Allow me to introduce myself

[youcancallmeal]

Hello, this is Mark from London in the UK. This community is great and I'm happy to have signed up. Everyone here seems very friendly and helpful.

I'm off to China later this month for just over three weeks (would stay for longer but alas must return to work) and am looking to do a three day hike with a friend along the Great Wall in addition to a couple of the usual day/two day trips from a Beijing base.

For the three day walk I was looking to incorporate the section from Mutianyu to Huanghuacheng. Does anybody know if this is feasible or have any general tips about that particular route? We're both experienced walkers on rough terrain but it's our first trip to China. I've carried out a lot of research on the Web and have the Bradt guide to the Great Wall. I'm certainly open to other suggestions of routes to walk but please bear in mind that I can only allow about half a day's travel time each way to wherever we're going from Beijing.

I wish I had more time! I'll be back someday though for a much more significant effort.

Take care all,

Mark

[Bryan]

Hello and welcome, Mark!

You could make it from Mutianyu to Huanghuacheng in 3 days but it would take some effort. Also you will have to take some detours off the wall, especially in the Jiankou area. Sometimes there are guards there to stop you and other times you just have to realize for yourself that it's too dangerous. But you can find paths to bypass the worst areas. I will be hiking in this same area later this month. You can see my map here. I have visited Mutianyu, Jiankou, and Huanghuacheng, but have not yet hiked through. The scenery in these areas is really amazing. You will enjoy it.

[youcancallmeal]

Thanks Bryan, that is reassuring. I had provisionally allowed half a day on top of the three days as contingency but based on your advice I think I'll play with my schedule a little bit and give myself an extra day to walk this route. I don't want to be rushing around so much that I don't enjoy the experience. I had expected that there'd be some points where I'd have to detour off the Wall so that's not a problem.

I'm very jealous of your plans for later this month, by the way. I found that thread very interesting too. If it was solely up to me I'd be spending more of my upcoming holiday hiking the Wall but have had to compromise out of fairness to my travelling companions. Next time...........