing). I hope you get the idea.

I have plenty of time, a moderate amount of money, and as I don't speak Mandarin would need a guide/s in areas away from the major cities. I'm also quite fit and walking won't be an issue.

Thanks in advance for your advice and comments.

[chinoook]

Hi,

you already made the most important steps to a successful Great Wall trip: You found this forum, you asked the question in time.

Originally Posted by s0ma25

Hi there, I'm new to this site and think it's a great resource for anyone. I had no idea there were so many aspects to the Great Wall.

Late spring is a great time for exploring the Great Wall.
Do you own a GPS or even plan to buy one? This would make it much more easy for you to find the Great Wall.

Datong (the surroundings) offers tons of good Great Wall sites. We can give you about all information needed. There is much more than only Ming Dynasty Great Wall there, at least the Qin Dynasty Great Wall is easy to find.

Yinchuan also offers some of the best Great Wall sites at all. We can provide all information needed if you tell us what you want to see. Ming? Qin? Desert sections? Yellow River sections?

For probably the best guide in the western parts (not only for Great Wall issues but all about the Hexi Corridor, the Allah shan desert, Qinghai, Gansu, Ningxia, Inner Mongolia or Shanxi) you find some information in this thread.


-chinoook