Sunset over the Huanghuacheng Great Wall
Hike the Great Wall in the afternoon, and then see the sun set from a lookout point on the wall above the Huanghuacheng Reservoir.
This hike is not currently scheduled
The hike
We start off near a walled village that was once an army barracks during the Ming Dynasty. The tall and thick stone walls remain, and it’s possible to explore inside.
Surrounding the village are fields and chestnut orchards, the main source of income for those who live nearby, and in the hills above the village runs a stretch of the Yellow Flower Great Wall.
We’ll follow the villagers’ field trails up into the hills, passing the chestnut orchards on the way to the narrow hill trail that will take us up to the Great Wall.
It’s here where the trail gets steep for the first time on the hike, with a good climb up the zig-zagging dirt path that leads to the wall.
This first stretch of wall that we’ll see is unrestored and hasn’t been touched since the Ming Dynasty. Parts of it are in good shape, and other parts are tumbled-down and in rough condition.
We’ll follow the wall east, passing through towers and using side trails to skip broken down sections. After 45-50 minutes, we’ll be on to the restored section – a good chance to see what the wall might have looked like when first built.
A climb down a steep set of stairs takes us to a big arch in the wall, and we’ll take a break to catch our breath before another steep climb. From this point, we’ll be on repaired Great Wall.
After a rest, it’s onward and upward, with another 45 or minutes of climbing to get to the highest point on the hike, a lookout point that offers 360° views of the surrounding countryside and more of the wall.
It’s here where we’ll watch the sunset, which will happen around 6:24pm. Bring some extra clothes with you so you can stay warm while you wait, and bring your dinner along with you!
Below, we’ll see a local reservoir. The wall leads down to the reservoir, and back up the hills on the other side. We’ll follow the wall down to the last tower before the reservoir, and then exit to take a path down the hill, passing small guesthouses on the way to the road where we’ll finish the hike and the restaurant where we’ll have a big meal before heading back to the city.
Note—There are occasionally access restrictions for the wall in this area. We’d be able do the hike in reverse direction if necessary.
Bad weather plan
This hike will only be cancelled if rain (or thunder/lightning) is forecast for the evening. Otherwise we’re good to go. If there was a change to the plan we’d let you know.
