Great Wall Cycling

Watch the Great Wall going up and down the mountains like a huge dragon back while cycling in the sun from one friendly village to another past mountains and canyons. Have a chat with local people and by lunch time you will discover the hospitality of local farmers and their great kitchen. Hike up some beautiful spots and dream away with a scenic overview of the Great Wall and the roads you cycled.

Locations

Cycling Distance: 70km(4h)
Hiking Distance: 5km(2h)
Fitness level needed: 3
Meeting time: 7.30am
Back in Beijing: 7 pm
Number of people: 4-10
Price: 700￥p.p(all.incl)

Next hike: 03/09/2012

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Cycle from Dajiaoyu Great Wall to Gubeikou Great Wall.
This Cycle trip starts where the Great Wall begins in the North East of Beijing. With our bikes on top of the car we drive to Dajiaoyu Great Wall where a nice flat road offers us a relaxing bicycle ride towards the Gubeikou Great Wall. After an excellent lunch at a farmer house the winding sections of Panlongshan Great Wall are waiting for us for some of Beijing's most excellent hiking. After hiking our car will pick us up in a neighboring village and we ll head back to Beijing. Although the distance seems long, only an average fitness level is enough to enjoy this beautiful cycling and hiking combination.

Backgroud info

Located along the Yanshan Mountain range in the northeast of Miyun County, south of the hill country of Panlong Mountain and Wohu Mountain, Gubeikou Great Wall occupies a strategically important location which is difficult to access. Situated between Shanhaiguan Pass and Juyongguan Pass, and about 62 miles to Beijing, it is the bastion protecting the northern gateway to the capital.
The first section of the wall was built during the Northern Qi Dynasty (550-557). Centuries later, General Xuda ordered to rebuild it in the early Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The defensive capability of the wall was enhanced by adding more stone. When Qi Jiguang was appointed chief commanding officer of Ji Garrison (one of the eleven Garrisons in Ming Dynasty), he laid another line of brick wall beside the original one, thus forming the unique Gubeikou double-lined Wall.
Today the famous Gubeikou Great Wall stretches for more than 25 miles. There are 14 beacon towers, 143 watch towers, 16 strategic passes, three citadels and many other military constructions. Many of them are famous cultural relics, such as the Big Flower Beacon Tower of the Northern Qi Dynasty, Fairy Tower, General Tower, and the dominant Wangjing Tower.
Panlongshan Great Wall: West of Wohushan Great Wall, it is located in the middle section of Gubeikou Great Wall, where most of the historical wars took place. In ancient times, both warring parties placed emphasis on securing the Panlongshan Great Wall, because each knew that once the wall was captured, the Gubeikou Great Wall would be readily occupied. The whole wall measures about 3.1 miles. Of its over 40 watch towers, the General Tower is the most famous. It is located at the commanding elevation of Panlongshan Mountain, from where wars were directed. There are four arrow windows on the north and south sides respectively, while each of the east and west sides has three arrow windows. This section of the wall is of unique construction: it is made up of earth walls, stone walls and brick walls. And it is also preserved in its original state.

Meeting point and hiking location