Great Wall of China at Jiankou

Jiankou, for the right type of trekker, is the tops as far as the Great Wall goes. It's not as accessible or manageable as group-tour magnets like Badaling, but for anyone willing to hike and climb over some rough patches, the payoff is huge: Incredible views of China's most iconic attraction as it snakes its way up and down rocky peaks in all its ancient, crumbling glory.

There are no restorations here, nor are there souvenir vendors (yet) or gaggles of matching-hat-wearing retirees led by bored bullhorn-wielding guides. Instead, it's all wall and a sense of wild openness rare so close to Beijing. Indeed, it's not hard to imagine that just to the north, behind the next peak, perhaps, barbarians are encamped and ready to take a crack at the empire. At least it's not hard until you look a bit closer and note that a large tree has split the Wall before you and that the impressive guard tower ahead is collapsing into rubble on one side.

It's a day trip at least, requiring van or bus transportation from Beijing to Huairou (the administrative center of Huairou County) and further transportation to Jiankou village, where you can arrange to stay overnight.

From the village, the wall runs east and west, and both directions are worth pursuing. Go roughly 30 km to the east, and you'll arrive at the Mutianyu Great Wall. Head the other way, and the Huanghua Great Wall awaits.