great wall triple challenge,
run, cycle, trek, china
Join this triple challenge that involves running,
cycling and trekking on and in the shadows of the
Great Wall of China. This 6 day challenge will have
you completing two half marathons, 155kms of
cycling and two days trekking on the Great Wall,
where your imagination will take you back several
centuries to when the Wall was the frontline defense
of Imperial China.
The Great Wall of China was originally constructed
to keep out the nomadic tribes who raided China’s
Northern frontier. Its steps were designed to be
deliberately uneven so as to ensure that, if the Wall
were ever breached, it would still be difficult to get
into any rhythm running up the Wall in attack. It is
this uneven terrain that you will cover during your
challenge.
running or even jogging impossible; the running and
cycling is reserved for the paved roads!
This is a very demanding but also very rewarding
challenge, particularly on a clear day when you can
take in the vast and beautiful mountain ranges and
spectacular views.
On completion of your triple challenge you will
return to Beijing to explore some of the many
attractions of China’s capital, including the
Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven.
Day 1: International Departure
Meet at the airport for your flight to Beijing, China. Our
Charity Challenge representative will be there to assist
you with check-in. You will be passing over the Great
Wall before landing at Beijing airport.
Each day will be different on this exciting itinerary
containing a mixture of tough running, cycling and
trekking challenges; you will cycle through the hills
of China and trek along the stony pathways of the
Great Wall, twisting and winding its way along the
mountains,
interspersed
with
crumbling
watchtowers. You will complete two half marathons,
finishing your challenge with a run in the Olympic
Forest Park as a grand end to your challenge week.
It is important to realise that the sections of the
Great Wall that you will cover will involve walking
only due to the difficulty of the terrain which makes
Day 2: Arrival Beijing
Upon arrival in Beijing you will be met at the airport by a
Charity Challenge local agent who will transfer you
(1hr) to your Lodge in Changping, north of Beijing. After
check in, you will have the rest of the afternoon to relax
or visit the Sacred Way and Chang Tomb at the Ming
Tombs in the afternoon. In the evening after dinner, you
will be given a full challenge briefing and have the
opportunity to ask any questions of your expedition
leader.
pass Juongguan Great Wall, which you trekked
yesterday. Once you have reached Badaling, you will be
rewarded with a walk on it, to enjoy its grandeur and
splendour. After lunch at a local restaurant, you will
cycle back to your lodge for rest.
Day 3: Running challenge Ming Tombs Reservoir
and Juongguan Great Wall – approx 21km run +
5km trek
The Ming Tombs are home to the mausoleums of 13
emperors of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The
mausoleums have been perfectly preserved, as has the
necropolis of each of the many emperors and are
located near Nanjing (the capital city during the reign of
the Ming Dynasty). You will begin your triple challenge
here! In the morning you will run your 21km around the
Ming Tombs Reservoir followed by a well earn lunch. In
the afternoon you will be transferred to Juongguan Great
Wall where you will have your first sightings and
experience on the Great Wall itself. Transfer back to
Changping for your evening Meal and overnight in a
local Chinese Lodge.
Trekking Option:
For those who do not wish to
participate in the run may choose a 6km trekking
challenge along the same route as the runners.
Please Note: On all running, cycling and trekking days,
the group will stay together for safety reasons - this
challenge is not a race. There will be a break for lunch,
to rest and enjoy the surroundings on each day.
Day 5: Changping to Huairou County; front side of
the Great Wall of Mutianyu – aprox 50kms cycle + 23hr Trek.
This morning you will say goodbye to Changping county
and set off for Huairou. Following the winding country
road, your destination today is Mutianyu Great Wall. The
route begins to slope uphill slightly as you approach the
Wall. Mutianyu Great Wall was first built in Northern Qi
Dynasty (550-557). In the Ming Dynasty, Tan Lun and Qi
Jiguang, two famous patriotic generals, rebuilt it in order
to strengthen its defensive potential when they guarded
the strategic pass. It served as the northern protective
screen, guarding the capital and imperial mausoleums
for generations. Mutianyu Great Wall winds 1.4miles
through lofty mountains and high ridges, many sections
of which are made of granite. Both the Wall's inner and
outer sides have parapets to defend against enemies
coming from either side. Some parapets are saw-tooth
shaped instead of the regular rectangular form. Besides
its strategically important location and compact layout,
the Mutianyu Great Wall is also famous for the
breathtakingly beautiful scenery. Woods cover over 96%
of the total scenic area, and the pine trees around
Mutianyu Great Wall are a famous attraction. There are
more than 20 pines over 300 years old and about 200
pines over 100 year old.
A short stay on the Mutianyu Great Wall marks the end
of your cycle challenge. Then you will be transferred to
your lodge at Miyun (about 1.5hr), and prepare for your
Great Wall trekking next day.
Day 4: Changping to Badaling Great Wall – approx
75kms cycle
This morning you will depart Changping for your cycle to
the Badaling section of the Great Wall. Built during the
Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), Badaling Great Wall is the
most representative and best preserved part of the Wall.
It was promoted as a key national cultural relic,
protected under the approval of the State Council, in
1961, and in 1988 it was enlisted in the World Cultural
Heritage Directory by UNESCO. You will follow a hilly
mountain road to the Wall. On your way, you will also
walk along a pathway in the shadows of the wall. Again,
any pain will be eased by the amazing panoramic views
with mountains stretching all around you with the wall
snaking its way along the tops of them as far as the eye
can see. This is especially so on a clear day when you
look out over the best part of eighty miles of mountains,
with Mongolia on one side and China on the other. It
does not take much for your imagination to take you
back several centuries to when the wall was the frontline
defence of Imperial China. Today's trek will involve
climbing and descending many steps.
Overnight in lodge.
Approx trekking time 5/6hrs.
Day 6: Gubeikou Gateway – approx 14kms
The day starts with a drive (approx 1.5 hrs) to a village
where your trek begins. There used to be three
passageways between Northeast China, the Mongolian
Highlands, Beijing and the central plains. These were
Shanhai Pass, Juyong Pass and Gubeikou Gateway, the
latter lying between the two passes and being located in
today's Miyun County, northeast of the city of Beijing.
Gubeikou was the site of incessant warfare and was
heavily guarded by the armies of various dynasties from
7th-13th century. In particular, the Ming Dynasty (13681644AD) added many defence installations and
increased the strength of the garrison. Nowadays, the
main castle no longer exists and much of the Wall has
collapsed. The great variety of defence structures here
are good examples of the changing architecture of the
Great Wall. Today is a long days trek along the
Gubeikou section of the Wall, walking straight through to
your accommodation for the night. After Lunch you will
descend off the Wall through farmland before a steep
climb up a narrow path weaving its way alongside
sections of the wall before you reach the renovated
Jinshanling section for your final trek to your overnight
accommodation.
Day 8: Olympic Forest Park Run – aprox 21km run
Your running Challenge today will take place at the
Olympic Forest Park. Covering an area of more than
1,680 acres, this park was reserved for the athletes from
different parts of the world during the 2008 Beijing
Olympics, and was open to the public afterwards. Now it
is a popular forest park for the locals. You will also be
rewarded with a tour to the inside of the Olympic
Stadium, which is more widely known as the Bird Nest,
after completing your running challenge. Evening Dinner
and overnight in hotel in Beijing.
Trekking Option: Those who do not wish to participate in
the run may choose a 6km trekking challenge along the
same route as the runners.
Overnight in lodge.
Approx trekking time - 7/8hrs.
Day 9: Full Day City Tour of Beijing
As a reward for all your hard work, a day of leisure
follows with a guided tour of the many attractions of
China's capital city, including the Old Imperial Palace
known as the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square, as
well as the Temple of Heaven, where the emperors
worshipped and prayed for good harvests. Later you will
be dropped off at the city’s market to shop for souvenirs.
Your celebratory dinner will be the Peking Duck
Banquet. Overnight hotel, Beijing.
Day 7: Jinshanling to Simatai – 11kms
After an early breakfast, you will start today’s trek
straight from the lodge. The walk from Jinshanling
towards Simatai is a spectacular one that is partly on
original unreconstructed Wall and partly on renovated
sections, with many steep, crumbling staircases and
ruined watchtowers along the way. You will walk 7kms
along quite a demanding and steep path followed by a
Day 10: Arrive Home
After breakfast, you will have a few hours to explore,
before being transferred to Beijing Airport for the return
journey to London.
N.B. The itinerary is there as a guide and may change due to
unusual weather patterns, the strength of the group and so on. We
will do our very best to keep to the set itinerary; however we
cannot be held responsible for any last minute changes that may
occur. In all such circumstances, your expedition leader will have
the final say.
Optional extensions:
Xian Extension:
 Take an overnight train from Beijing to Xian
 Visit the Terracotta Museum and view the 1974
discovery of 6,000 life-size terracotta soldiers,
warriors and horses.
 Visit the Grand Mosque in Xian
 Spend an evening watching a Tang Dynasty cultural
show.
 Visit the Yangling Tomb of Han Dynasty dating back
2,000 years which is still an ongoing archaeological
project
Warriors and Pandas Extension:
 See Terracotta Warriors as above
 Fly to Chengdu
 Visit the Giant Panda Research Base
 Fly back to Beijing
To find out more information, visit the Great Wall triple
challenge page on our website or click on
“extensions” in your member’s area.