Epic Hikes of the World ( PDFDrive )

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GREAT WALL HIKES
JIÀNKÒU TO MÙTIÁNYÙ
For a stupefyingly gorgeous hike along arguably the most stunning part of the
Great Wall near Běijīng, head to Jiànkòu Great Wall – 60 miles (100km) north of
the capital – from where you can hike all the way to the popular Mùtiányù section,
which is open for tourism and comes complete with a toboggan ride (you know you
want to). Your hike starts in the first hamlet of Xīzhàzi Village and follows a path
through farmland up to the wall. Turn left when you hit the wall and you’ll soon be
scrambling on hands and knees up the very steep stretch of bricks leading to the
Ox Horn, where the wall bends through 180 degrees before descending (even more
steeply!) to the restored section at Mùtiányù.
Start // Xīzhàzi Village, Hamlet No 1
End // Mùtiànyù
Distance // 2 miles (3km)
HORN PEAK TO THE BOHAI SEA
About 125 miles (300km) east of Běijīng, the Great Wall tumbles down Jiăo Shān
(Horn Peak), past the walled town of Shānhăiguān, to Lao Long Tou (Old Dragon
Head) where it dips its toes into the Bohai Sea. Parts of it are missing these days
but enough remains to make a rewarding, off-beat Great Wall hike. Start from
Dapingding (Big Flat Summit) at the top of Horn Peak then follow the wall down
the slopes, past Qixian Temple, to the mountain’s main gate. To your left, you’ll
find a forlorn, earthen section of Great Wall leading to Shānhăiguān, whose
imposing town walls once formed part of the Great Wall. The wall disappears now,
so follow roads for the final 3 miles (5km) to Old Dragon Head where a rebuilt
section plunges into the sea – a unique opportunity to swim around the Great
Wall!
Start // Big Flat Summit on Horn Peak
End // Old Dragon’s Head
Distance // 7 miles (12km)