Zhenzi Ridge Loop

Get deep into the valleys behind Stone Valley Village before making an epic off-track hill climb up to the highest part of our Switchback Great Wall hike.

Level 4

approx. 4 hours start to finish over 11km. (Can I do it?)

This hike is not currently scheduled

Contact us for schedule updates or set up a private hike

A new take on our hikes to the top section of the Switchback Great Wall.

Choose this hike if you’d like to a good walkabout in the hills that features one or two good tests of your legs!

We follow a concrete road up a long valley, and then into a leafy gully, passing through an ‘arrival at Rivendell’-esque crack in a cliff before making a truly gruelling slog up a hill to get on to the Great Wall.

From there we’ll follow the wall for a short before walking out down another long valley to complete the loop.

Hike outline

0–3km: gradually rising concrete road.
3–4km: gradually rising concrete path.
4–5.5km: gradually rising hill trails, some sections brushy.
5.5–6km: short hill climb, then down into a valley.
6–6.75km: big hill climb off track. 141m of ascent over 750m.
6.75–7.25km: repaired Great Wall.
7.5–10km: down hill trails, steep to begin with.
10–11km: concrete road back to the bus.

What to bring on this outing

• Packed lunch and snacks
• Warm clothes, gloves, and a hat
• A light rain coat or poncho, just in case
• Comfortable shoes with some grip on the soles
• (Click here to read our full What to Bring on a Hike list)

Reasons you might not enjoy this hike

• Some sections of the trail might be a little bushy and scratchy
• We’re on a concrete road for parts of the walk.
• We see a bit of Great Wall on the hike, but 95% of the hike is not on the wall.
• There’s a big climb up a hill that is steep, and there’s no clear trail.