China On Two Feet

It is perhaps not surprising that many of China’s iconic sights such as the Forbidden City, Terracotta Warriors, Temple of Heaven, ancient city walls and classic gardens are all found in the country’s mega-cities. Whilst no trip to China would be complete without some mental stimulation in the urban environment, we also recommend exploring some more peaceful areas of China on two feet. Including a walking tour in the countryside not only provides a healthy dose of exercise, but also offers an insight into rural communities where the pace of change is at the opposite end of the spectrum from China’s futuristic cities. We have picked out the following selection of gentle walks, hikes and treks throughout this vast land to inspire your next trip to China.

Walking the Great Wall: With its proximity to Beijing, The Great Wall is one of the first stops for most visitors to China. Stretching over 5,000 miles from the Yellow Sea to the Gobi Desert, the Great Wall of China truly is a formidable thing to behold. Many of the sections closest to Beijing have been heavily restored and are overcrowded with tourists, but those who are willing to travel further from the city and trek between two access points are greatly rewarded for their efforts. The trek between Jinshanling and Simatai has long been a favourite with those looking to see the more impressive, unrestored sections of the wall. However, now that parts of Simatai have been closed to the public, we recommend heading even further out to Gubeikou, from where you can embark on the stunning 5 hour hike along some of the most beautiful and authentic sections of the ‘Wild Wall’ to finally reach the impressive restored grandeur of Jinshanling. Alternatively you can trek from the dramatically situated Jiankou, one of the steepest and wildest sections around Beijing, to the fully restored and picturesque Mutianyu; and see for yourself how the Wall has developed over time. For a suggested walking itinerary take a look at our “The Great Wall and Beyond” tour. Hikes anywhere from a couple of hours up to several days can be arranged, and these can be easily slotted into any of our existing or tailor-made China tours.

Yunnan Province: Set in the mountainous Southwest of China bordering Laos and Burma, Yunnan Province is a great place for exploring natural landscapes and ethnic minority villages. Located a 2-hour drive from the UNESCO World Heritage old town of Lijiang, Tiger Leaping Gorge is one of the deepest canyons in the world with some exhilarating trekking paths. We have created a hiking route for those wanting a day trip from Lijiang, which is suitable for anyone accustomed to brisk 4-5 hour walks involving some gradient. The trek starts on a rocky, uneven path that climbs steeply through shrub land for around an hour, until reaching the higher path which ascends gently for a further 2 hours. You are then rewarded with an unforgettable lunch at a guesthouse perched high on a cliff side, with spectacular views of the Gorge and imposing mountains. For more gentle walks we recommend Shaxi, a farming community located halfway between Lijiang and Dali deep in the foothills of the Himalaya. The Old Town of the main village has a beautifully preserved main square surrounded by traditional buildings made of stone and wood, with a handful of local restaurants serving food and drinks. The surrounding countryside is a paradise for walking, cycling and horse riding. There is an excellent map available in the town showing a network of cycling, trekking and horse riding routes to explore local villages and other places of interest. Bicycles are available to hire in several outlets in the old town at a cost of around £2-4 per day. Shaxi and Tiger Leaping Gorge are included on our “Yunnan’s Passage to Shangri-La” tour, or contact one of our China experts to plan a tailor-made itinerary to your exact requirements.

Hong Kong: Not many would think of Hong Kong as an outdoors destination. It's a little known fact however that three quarters of the city is open, undeveloped space, and one does not need to travel far to be in a rural setting with stunning views of the islands and coastline around Hong Kong. A particular highlight is the ‘Dragon’s Back Trail’ – a 8.5km hike taking you through the undulating ridges of Shek O and Wan Cham Sham. Hong Kong also houses over 1000km² of rural districts and outlying islands: Lamma is a genteel fishing enclave with a distinctly different pace of life, Lantau has a variety of hiking trails leading to and from its gigantic Tian Tan Buddha, and there are numerous country parks in the New Territories covering a vivid array of landscapes. Best of all is that all of these places can all be accessed easily using Hong Kong’s efficient public transport system, so for the walkers out there we would definitely encourage staying an extra day or two to explore the trails.

Mount Huangshan: Huang Shan (the Yellow Mountain) is China’s most famous mountain and has attracted walkers for centuries. The mountain and its surrounding landscapes can be mesmerizingly beautiful if caught on a good day, and has been the source of inspiration for countless paintings and poems over the years. There are a number of ways to reach the summit: climbing either the Western or Eastern steps, or for the less active the cable car. A lot of visitors do prefer to take the cable car and save their energy for exploring the mountain top itself. There is network of special widened walkways with handrails on the mountain, and it is a truly awe-inspiring place to spend a day exploring on foot. Do be prepared for some steps as there are said to be a total of 60,000 on the mountain paths! The best time to vist Mount Huangshan is in spring and autumn, but it is a rewarding experience whether the visibility is excellent, or if a blanket of clouds sits on the valley below allowing only the hilltops to gently poke through. Take a look at our “Natural Wonders of China” tour to see how Mt Huang Shan might fit into your itinerary.

The Dragon's Backbone, Longji: Around three hours’ drive northwest of Guilin you will find Longji, also known as the Dragon’s Backbone Rice Terraces, a series of sculptured hills which are home to the attractive wooden house villages of the Zhuang and Yao minorities. In the midst of this stunning landscape sits the charming village of Ping An - one of the best places to go walking in southwest China and a great base from which to explore the surrounding hillsides, and nearby villages, whilst staying in a comfortable, alpine style guesthouse. Most visitors to Ping An arrive by car but for the more serious walker it is possible to reach the village by taking a 5-6 hour hike through the hills from Dazhai Village, situated just on the edge of Longji. This moderate walk passes through some amazing villages, which cling to the side of the hills, and via a cornucopia of terraced fields whose intricate construction began in the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) and was completed in the early Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). The best time to go walking in Longji is during the spring and autumn, but it is possible year round as the region’s paddy fields offer a different colour for each season: silver in spring as the fields are full of water, iridescent green in summer, gold as the crops ripen in autumn and white as the hills become snow-capped during winter. See our "Yunnan & Guangxi Explorer" tour for inspiration.

Themed walking tours: For something completely different in Shanghai how about a walking tour of the old ganglands? Or a Beijing ghost tour? Bamboo has teamed up with an innovative local partner to provide a selection of inimitable excursions in China’s main cities. Other themed walks focus on Kung Fu, historical warlords, refugee ghettos, or can simply provide unique twists on conventional sights such as the Bund, the Great Wall, or the Terracotta Warriors. Tours can be arranged on a private or shared basis, and are conducted by a specialist tour guide – some of whom will arrive ‘in character’ – which are particularly popular with families. Please contact us today for more information on these special walking tours, or other out-of-the-box ideas!