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  • China
  • China

    Explore the Great Wall and SO much more. From timeless countryside villages to bustling Shanghai and everything in between, China is sure to surprise you in more ways than one.

    Top Spots in and near China

    • Guilin Shi, China

      Capture the Sunset from Mt. Laozhai (老寨山)

      2.0
      0.5 mi / 656.2 ft gain
      Mt. Laozhai is an approximately 220m karst peak in the village of Xingping. It overlooks a dramatic bend in the Li River, showing off some of Guilin Province’s most classic landscapes. Xingping is best reached from the well-known tourist town of Yangshuo (阳朔) either by rafting down the Li River o...
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    • Beijing, China

      Explore the Forbidden City

      4.5
      The Forbidden City is the incredible palace of the Ming Dynasty. It housed the Chinese government for almost 500 years and is located in the middle of Beijing. The palace is massive and extremely unique. Visiting the palace gives you a sense of how developed the Chinese culture was even hundreds...
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    • Beijing, China

      Jinshanling Great Wall Hike (金山岭)

      4.0
      6.2 mi
      Constructed during the Ming Dynasty in 1368 CE, the Jinshanling section of the Great Wall is famous for its many watchtowers and stunning vistas as the rest of the wall stretches out to the east and west. On a clear night, it's possible to see the milkyway. One of the best times to go is in April...
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    • Beijing, China

      Hike the Great Wall of China's Mutianyu Section

      4.0
      4 mi
      The 2nd most visited section of the Great Wall of China, Mutianyu is a beautifully restored and a relatively accessible spot of the wall. Located 43 miles from Beijing, it can take between 1 ½ to 2 hours to drive to the entrance. Note that you’ll have to park slightly away from the actual entranc...
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    • Guilin Shi, China

      Hike the Longji Rice Terraces

      4.0
      6 mi
      The terraced fields of Longji offer some of the most spectacular scenery in China. Located 62 miles north of Guilin, the terraces take about 2.5 hrs to get to by car from the Guilin airport. The drive twists through some beautiful scenery itself before reaching the village of Ping’an.The rice ter...
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    • Guilin Shi, China

      Explore the Li River with Cormorant Fishermen

      The Li River has a long history of Cormorant Fishing. Set amongst Karst Mountains, the city of XingPing (39 miles from Guilin & 15.5 miles from Yangshuo), is the perfect setting to see this beautiful and ancient method of fishing.To get to Xingping, you have a couple options via highways and...
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    • Ganzi Zangzuzizhizhou, China

      Backpack Mount Gonga, Sichuan Mountains (蜀山之王): Minya Konka West Route

      5.0
      43.5 mi / 4921.3 ft gain
      Mount Gonga is located on the western side of Sichuan Province, approximately 330km from Chengdu. The trek around its western face follows major river valleys and traverses one pass over 4900m (highest point). In its entirety, the trek takes five to six days to complete and is entirely above 3000...
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    • Zhangjiakou Shi, China

      Hike the Chenjiapu Great Wall

      5.0
      3.1 mi / 1968.5 ft gain
      This is a really nice section of the Great Wall that is much less known than many other parts. You are likely to hike here and find yourself the only one on the wall. Some parts are completely overgrown, you have to bushwack through the growth on top of the wall to go ahead and stairs are dangero...
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    • Diqing Zangzuzizhizhou, China

      Hike the Tiger Leaping Gorge

      13.7 mi / 3280.8 ft gain
      About 100km and a 1.5 hour ride from the city of Lijiang in Yunnan Province, the Tiger Leaping Gorge cuts between Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Haba Snow Mountain. The upper route takes around 8-10hrs to hike in full, but most people split the hike up in two days staying at one of the many local ...
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    • Beijing, China

      Hike the Great Wall of China's Jiankou Section

      6 mi
      The Jiankou section of the wall is known as the ‘Wild’ section due to its complete lack of restoration since its construction in the 1300s. This fact alone makes this area of the wall fascinating. Located 45 miles outside of Beijing (1.5 -2 hrs driving), getting to this area of the wall can be ac...
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    • Guilin Shi, China

      Hike to Cuipingshan Hill Peak (Yangshuo, China)

      2.0
      2.5 mi / 800 ft gain
      A secret spot of Chinese photographers for years, Cuipingshan Hill within Yangshuo, China is a view unrivaled by many others in the world. The hill is a relatively easy hike but is nearly impossible to find. The reason for its difficult nature is that the name and location aren’t on any maps and ...
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    • Guilin Shi, China

      Raft down the Li River

      3.0
      This adventure starts in the village of Yangdi. Located 45 miles from Guilin, the closest metropolitan city, Yangdi sits at the base of karsts on the west side of the Li River. The village itself is small but is bustling with activity from the the local merchants and dozens upon dozens of bamboo ...
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    • Ganzi Zangzuzizhizhou, China

      Hike to Yading's Milk and Five Color Lake (牛奶海 - 五色海)

      13.7 mi / 1968.5 ft gain
      Start from Chongu Monastery and go toLuorong Pasture. To get here you can either walk 6km on the boardedpathways or take a ~20minute electric cart for 80RMB round trip or50RMB one way. The Luorong Pasture offers some great views of thesurrounding peaks, especially a famous and jaw-dropping view o...
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    • Guilin Shi, China

      Hike Luosishan (Fairy Maiden Peak)

      5.5 mi / 2500 ft gain
      For a landscape with panoramic dramatic views, there might be none better than that of the Fairy Maiden Peak. The launching point for this hike will be out of the town of Xingping.To get to Xingping, you have a couple options via highways and main roads, as its 39 miles from Guilin & 15.5 mil...
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    • Beijing, China

      Camp on the Great Wall's Gubeikou Section

      7 mi
      An experience unlike any other in the world, camping on the Great Wall of China is a truly once in a lifetime adventure. The ability to legally camp on the actual wall is limited to the Gubeikou section. The section is considered ‘wild’ as it has never been restored since its original constructio...
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    • Lijiang Shi, China

      Camp on Lijiang's (丽江) Nob Hill

      4.5 mi / 656.2 ft gain
      The town of Lijiang is one of the best hiking and cultural hubs for Yunnan province. It's an awesome place for exploration and relaxation for both the first-timer in China and the China-hand. This camp spot offers a quick and easy way to get out of the city bustle and spend the night above the c...
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    Guides, Insights and Stories from China

    The Road to Shangri-La: Bikepacking on the Roof of the World

    The Road to Shangri-La: Bikepacking on the Roof of the World

    Aly Nicklas

    "Far Away" - Climbing in LiMing, China

    "Far Away" - Climbing in LiMing, China

    Josiah Roe

    Snowfall Among Giants in Tibetan China

    Snowfall Among Giants in Tibetan China

    Kevin McFarland

    Exploring the Roof of the World: 7 Days in Tibet

    Exploring the Roof of the World: 7 Days in Tibet

    Tim van Kempen

    Western China: Your Next Fall Mountain Destination

    Western China: Your Next Fall Mountain Destination

    Kyle Obermann