Hike 8

Brickyard - Great Wall


Time:1&1/2-2 hours
Difficulty level: medium

Tips: remember to wear sunscreen and a hat if you have sensitive skin. The first section of this hike offers no shade and there is no shade on the renovated section of the great wall.Do not attempt this hike if it is raining or looks like it is about to rain.


1. Turn left when you exit The Brickyard, walk past the cornfields and head straight, down the main street of Beigou village. About 5 minutes from The Brickyard you’ll run into this bumble bee painted on a garage door on your right. The wall is visible on the mountains up ahead. 

2. At the end of this stretch you’ll see the village store. Buy water here if you forgot to bring some. It should cost 2-3rmb per bottle.

3. You’ll turn left at the store and then head to the right, towards the blue outdoor exercise equipment (swings!) 

4. About ten minutes into the hike you’ll see the first stone mill on your right.



5. You might also notice the interesting graffiti on a couple of electricity posts

6. Can you find the second stone mill in this picture? It’s easy to spot when you’re on the hike :-)


7. Just after the second stone mill the road will veer to the left and you will encounter a sign which reads ‘this section of the wall is not open to the public’

Ignore the sign and keep going.


8. The uphill climb will become steeper and you’ll start to get views of the village below, enjoy!



9. Here’s the third stone mill, located near the end of the paved road.



10. Look for a dirt trail leading up the side of the mountain, it’s off to the right side of the stone mill




11. You should see this blue sign about 2 minutes up the trail. It reads “Danger, flood area”

*Do not go past this point if it is raining or looks like it is about to rain.

12. After about ten minutes you may or may not notice a split in the path. I took the one less traveled by.
They both end up at this green spray painted arrow :-) This small opening offers some welcome shade and a couple of nice rocks to sit on. You’re about halfway up the trail; remember to stay hydrated.




13. There are many loose rocks and pebbles as you get closer to the wall. Stay alert to the trail and your surroundings.





14. Option 1: Turn right when you reach the wall. You’ll see that the first entrance on your right has been blockaded. Keep heading downhill on the path just alongside the wall until you reach the next gate

*there will be a steep step you need to climb to get up to the wall there.

*this is a good option if you’re tired of going uphill and would like to head towards the toboggan or cable cars.





15. Option 2: turn left and follow the spray painted arrows uphill on the path alongside the wall. Soon (about five minutes up) you’ll reach this entrance with a metal handrail: *from here you may turn left on the wall and head up the steep section for the best views. If you keep heading in this direction you will eventually reach JianKou wild wall.

*turning right will take you towards the cable cars and toboggan slide