Beijing Hikers - Hiking in the hills around Beijing since 2001
  1. Saturday May 19th, 2012

    Challenge Dahaituo Mountain

    Take a trip to the far edge of Yanqing District for a day of hiking in the outlying Songshan National Park, and follow a path along the border of Hebei and Beijing to climb one of the peaks of Big Haituo Mountain, the second-highest inside the Beijing Municipality. Expect to see abundant greenery and flowers, as well as butterflies and moths in an area protected from farming. Approximately 2.5 hours travel each way.

    Note: You’ll need an above-average level of fitness to enjoy this hike, and we’ll ask you about this when you make your reservation.

    Depart 7:30am, return 6:00pm at the earliest. Bring snacks and lunch; we’ll provide plenty of water, and snacks and drinks after we get back to the bus.

    The "Challenge Dahaituo Mountain" hike is fully booked, and we can't take any more reservations. We can put your name on the standby list and call you if a seat becomes available, but can't guarantee a place on the hike. To get your name on the standby list, please call (10) 6432-2786, or email with your name and mobile number.

    Challenge Dahaituo Mountain - Basic hike information
    Cost: 350 RMB per person; Bus leaves from Lido Starbucks at 7:30am; 2.5–3 hours travel each way; 6–7 hours of hiking; return 6:00pm at earliest.
    Read more about this hike | What to bring | Back to top of page

  2. Saturday May 19th, 2012

    Longquanyu Great Wall to the Little West Lake

    Take a stroll through valleys and past villages on the way to a seldom-visited stretch of Great Wall nestled in the hills to the north of the Ming Tombs. We’ll follow the wall up and along a ridge, detouring through orchards to get around a cliff face before rejoining the wall and following it on to make a circuit of the Little West Lake. When we’re done walking we’ll head to a nearby restaurant for a late lunch of Chinese food, and will have the option to explore a different section of Great Wall before heading back to the city. Four hours of walking over approximately 10km, with a few steep climbs up and down.

    Limited space: one place left, as at 5:45pm, July 17!

    Longquanyu Great Wall to the Little West Lake - Basic hike information
    Cost: 350 RMB per person; Bus leaves from Lido Starbucks at 8:30am; 2 hours travel each way; 4 hours of hiking; return approx 6:00pm.
    Read more about this hike | Make a reservation | What to bring | Back to top of page

  3. Sunday May 20th, 2012

    Huangyaguan Great Wall

    Huangyaguan Great Wall is located in Pinggu District, near the border of Beijing and Tianjin, and contains an abundance of varied Great Wall architecture and construction styles, some unique to the area. The Huangyaguan Great Wall is said to have formed the most complete defensive section of wall of the Ming Dynasty; highlights include the 18-metre high Phoenix Tower, and the use of sheer cliffs as natural barriers. This is a relatively easy hike, and the wall is in good condition – some stair climbing will be required along the way. The price of the hike includes a tasty restaurant meal of Chinese food after the hike.

    Huangyaguan Great Wall - Basic hike information
    Cost: 450 RMB; Bus leaves from Lido Starbucks at 8:00am; 2.5–3 hours travel each way; 4 hours of hiking; return approx 6:30pm.
    Read more about this hike | Make a reservation | What to bring | Back to top of page

  4. Sunday May 20th, 2012

    Longyunshan ‘Dragon Cloud’ Mountain

    On this relatively relaxed hike we’ll take a stroll about scenic Longyunshan, walking along a trail that leads up the steep hills beside the river canyon and visiting waterfalls on the way to the local ‘Heavenly Lake.’ The area is surrounded by mountains, and contains the largest river canyon in Beijing – as we climb into the hills we will get great views of both. We’ll finish the hike with a stroll up the river. The water may still be a little cool for us to cross over, but we’ll have a look anyway! This hike is suitable for families with teenagers, with 3 hours of hiking over approximately 6km. We’ll get a big meal of country-style Chinese food after the hike, included in the price.

    Extra: On this hike we will be accompanied by Betsy Taylor, an experienced Naturalist who will keep an eye out for interesting flora, fauna, and geology while we walk. Stick close to her if you’re interested to learn more about what we see on the hike, and she’ll talk about anything we find.

    Limited space: two places left, as at 5:45pm, July 17!

    The "Longyunshan ‘Dragon Cloud’ Mountain" hike is fully booked, and we can't take any more reservations. We can put your name on the standby list and call you if a seat becomes available, but can't guarantee a place on the hike. To get your name on the standby list, please call (10) 6432-2786, or email with your name and mobile number.

    Longyunshan ‘Dragon Cloud’ Mountain - Basic hike information
    Cost: 350 RMB per person (200 RMB for kids under the age of 12); Bus leaves from Lido Starbucks at 8:30am; 2–2.5 hours travel each way; approx. 3 hours of hiking; return approx. 6:00pm.
    Read more about this hike | What to bring | Back to top of page

  5. Wednesday May 23rd, 2012

    Silver Pagodas, Changping District, Beijing

    Yoga hike: Silver Pagodas and Lily Village

    On this very relaxing countryside walk we’ll combine hiking with two sessions of yoga led by a dedicated Hatha Yoga practitioner. We’ll start off with a session at the Silver Pagodas, and then take a forty-minute stroll in the hills, heading for the scenic spot where we’ll do our second session. After lunch, we’ll walk on to Lily Village, and then head back to Beijing.

    UPDATE 2012/05/14: Feedback from previous Yoga hikes indicates that we shouldn’t plan on hiking again after the second session. We’ll take the extra time to do a slightly longer hike, and relax before heading back to the city.

    Yoga hike: Silver Pagodas and Lily Village - Basic hike information
    Cost: 450 RMB per person (405 RMB for members); Bus leaves from Lido Starbucks at 8:00am; 1.5 hours travel each way; about two hours of hiking, and 90 minutes of yoga; return approx. 4:00pm.
    Read more about this hike | Make a reservation | What to bring | Back to top of page

    Changping District, Beijing Municipality

    Hike Difficulty level

    Level 2+

    Difficulty ratings (?)

  6. Wednesday May 23rd, 2012

    Great Wall: Huanghuacheng to the Walled Village

    Explore an interesting stretch of Great Wall on this Huairou hike, visiting both restored and unrestored sections on the way from the Huanghuacheng Reservoir to a walled village that used to be a Ming Dynasty-era army barracks. The hike is moderately difficult, with a few quite steep climbs and some loose rocks and bricks. Price includes a late lunch of Chinese food after the hike.

    Extra: On this hike we will be accompanied by Betsy Taylor, an experienced Naturalist who will keep an eye out for interesting flora, fauna, and geology while we walk. Stick close to her if you’re interested to learn more about what we see on the hike, and she’ll talk about anything we find.

    Great Wall: Huanghuacheng to the Walled Village - Basic hike information
    Cost: 350 RMB; Bus leaves from Lido Starbucks at 8:30am; 1.5–2 hours travel each way; approx. 4 hours of hiking; return approx. 5:30pm.
    Read more about this hike | Make a reservation | What to bring | Back to top of page

  7. Saturday May 26th, 2012

    Nine-Eyes Tower and Pizza Hike

    This is a looping walk over steep and rocky terrain, with a lot of scrambling and climbing required to arrive at the highest point on the hike, the impressive Nine-Eyes Tower. On a clear day in this spot in the heart of the mountains it will be possible to see sections of Great Wall to the north, south, east, and west. Four hours of tough hiking with a lot of climbing over approximately 10km.

    Pizza hike: after we’re done walking, we’ll head to the Gung Ho! Hut in Jiankou Village for a fine feast of fresh, Gung Ho! style gourmet pizza – all included in the price of the hike. 

    Nine-Eyes Tower and Pizza Hike - Basic hike information
    Cost: 360 RMB; Bus leaves from Lido Starbucks at 8:30am; 1.5–2 hours travel each way; 3–4 hours of hiking; return approx. 6:00pm.
    Read more about this hike | Make a reservation | What to bring | Back to top of page

  8. Saturday May 26th, 2012

    Yunmeng Gorge hike, Miyun County, Beijing

    Countryside Stroll: Yunmeng Gorge

    On this flat and easy up-and-back hike, we’ll take a relaxed stroll up the Yunmeng Gorge river canyon, heading for a village that was abandoned after a flood during the ‘90s. We’ll see steep canyon walls and rock outcrops, streams and pools, and rocky and sandy riverbeds.

    The distance from the start to the village and back again is about 10km, and it’s all flat and on a good path. Because we’ll be walking out the same way we walked in, you don’t have to walk all the way up and can stop wherever you like. We’ll collect you on the way back down! This makes the hike suitable for all ages and all levels of fitness.

    Extra: On this hike we will be accompanied by Betsy Taylor, an experienced Naturalist who will keep an eye out for interesting flora, fauna, and geology while we walk. Stick close to her if you’re interested to learn more about what we see on the hike, and she’ll talk about anything we find.

    Countryside Stroll: Yunmeng Gorge - Basic hike information
    Cost: 350 RMB (200 RMB for children under the age of 12); Bus leaves from Lido Starbucks at 9:00am; 2 hours travel each way; around 3 hours of easy walking; return approx. 5:00pm.
    Read more about this hike | Make a reservation | What to bring | Back to top of page

    Miyun District, Beijing Municipality

    Hike Difficulty level

    Level 2

    Difficulty ratings (?)

  9. Sunday May 27th, 2012

    Auspicious Village and Huanghuacheng

    For this hike we will head out to Huairou County for a countryside walk through farmland, hills, and valleys. Along the way we will pass three different villages - a good opportunity to compare the big-city lifestyle in Beijing to that of the inhabitants of small villages that are practically hidden from the outside world. After we finish the hike we’ll get snacks and drinks at a local restaurant and have a look at the Huanghuacheng Great Wall.

    Auspicious Village and Huanghuacheng - Basic hike information
    Cost: 300 RMB per person; Bus leaves from Lido Starbucks at 8:30am; 1.5 hours travel each way; 3 hours of hiking; return approx. 5:00pm.
    Read more about this hike | Make a reservation | What to bring | Back to top of page

  10. Sunday May 27th, 2012

    Gubeikou Great Wall Loop

    On this hike we’ll head out to a beautiful section of the Great Wall that is further outside the city than the crowded main tourist sites, and much quieter. You’ll have a chance to hike along an unrestored section of the Great Wall that grants magnificent views of the Great Wall stretching beyond the horizon in the east and west.  As we follow the wall, we’ll pass through restored and unrestored sections, as well as taking a nice detour through pines on a hillside tail. Warning – if you’re not good with heights, you might not enjoy sections of this hike. 

    Gubeikou Great Wall Loop - Basic hike information
    Cost: 350 RMB per person (200 RMB for kids under the age of 12); Bus leaves from Lido Starbucks at 9:00am; 2 hours travel each way; approx. 3–4 hours of hiking; return approx 5:30pm.
    Read more about this hike | Make a reservation | What to bring | Back to top of page

  11. Wednesday May 30th, 2012

    Longyunshan ‘Dragon Cloud’ Mountain

    On this relatively relaxed hike we’ll take a stroll about scenic Longyunshan, walking along a trail that leads up the steep hills beside the river canyon and visiting waterfalls on the way to the local ‘Heavenly Lake.’ The area is surrounded by mountains, and contains the largest river canyon in Beijing – as we climb into the hills we will get great views of both. We’ll finish the hike with a stroll up the river. This hike is suitable for families with teenagers, with 3 hours of hiking over approximately 6km. We’ll get a big meal of country-style Chinese food after the hike, included in the price. 

    Longyunshan ‘Dragon Cloud’ Mountain - Basic hike information
    Cost: 350 RMB (200 RMB for children under the age of 12); Bus leaves from Lido Starbucks at 8:30am; 2–2.5 hours travel each way; 3–4 hours of hiking; return approx. 5:30pm.
    Read more about this hike | Make a reservation | What to bring | Back to top of page

2012 Special Long Distance Trips
Coloured Cliffs of Zhangye, Gansu Prov.
2012 Special Long Distance Trips

View the 2012 Long Distance trip schedule
2011 Long Distance trips: See the trips completed, and photos.

Hiking schedule

We hike every weekend, and plan our hikes a month at a time. The schedule is usually updated by the 10th of each month.

The current schedule is listed below - the 'Brief description link will take you to a short description of the hike (on this page); the 'Full info' link will take you to a new page with detailed information about the hike.

Saturday May 19

Challenge Dahaituo Mountain
Brief description | Full info | Photos

Saturday May 19

Longquanyu Great Wall to the Little West Lake
Brief description | Full info | Photos

Sunday May 20

Huangyaguan Great Wall
Brief description | Full info | Photos

Sunday May 20

Longyunshan ‘Dragon Cloud’ Mountain
Brief description | Full info | Photos

Wednesday May 23

Yoga hike: Silver Pagodas and Lily Village
Brief description | Full info

Wednesday May 23

Great Wall: Huanghuacheng to the Walled Village
Brief description | Full info | Photos

Saturday May 26

Nine-Eyes Tower and Pizza Hike
Brief description | Full info | Photos

Saturday May 26

Countryside Stroll: Yunmeng Gorge
Brief description | Full info

Sunday May 27

Auspicious Village and Huanghuacheng
Brief description | Full info | Photos

Sunday May 27

Gubeikou Great Wall Loop
Brief description | Full info | Photos

Wednesday May 30

Longyunshan ‘Dragon Cloud’ Mountain
Brief description | Full info | Photos

Make a reservation

Online booking
Use our online booking form to send your details to us.
By Email

By Phone
Office +86 (10) 6432-2786
(9am-6pm Mon-Fri)
More contact information

Weather - what's the forecast?
Current Conditions
Sunny

Sunny, 29°C

Sunrise: 4:55 am
Sunset: 7:25 pm
Humidity: 37%

Forecast Conditions

Fri, 18 May 2012
Mostly Sunny, high of 30°C, low of 16°C

Sat, 19 May 2012
Mostly Cloudy, high of 31°C, low of 17°C

View extended forecast at Yahoo! Weather

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