Taking a break on the way down from the top of the Great Wall Spur.
Great Wall Spur
After a tough hill climb of 50–60 minutes, we reach a beautiful, unrestored stretch of Great Wall. The hike continues along the wall, passing through towers, finishing in a rustic village.
Level 3+
A big climb to get up to the Great Wall. 3–4 hours start to finish over 7.5km. (Can I do it?)
Snacks and drinks provided after the hike.
Payment in advance required for this hike.
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Note: tough climb at the start of the hike. While rated a 3+, this hike is sort of a tough 3+ because of the long climb at the beginning. We go up about 500m over 2km of trail, which is a climb worthy of a Level 4 hike.
On this hike we will visit a section of the Great Wall that was completed around 1580 A.D., during the reign of the Ming Dynasty Emperor Wan Li.
The hike begins with a warmup walk up a valley road, followed by a fairly tough climb up a hillside path to reach the Great Wall. This climb is steep in a few places, and it will take us 50-60 minutes. This is the most difficult part of the hike: approximately 2km, with a change in elevation of approximately 500m.
After reaching the top we’ll follow the Great Wall as it winds along and up a ridge. Because the Great Wall was designed as a defensive fortification we will get excellent views, with mountains, villages, and other stretches of the Great Wall all in sight as we walk. We will pass through towers along the way, and stop for a snack break at the highest point.
Our walk on the Wall will finish at a big tower – from there we’ll follow a trail down another valley, finally arriving at the small village where we’ll finish the walk.
On a clear day we’ll have great views of the Great Wall to the northeast and west as we walk.
COVID-19 and participation precautions
The brief version:
Please DO NOT participate if you are sick or showing symptoms of fever and/or have an elevated temperature, or have been in close contact with someone who was/is.