Huanghuacheng to Jiankou and Mutianyu

[sinatavist]

Anyone know how long it takes to hike along the Wall from the Huanghuacheng section via Jiankou to Mutianyu, and whether it's convenient to descend along the way to look around?

I'm planning to do this hike alone and camp (in a tent) on the Wall, but I've been told it's a slightly dangerous idea.
If anyone has done it would like to have their comments.

Hiking maps of Beijing are impossible to find so all I have to work with are general maps of the municipality

[chinoook]

I only walked the Huanghuacheng GW (and the Mutianyu GW). So I don't know the intermediate GW. But I think it is all walkable though it might get rough (steep, slippery, bushy). I myself would not carry a tent. I rather would sleep in watchtowers or ask local people for a stay (and pay for it).

It looks like an interesting walk, wich I very much would like to share with you.

Don't forget to write a report here afterwards.


-chinoook

[Kim]

A very interesting area but also a dangerous area.

The entire section is visible on Google Earth, so that will give you an idea of the trek and you can also study the terrain.

[Bryan]

You will need to take a few detours along the way where it's simply too dangerous or difficult to climb. Namely the first mountain upon entering Moyashike and the "Sky stairs" area of Jiankou. At Jiankou it's easy to descend to Xizhazi village and from there regain the Wall at Zhengbeilou and continue to Mutianyu from there. There will also be several short detours where you simply get off the Wall and walk basically alongside it.

This is a very steep up and down climb and I wouldn't recommend it for your first Great Wall hike, but if you have some hiking experience you would love this trek.

You can find an account of this exact trek, including GPS coordinates, at http://lotour.com/snapshot/2007-2-26...ot_58195.shtml. It's in Chinese so if you don't read Chinese you will need some translation software.

[sinatavist]

thanks for all that help, will stick up some photos when I get back.

I doubt i'll manage to walk HHC-Mutianyu in 2 days, so I may just take a bus back from HHC to Huairou and from there to Jiankou. Is there a more direct way to get by public bus between HHC and Jiankou?

I'm working largely from Thammy Evans' Bradt guide. If anyone can recommend another book for planning GW hikes (English or Chinese) I'm all ears, I've already looked over the lists on this forum.

I assumed the towers at the Jiankou section were ruined and open to the elements like at Simatai, but if they're enclosed I guess you don't need a tent to sleep in them.

[Bryan]

You will not manage to walk from Huanghuacheng to Mutianyu in two days, that I can tell you for sure!

When you say take a bus to Jiankou, I suppose you mean to Xizhazi on the north side. The only bus I know of that goes there leaves from Huairou so you will need to go there in between.

I don't know of a good book to recommend to you. In his book, Nathan Gray mentions that the Chinese partners that he joined in Miyun had a Chinese-language book providing specifics on hiking the Wild Wall, but I have not been able to find out exactly what book it is. I think your best resource is this forum.

I agree with chinoook that you can use towers instead of a tent for shelter. Many of the towers along the entire route are useable for overnight camping.