Travel and Hiking

Head out to Yunmeng Gorge for a hike-and-swim combo – perfect for hot weather!

The sandy beaches and pools of water in Yunmeng Gorge make a perfect place to picnic and swim, especially when you need to escape from the city.

We'll walk up the gorge and find a good spot, and you can take a dip in the water or follow our guides to hike further up the canyon.

If you'd prefer to concentrate on swimming, just relax in the water or in the nearby area. The guides will let you know when it's time to head out.

Cost: ¥400 / ¥360 members / ¥220 for kids 6–18 / ¥200 for kids 4–5

See a full description, more photos, and book online at https://www.beijinghikers.com/hike-in-beijing/view/1074/yunmeng-gorge-swim-or-explore-2/

Beijing Hikers—fun and friendly hikes and trips around Beijing and greater China, since 2001.

For more updates on hikes and trips follow our WeChat account BeijingHikers北京爱山 and keep an eye on www.beijinghikers.com

https://www.beijinghikers.com / info@beijinghikers.com

A mostly-flat up-and-back walk up to a fun riverside picnic spot in Yunmeng Gorge.

Things to do

The sandy beaches and pools of water in Yunmeng Gorge make a perfect place to picnic, and the tall cliffs and big boulders make the scenery extra pretty.

Paddle in the swimming hole: The water in the pool is cool and clear, shallow on the edges and deeper in the middle. One side is sandy, the other side rocky—good for paddling and splashing. (The water might be a bit chilly on this visit.)

Find fish, frog’s eggs, and tadpoles: A little further down the river are shallow rock pools where we might find bunches of frog eggs … or maybe tadpoles!

Hike up to a village: 20–30 minutes further up the gorge is a small village (best for older kids who want more exercise).

Cost: ¥390 / ¥350 for members / ¥220 for kids 6–18 / ¥200 for kids 4–5

See a full description, more photos, and book online at https://www.beijinghikers.com/hike-in-beijing/view/1271/kids-club-yunmeng-gorge/

Beijing Hikers—fun and friendly hikes and trips around Beijing and greater China, since 2001.

For more updates on hikes and trips follow our WeChat account BeijingHikers北京爱山 and keep an eye on www.beijinghikers.com

https://www.beijinghikers.com / info@beijinghikers.com

On this trip we will visit the valley where a Tang Dynasty ruler* and his followers created an inter-connected series of cave dwellings after fleeing from a coup. This hike is suitable for children (no pushchairs, though) – it’s quite easy (not tough enough to count as a hike, even), and the cave dwellings are sure to spark the imagination.

We’ll add on a visit to Yongning Town on the way back to the city. The old part of Yongning Town surrounds a large tower, and the streets nearby the tower usually host stalls and sellers of snacks, bric-a-brac, and other small-town supplies. There’s also a Catholic church nearby the tower, and if it’s open to visitors we’ll take a look.

Cost: ¥460 / ¥415 for members / ¥220 for kids

See a full description, more photos, and book online at https://www.beijinghikers.com/hike-in-beijing/view/267/tang-dynasty-cave-dwellings-and-yongning-town/

Beijing Hikers—fun and friendly hikes and trips around Beijing and greater China, since 2001.

For more updates on hikes and trips follow our WeChat account BeijingHikers北京爱山 and keep an eye on www.beijinghikers.com

https://www.beijinghikers.com / info@beijinghikers.com

Shunyi Hikers: pickups at DDs Mart (near Beijing Riviera) and Pinnacle Plaza Starbucks.

On this trip we will visit the valley where a Tang Dynasty ruler* and his followers created an inter-connected series of cave dwellings after fleeing from a coup. This hike is suitable for children (no pushchairs, though) – it’s quite easy (not tough enough to count as a hike, even), and the cave dwellings are sure to spark the imagination.

We’ll add on a visit to Yongning Town on the way back to the city. The old part of Yongning Town surrounds a large tower, and the streets nearby the tower usually host stalls and sellers of snacks, bric-a-brac, and other small-town supplies. There’s also a Catholic church nearby the tower, and if it’s open to visitors we’ll take a look.

Cost: ¥460 / ¥415 for members / ¥220 for kids

See a full description, more photos, and book online at https://www.beijinghikers.com/hike-in-beijing/view/1742/tang-dynasty-cave-dwellings-and-yongning-town-2/

Beijing Hikers—fun and friendly hikes and trips around Beijing and greater China, since 2001.

For more updates on hikes and trips follow our WeChat account BeijingHikers北京爱山 and keep an eye on www.beijinghikers.com

https://www.beijinghikers.com / info@beijinghikers.com

On this hike you’ll see both repaired and unrepaired Great Wall, as well as lakes, mountains, and streams.

The Lakeside Great Wall is a park area that features repaired Great Wall that both rises above and dips down into the Xishuiyu Reservoir.

Out the back of the park area is the Longquanyu Great Wall, where you’ll hike along the last part of unrepaired Great Wall in the area as well as some that has been repaired more recently.

After exploring the unrepaired wall we’ll hike back into the park area and follow the lakeside trail back to the bus. (Optional—buy a ticket for the speedboat instead of walking.)

After the hike we’ll head to a nearby village restaurant for a big hot meal and cold drinks.

Cost: ¥450 / ¥405 for members / ¥240 for kids

See a full description, more photos, and book online at https://www.beijinghikers.com/hike-in-beijing/view/1725/lakeside-great-wall-and-longquanyu-2/

Beijing Hikers—fun and friendly hikes and trips around Beijing and greater China, since 2001.

For more updates on hikes and trips follow our WeChat account BeijingHikers北京爱山 and keep an eye on www.beijinghikers.com

https://www.beijinghikers.com / info@beijinghikers.com

Hike up and over repaired Great Wall and cross the glass bridge in the Lakeside Great Wall Scenic Area, hike out the back of the park area to find quieter trails and unrepaired Great Wall at Longquanyu, finish back at the Lakeside Great Wall for great photos in the soft light of ‘golden hour’.

The Lakeside Great Wall is a park area that features repaired Great Wall that both rises above and dips down into the Xishuiyu Reservoir.

Out the back of the park area is the Longquanyu Great Wall, where you’ll hike along the last part of unrepaired Great Wall in the area as well as some that has been repaired more recently.

After exploring the unrepaired wall we’ll hike back into the park area and take our time to get some great photos of the Great Wall in the soft light of ‘golden hour’.

After the hike we’ll head to a nearby village restaurant for a big hot meal and cold drinks.

Cost: ¥460 / ¥415 for members / ¥240 for kids

See a full description, more photos, and book online at https://www.beijinghikers.com/hike-in-beijing/view/1798/lakeside-great-wall-and-longquanyu-sundown-hike/

Beijing Hikers—fun and friendly hikes and trips around Beijing and greater China, since 2001.

For more updates on hikes and trips follow our WeChat account BeijingHikers北京爱山 and keep an eye on www.beijinghikers.com

https://www.beijinghikers.com / info@beijinghikers.com

Hike on hill trails and Great Wall between Jiankou and Beigou Village, getting a look at Great Wall between Jiankou and Mutianyu and finishing with a scenic walk down into Beigou Village.

We'll start off the hike by following a zigzag hillside trail that rises quickly to a Great Wall tower that is almost 1,000 metres above sea level. From the tower we can see the Jiankou basin, as well as the many other sections of Great Wall in the area.

From there we'll head east, following the wall towards Mutianyu. We'll end up at the northwestern end of the Mutianyu Great Wall and we’ll follow the wall down towards the main park area. On previous visits here we’ve heard the din of all the visitors to Mutianyu off in the distance—surprisingly loud!

We’re going to avoid all that and hike a paved trail down the hillside to Beigou Village, passing through tidy chestnut orchards on our way down to the village square.

Cost: ¥460 / ¥415 for members

See a full description, more photos, and book online at https://www.beijinghikers.com/hike-in-beijing/view/1674/jiankou-great-wall-to-beigou-village/

Beijing Hikers—fun and friendly hikes and trips around Beijing and greater China, since 2001.

For more updates on hikes and trips follow our WeChat account BeijingHikers北京爱山 and keep an eye on www.beijinghikers.com

https://www.beijinghikers.com / info@beijinghikers.com

A relaxing stroll that follows a stream through a wooded valley, passing pools and sandy beaches on the way to the end.

The Intelligence Valley hike is one of the easiest ones we've got, and it's a good choice for young children.

It's a flat hike, and offers some shade while hiking alongside a stream and over rocks through the valley. We've got some walking sticks to bring along—these will assist with balance in slippery spots.

Along the way are several swimming holes. The biggest of these is near the end of the hike, and is called the Dragon Pool. The Dragon Pool is a deep pond carved into a huge granite boulder, and we'll stop for a snack and see if we spot any swimmers.

After finishing our walk through the valley we will arrive at Shentangyu Park, and walk out to meet our bus. We'll take a short drive to a village restaurant for a nice big lunch of homestyle Chinese food, and then head home.

Cost: ¥470 / ¥420 for members / ¥240 for kids

See a full description, more photos, and book online at https://www.beijinghikers.com/hike-in-beijing/view/1693/intelligence-valley-2/

Beijing Hikers—fun and friendly hikes and trips around Beijing and greater China, since 2001.

For more updates on hikes and trips follow our WeChat account BeijingHikers北京爱山 and keep an eye on www.beijinghikers.com

https://www.beijinghikers.com / info@beijinghikers.com

A moderately difficult hike that follows a line of wild wall up to a tall tower with 360° views of mountains, valleys, small villages, and a long line of wall heading high into the hills. Some sections extremely tricky underfoot.

We start the hike not far past Chenjiapu Village, taking a short walk up a concrete road before turning off on to a dirt track that leads up a valley towards the Great Wall.

The valley is narrow to begin with, and slowly opens up to give views of Great Wall and towers on a high ridgeline.

At the top of the valley we’ll find the Great Wall, with two mostly-intact towers sited to guard a pass at a dip in the mountains.

We’ll be headed north from the dip, following a rough line of ‘wild’ Great Wall through the two towers and up to the local “General’s Tower”.

We’ll continue down the wall, taking a few detours around broken sections, and hike along the flatter section of wall above Chenjiapu Village.

The hike takes us by a few more towers on the way, and there’s at least one tricky section where we might find it easier to hike beside the Great Wall instead of on top of it.

Before the wall gets way too steep to walk on we’ll turn off on to a hill trail, and follow it down to the village road to end the hike.

Bring your passport/ID in case we get checked at the border crossing on the way home.

Cost: ¥420 / ¥380 for members

See a full description, more photos, and book online at https://www.beijinghikers.com/hike-in-beijing/view/1887/chenjiapu-great-wall-2/

Beijing Hikers—fun and friendly hikes and trips around Beijing and greater China, since 2001.

For more updates on hikes and trips follow our WeChat account BeijingHikers北京爱山 and keep an eye on www.beijinghikers.com

https://www.beijinghikers.com / info@beijinghikers.com

A moderately difficult hike that follows a line of wild wall up to a tall tower with 360° views of mountains, valleys, small villages, and a long line of wall heading high into the hills. Some sections extremely tricky underfoot.

We start the hike not far past Chenjiapu Village, taking a short walk up a concrete road before turning off on to a dirt track that leads up a valley towards the Great Wall.

The valley is narrow to begin with, and slowly opens up to give views of Great Wall and towers on a high ridgeline.

At the top of the valley we’ll find the Great Wall, with two mostly-intact towers sited to guard a pass at a dip in the mountains.

We’ll be headed north from the dip, following a rough line of ‘wild’ Great Wall through the two towers and up to the local “General’s Tower”.

We’ll continue down the wall, taking a few detours around broken sections, and hike along the flatter section of wall above Chenjiapu Village.

The hike takes us by a few more towers on the way, and there’s at least one tricky section where we might find it easier to hike beside the Great Wall instead of on top of it.

Before the wall gets way too steep to walk on we’ll turn off on to a hill trail, and follow it down to the village road to end the hike.

Bring your passport/ID in case we get checked at the border crossing on the way home.

Cost: ¥420 / ¥380 for members

See a full description, more photos, and book online at https://www.beijinghikers.com/hike-in-beijing/view/1918/chenjiapu-great-wall-3/

Beijing Hikers—fun and friendly hikes and trips around Beijing and greater China, since 2001.

For more updates on hikes and trips follow our WeChat account BeijingHikers北京爱山 and keep an eye on www.beijinghikers.com

https://www.beijinghikers.com / info@beijinghikers.com