Our Great Wall Discovery is a thrilling challenge of ups, downs, twists and turns. Appropriately named one of the ‘New Wonders of the World’, the Great Wall of China is a truly iconic location – perfect for a Charity Challenge! To help you prepare, we’ve pulled together an essential guide full of tips and tricks, including insider advice from our experienced team and past participants…
What is the Great Wall Discovery challenge?
Beginning four hours north of Beijing, this week-long challenge tackles a series of vigorous climbs totalling over 10,000 uneven steps. The trek will follow the winding path along the Yan Mountains to the Gubeikou Gateway and takes on the famous ‘heavenly staircase’. The challenge ends in the vast metropolis of Beijing, with time to explore the cultural highlights of China’s historic capital.
Highlights include:
- Conquer the Great Wall, an imperial masterpiece of the Ming dynasty, and test yourself against thousands of challenging steps.
- Savour views of the timeless landscapes and time-weathered watchtowers.
- Enjoy the cultural highlights of China’s bustling capital city, Beijing.
What will I achieve?
This 9-day itinerary involves 5 days of trekking and is graded as ‘challenging’ – meaning a good level of fitness, adventurous spirit and training is required. Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll accomplish (and can proudly share with your sponsors!):
- Trek between 4-7 hours per day, covering approximately 50kms over 5 days.
- Trek up and down thousands of stairs, including some un-renovated sections with tricky terrain!
- Being exposed to the elements (rain, wind or sun) as you trek hours along the wall.
- Staying overnight in basic lodges.
I’m thinking of booking, what do I need to know?
For a quick overview of what to expect from this challenge, we’ve pulled together some advice below – including some top tips straight from our experienced team of leaders! For further information please visit our Great Wall Discovery webpage, which covers all details thoroughly.
1. Step into your training!
Tailored training is a must for this challenge! Work specifically on your stamina, leg, knees, and joint strength. Of course, this challenge involves thousands of stairs that you’ll be trekking up and down for hours at a time – so it’s key to incorporate stairs into your training. The environment will be mountainous, so get outdoors and familiarise yourself with walking on rugged terrain with a daypack.
Don’t just take it from us, our leaders and past participants can attest to how much of a difference adequate training makes to your experience…
Top Tips:
- With there being a lot of steps both onto and off the Wall, as well as when you’re on it, it’s well worth building in some time on a stair climber machine or other long flights of stairs (e.g. in a high rise building) into your training routine. – Danny Barden, Charity Challenge Leader
- As well as the steps, there is a lot of ascent and descent on this trek, and sometimes on loose and uneven ground – walking poles are invaluable to both keep you more secure (akin to 4-wheel drive in a vehicle!) and for taking the pressure off your knees and tiring muscles. – Danny Barden, Charity Challenge Leader
- Training matters! I followed the training plan and felt prepared but others did not. – Amie Rosenblum, Participant
2. Plan your packing
For a detailed breakdown of what to pack, always follow the Kit List carefully. Packing layers is vital for this challenge, as temperatures can fluctuate enormously from day to night. Even in the hotter months of May and September, evenings are cold in the remote mountain areas around Beijing. If you feel the cold, it’s a good idea to pack thermals to sleep in (and although sheets are provided, a sleeping bag liner for extra warmth) for the colder months of March/early April and October.
Top Tips:
- Do take warm clothes, I underestimated this! – Juliette, Participant
- If you choose to bring walking poles, it’s recommended that they have rubber tips/ends, as this will provide better grip against the stone, whilst protecting the stone from any damage caused by metal tips! (Many walking poles come with removable rubber tips included, or you can buy some separately – consider this when buying or borrowing). – Richard Simpkin, Charity Challenge Leader
- Maybe bring an alternative food, like a favourite snack bar, if you feel you might crave something familiar. – Helen Burden, Participant
3. Embrace the culture, enjoy the moment
The Great Wall of China and surrounding mountain ranges are truly majestic and wondrous to behold. Not only are you pushing yourself physically on this trek, but you’re immersing yourself in a rich culture and landscape. Remember to enjoy it! We also offer 2 different extensions that pack in lots of historical and cultural sightseeing and experiences (click the Extension tabs under ‘Essential Information’ for more info!).
Top Tips
- Be in the moment! Each time you get to a watch tower, normally at the top of a long stretch of steps, take a break to catch your breath and get some shade, but also to stop and look around. The views are incredible, and no photo will ever do justice to what you can see through your own eyes. Take your time, and soak it all up. – Simon Albert, Charity Challenge Co-Founder and Director.
- Keep it steady, one foot in front of the other, and don’t worry or focus on what tomorrow brings. The trip goes by fast, so just appreciate each minute and each step because by the end you won’t remember the pain – just the memories and all those views. – Saffron-Louise Cook, Participant
- Practice using chopsticks – okay, they do provide knives and forks for westerners, but embracing the cultural norms can be more fun! – Danny Barden, Charity Challenge Leader
To conclude… start prepping!
If you are now seriously considering taking on the Great Wall Discovery, we strongly recommend heading over to our website to read through our full Itinerary, Costs, Kit List and extensive Essential Information tabs. You’ll find everything you need to know here in detail, from visa information, timings, locations, food and drink, difficulty level breakdowns, training advice, group safety, equipment and much, much more (including answers to those all-important ‘what if?’ questions).
Our blog also hosts a wealth of resources to help prepare you for your fundraising challenge.
Why should I book the Great Wall Discovery with Charity Challenge?
Over the years Charity Challenge has built up a wealth of experience that has enabled us to create the best Great Wall Discovery itinerary that is geared towards providing participants with an exciting-yet-challenging physical test, in a culturally rich location.
Since 1999, we have specialised in operating challenges for charity fundraisers. We partner with 1000’s of UK and Irish charities already – and our team is happy to reach out to a charity of your choice to make your dream fundraising challenge happen. (Or, if you don’t fancy fundraising, the good news is you can simply self-fund and join us anyway!).
- Our expert English speaking guides will be with you every step of the way, managing your challenge and providing historical context to the Great Wall and its surroundings.
- During your trek, you’ll visit an original, unrenovated section of the wall – allowing complete immersion and appreciation for the historical significance of this incredible ‘New Wonder of the World’.
- We also offer 2 exciting extensions to choose from: ‘Warriors and Pandas’ or the ‘Terracotta Warriors’ extension.
Remember, the Great Wall Discovery is graded as ‘challenging’ and is designed to test you. With the right preparation, this immersive challenge is incredibly rewarding to complete – making it an excellent choice for an Overseas Charity Challenge!
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