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“You are
not a man if you have not been to the Great Wall” – so the saying goes in China.
Stretching for 6,000kms, the Great Wall begins at Shanhaiguan and zigzags its
way across China ending at the Jiayuguan Pass in the desert of Western China.
The Great Wall Challenge is a 9 day event
exploring and trekking this man made wonder of the World.
You will take in the ‘hutongs’ – the back lanes
of Beijing and Gonwangu Palace, see the many fascinating watch-towers and
battlements and also trek the most beautiful section of the Wall to Simatai.
A day’s hiking to Shixiaguan, enables you to
actually ‘lend a hand’ repairing the Great Wall. A watchtower is being repaired,
and the challenge will be to help carry the bricks from the bottom of the Wall
to the top.
Once at the top, experts will be there to help
you place your brick in the Wall.
As part of your Global Challenge you will get the
opportunity to conquer the strenuous 1,000 steps at Mutinayu – not for the faint
hearted!
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 Day 1 – Depart UK
Day 2 – Arrive Beijing and transfer to our hotel. In the afternoon there will be a chance to acclimatise on a rickshaw ride through the Hutongs area, taking in the famous Drum Tower and if time permits, the Gongwangfu Palaces. We can then take a walk around the famous Tiananmen Square and see Chairman Mao’s Mausoleum and the famous Forbidden City.
Day 3 – Following breakfast at the Hotel, we transfer to Huangyaguan. To warm up, we trek along the section which begins at Taipingzhai, and then returns along the Great Wall to Huangyaguan. We stay at the reconstructed Fortress tonight and although very basic accommodation, this area will give you a real feel for the history of the Great Wall and the soldiers who lived and protected this highly strategic area.
Day 4 – Following breakfast, we transfer from Huangyaguan to the Gubeikou section of the Great Wall. We commence trekking along the beautiful Gubeikou Great Wall to Jinshanling. Your main Challenge today will be to cover some 27 watch-towers over old brick-made steps! Again, this is a remote section of the Wall and will give you a flavour of the immensity of the task undertaken in building the wall. It is a truly beautiful area and the vista of the wall disappearing over the mountains, is a truly memorable sight.
 Day 5 – We re-board our coach and transfer for our climb from Jinshanling to Simatai. This has to be one of the most remote and beautiful areas we will visit – far from the tourist trail! Hanging precariously onto Yanshan Mountain, the Simatai Great Wall is known for its steepness, ingenuity and uniqueness. A truly amazing day you’ll remember forever. Today we walk into our lodge from Jinshanling. End the day with a heart-stopping zip wire entrance into the complex at Simitai. The lodge here is very comfortable and the Chinese staff very welcoming.
Day 6 – Mutinayu - Climb the awesome 1,000 steps and trek the 20 battlements from the foot of the Great Wall to the top of the mountain. Culminating with the ‘Heavenly Ladder’ section of this awesome man-made wonder of the World! The scenery is stunning – the Wall pitches up and dives down across the rolling green hillsides disappearing and then reappearing amongst the forested slopes. A very tough day again but the views make it all worthwhile. Once you descend from the wall enjoy some “retail therapy” at the base of the wall, where stall holders set out their wares for you to buy. Everyone loves a bargain and this is certainly the place to practise your bartering skills!!
Day 7 –The first part of today is spent helping to repair the Great Wall in the Badaling Old Section. We have secured permission from the Chinese Government to help with the reconstruction of a section of the Great Wall in this area. New bricks are carried up the 300 wooden steps for you where a watchtower is being repaired. Trained staff will supervise and place the bricks on the Wall. Step back in time here and drink in the history of this remote and beautiful section of the Wall.
 After a lunch stop in Badaling we transfer to the Juyongguan area of the Great Wall where we continue our trekking. This section of the Great Wall has been reconstructed in 1988 and gives you a clear indication of how the Wall would have looked in its formation. This section is very steep in parts and offers a real challenge. Trekking here is undertaken in two sections with an option to complete the second lower section if time and muscles permit. Following this we will transfer back to Beijing. This will be a long and arduous day, but VERY rewarding!
Day 8 – Free day to enjoy the hustle and bustle of Beijing and all it has to offer, both modern and ancient. Why not visit the Forbidden City? In the evening we will celebrate our achievements at our farewell presentation dinner. Dinner is taken in Beijing’s Premier Duck Dinner Restaurant. People queue for hours to secure a table here as the food is so good. Indulge in a real Chinese food experience and celebrate your achievements with your fellow participants.
Day 9 – Transfer to airport for flight to UK.
*Please note that whilst we make
every effort to adhere to this schedule and the accommodation stated, this is
subject to alteration. |
