I know there is a Jiankou stretch of Great Wall which is less visited by tourists, but I have never tried before. Any bros has ventured there yet? I know some time back there was a lightning strike case there.
2 people were killed near that section of the Wall last year.......(also they wont report you or get you into trouble) they were climbing at a high section when one of them fell and got injured. There was a storm. The 2nd fella helped the injured one and in process used his cell-phone to call for help. mobile phone became a lightning conductor and both were struck by lightning and killed. This is from reports I've read in the major chinese Great Wall forums.
I have climbed this section Jiankou last year May. Entry point was at a village specializing in raising rainbow trout (cant recall the name but likely Wo Fo Shan Zhuang village - see below ) and was VERY near the road leading to Mutianyu Great Wall section . It shares the 'honor' with a few other sections of the Wall having the title of Yeh Chang Cheng or "Wild Great Wall"
with kind permission to share from Bryan from Greatwallforum
Its on top of a mountaintop (not as high up as Simatai) BUT the hike up this hill is very tough going through alot of rough bush and little trails with huge rocks and boulders all the way.... took me almost 2 hrs to just climb through all this uphill to get there.... some much more fit hikers told me it took them 40mins to get up and about 50mins to get down (respect respect)
But once up there..... woohoooo, its so beautiful.......... and wild....... you are literally standing on a unpreserved unrestored section of the Wall..... like some of u have said above, one false move left or right and you can kiss your China holiday goodbye
How the old aunties and uncles lug up the heavy drinks and lug them back down EVERYDAY just amaze me ...... these are villagers in their 50s and 60s and they will put any kiddo to shame with their level of fitness. An old auntie in her late 60s once even carried my heavy camera bag and tripod while I struggled empty-handed and decked out in the latest high-tech hiking shoes ....... I was totally put to shame
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Camping or sleeping overnight on the Wall is officially not permitted..... but in spring, especially summertime, it is done.
It helps to to do it with the villagers who ply their trade there.......... they will allow you to stay overnight at their homes at the foot of the hill/mountain for a very small fee OR if you want to overnight ON the wall itself, they will haul up beddings and blankets and food/drinks ....... very very FUN..... they will normally set up at one of the watch towers with an area for beddings and personal belongings.... and depending on wind direction, another area for cooking and after-dinner drinking and story telling parties ...... TOTALLY FUN and very affordable.
On a clear early morning, when you view the section called
Eagle Fly Facing Upwards and the nearby
Heavenly Ladder/Staircase it is absolutely breath-taking and surreal . It NEVER fail to awe inspire me to always think out loud "How on EARTH did they manage to build this mammoth structure on such an impossibly difficult (even to just climb) part of the mountain without modern construction or air-lifting equiptment ????" You just look at the scene before you with mouth wide open.
On a snowy morning with clear skies.... well, you can just imagine..... just prepare to freeze your butt off.
Staying in a villager's home overnight including dinner, loads of the chinese bai jiu liquor and breakfast the next morning cost me and Nokkieg about 300rmb in total last year..... I understand it costs a little more if you want to set up camp on the wall itself.
