The Challenge
Join a majestic trekking adventure and conquer the twists, turns, steps and slopes of this formidable fortification – the famous Great Wall. As you trek along this iconic Wonder of the World, you’ll cross ancient watchtowers and battlement stations to witness magnificent panoramas of luscious, rolling green hills as far as the eye can see! You’ll climb the incredible Heavenly Ladder, and immerse yourselves in stunning scenery and Chinese culture. You’ll also have the opportunity to explore Beijing, where you can visit iconic landmarks such as the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven and the famous Tiananmen Square!
Duration: 9 days, 7 of which are trekking
Distance: 35km (approx)
Fitness: The trek is graded as challenging but achievable with training beforehand. A training guide will be provided on sign up.
What you get
Sign up with #TeamStAnns for your trek experience including loads of fantastic perks!
- A friendly Events Team who will support you every step of the way
- A #TeamStAnns t-shirt and Build it Together buff
- Pre-event and post-event meetup and supportive group chat with your fellow trekkers
- A fundraising pack with ideas and tips, and materials like balloons, collection buckets and banners
- Return flights from a London Airport to Beijing and transfers
- All accommodation
- All meals and celebratory dinner (except lunch on Day 2 and 8)
- Bottled water
- Challenge Medal
- Trek leader from the UK to accompany group
- Challenge medic
- Local guides
- Helping to build our new hospice to provide specialist care and loving support to people in Greater Manchester, for generations to come
Cost
Registration Fee (due on sign up): £299
Airport Tax & Fuel Surcharge: £250
Option A: Minimum Sponsorship: £3,390
Option B: Self-Funding: £1,695
Terms and conditions apply, which will be available on registering your interest.
By fundraising for this challenge in aid of our Build it Together new hospice appeal, you’ll ensure St Ann’s is here for local people affected by life-limiting illness, now and in the future. Register your interest now by completing the form below.
Itinerary
- Day 1 – Depart UK
We depart the UK for our overnight flight to Beijing. - Day 2 – Arrive Beijing
We arrive in Beijing and then transfer to our hotel near Huangyaguan to freshen up and have some free time before dinner. - Day 3 – Huangyaguan
Following breakfast we start our warm up trek, as we trek along the Taipingzhai section and return along the Wall to Huangyaguan. This section is very popular as it used to be an army barracks 600 years ago and was a highly strategic point for entering into Beijing – you can still see the links of the barracks to the Great Wall.
Even though it is a warm up day there will still be plenty of ups and downs as you get used to the Great Wall steps! Once we get to the bottom, we stop for something to eat before transferring to our overnight accommodation.
Trekking distance – approx. 4 – 5km/3 hours - Day 4 – Gubeikou to Jinshanling
Following breakfast we commence trekking along the beautiful Gubeikou section of the wall to Jinshanling. Our main challenge today will be to cover the 27 watchtowers over old brick-made steps! Step back in time here and drink in the history of this remote and beautiful section of the Great Wall. In the afternoon we come off the Wall down to the valley and trek through remote villages and farms. Towards the end of the day we re-join the Wall and trek through the last 8 watchtowers to the Jinshanling section.
Trekking distance – approx. 13km/8 hours - Day 5 – Jinshanling
Today we trek from our lodge at Jinshanling to a remote section of the Wall which will give you a flavour of the immensity of the task undertaken in building this incredible structure. It is a truly beautiful area and the vista of the Wall disappearing over the mountains is a memorable sight. Today is a tough day with lots of steps going up and down but it is a truly amazing day you’ll remember forever.
After reaching the highest point of the day we come off the Wall and walk down to meet our coach and take the transfer to our overnight accommodation.
Trekking distance – approx. 7.5km/5 – 6 hours - Day 6 – Mutianyu
After breakfast we take a short transfer to the Mutianyu section and climb the awesome 1,000 steps up to the Wall. We then trek through 11 watchtowers to the Heavenly Ladder, which ascends at a 45 degree angle and covers another 460 steps! The view from the top is stunning – the Great Wall pitches up and dives down across the rolling green hillsides disappearing and then reappearing amongst the forested slopes. After we’ve taken all our photos we will head back down following the route we have just climbed. As we get closer to the bottom we have three choices of how to get off the Wall: follow the 1,000 steps we tackled on the way up, descend in a cable car or take a toboggan slide!
Trekking distance – approx. 7km/6 hours - Day 7 – Juyongguan and Badaling
The first part of the day is spent at the Juyongguan section of the Wall, which is very similar to our first day at Huangyaguan with an important barracks situated at the bottom. This section gives you a clear idea of how the Wall would have looked originally. Following this, we will transfer back to Beijing, where we have the opportunity to go on an optional Hutong rickshaw tour. It is one of the most popular tours in Beijing and the best way to explore the old way of life over the last 200 years!
Trekking distance – approx. 3km/3 hours - Day 8 – Beijing
Free day to enjoy the hustle and bustle of Beijing and all it has to offer, both modern and ancient. There will be an optional full day excursion organised that explores the highlights of Beijing which includes a visit to Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City and the beautiful Temple of Heaven! In the evening we will have our farewell dinner at Beijing’s premier Duck restaurant. We indulge in a real Chinese dining experience and celebrate our achievements! - Day 9 – Depart Beijing
We transfer back to Beijing Airport for our flight back to the UK, arriving the same day.
Please note this is a complex itinerary and subject to change, including the timings and distances detailed. Weather conditions, the group’s ability and any other factors outside our control can impact on the schedule set out in this brochure.
