| THE ITINERARY (Summary) Day 1 - Embarkation Fly from Heathrow to Beijing, total flying time approximately 10 hours. Day 2 - Arrive into Beijing Upon arrival into Beijing you will be met and transferred to the Simatai Guesthouse – approximately 3 hours drive. Day 3 - Simatai Great Wall to Gangfang After breakfast, walk from the guesthouse along the Simatai Great Wall.This section of the wall is quiet and remote and the ruinous state of it gives the wall an air of authenticity that has earned it the reputation of being the most beautiful section of the Great Wall. Day 4 - Simatai to Jinshanling The walk from Simatai to Jinshanling is spectacular and is a section of original unreconstructed wall, with many steep, crumbling staircases and ruined watchtowers along the way. Day 5 - Jinshanling to Gubeikou The Gubeikou section of the wall runs along the Panlong (Coiling Dragon) and Wohu (Crouching Tiger) mountain range and again takes you along some magnificent unreconstructed sections of the Great Wall, dating back to 1378, when General Xu Da had it rebuilt. Day 6 - Gubeikou Tiger Mountain This section of the wall was open to the public this year and we will walk to one of the highest towers along the Great Wall. Day 7 - Mutianyu Today we will visit the Mutianyu section of the wall, where visiting Heads of State are usually brought. We will begin our walk through a stony valley that ascends to the unreconstructed Great Wall, which twists and winds its way along the mountains, interspersed with crumbling ruined watchtowers along the way. Day 8 - Beijing A day to explore the many attractions of China's capital city.We will be offering optional tours to the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square and the Lama Temple and there will be an opportunity to enjoy shopping in the local markets and stores. Day 9 - Departure After breakfast, you will be transferred to Beijing airport for the return flight arriving the same day. | 