<p style="text-align: left;" align="center"><a href="http://ltl-chinois.fr/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/eleanor-test.jpg"><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-2422" title="eleanor-test" alt="" src="http://ltl-chinois.fr/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/eleanor-test.jpg" width="200" height="300" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>See the Real Wall</strong></span></p>
 Don’t feel like following the millions of package tourists to the official tourism sections of the Great Wall, that come fully equipped with souvenir shops, cable cars, slides and car parks the size of a football stadium, all built around a newly “renovated” section of the wall?

Let LTL show you the Wild Wall.

We will take you to the remote Xi Shui valley, where the wall is just like it has been for hundreds of years, crumbling on the top of steep and inaccessible mountains, surrounded by forest and wilderness.

Instead of tourist restaurants we eat and stay in the little farming villages around it with plenty of opportunities to use your language and explorer skills.

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[toggle title="Read a review of the Great Wall Trip"]

<a href="http://ltl-chinois.fr/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/IMG_0022SMALL.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-3446" title="IMG_0022SMALL" alt="" src="http://ltl-chinois.fr/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/IMG_0022SMALL-300x225.jpg" width="300" height="225" /></a>I really enjoyed the great wall trip.  It was one of the highlights of my trip to Beijing.  My favorite parts were exploring the wild wall the first day and eating the amazing dinner that night.

I really appreciated staying in a place far from tourists, and loved that after we started hiking up the mountain, we didn’t see any other tourists.  I had so much fun exploring the great wall, and was glad that we were able to take a different route down.   I wish I had had even more time to explore the wall.  One suggestion: start out a little earlier in the day, ask the hotel people to pack a lunch, and then carry it up the mountain and eat on the great wall.   Picnics are fun.

As for the food, I just loved the dinner we had (and the breakfast was simple but tasty).  I really liked that we were eating vegetables grown very close by.  I also liked how vegetable-heavy the meal was.  The lunch on the first day was good, but didn’t stand out to me.  I did really enjoy getting to gut a fish, and watching the man butcher the rabbit was a unique and interesting experience.  He, along with everyone we met on the trip, was friendly and accommodating.

While I didn’t enjoy the great wall the second day quite as much as I did the first day (mostly because of the tourists), I’m still very glad we went.  It was nice to see what the wall was like when it was whole.  And, I went into the wild, non-tourist sections again so I got to explore the wild wall some more.  Ellen was absolutely right to have us get up early to beat the crowds.  When I was coming down, I noticed how many people were around.  I do wish I could have had an hour or two more there since two hours felt a little rushed.  Also, we passed a pick your own fruit orchard.  I would have enjoyed stopping there briefly, but I don’t feel strongly about this.

Ellen was a fantastic trip leader.  She hiked up the mountain even though it was an arduous trip, and she was very patient when we wanted more time to explore.  She asked us our preferences and was flexible when we suggested a change of plans.  The trip was very well planned and ran smoothly.  I would recommend this trip to anyone.  I had a wonderful time and am so glad I got to experience the great wall in this way!

[This review was contributed by LTL student Eleanor.]

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<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://ltl-chinois.fr/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/wall-small-3.jpg"><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-3447" title="wall-small-3" alt="" src="http://ltl-chinois.fr/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/wall-small-3.jpg" width="600" height="450" /></a>Overview</span></strong>

<span style="font-size: medium;"><strong>Schedule:</strong></span>

<strong>Saturday:</strong>

-  depart at 9:00am from the LTL school

-  11:00 we arrive at a 农家院 (farm house)  have a traditional country side lunch together and explore the village

-  14:00 start the hike to the wall (15 minutes to the first watch tower)

-  we get back at about 17:00 to have dinner at a local farm.

<strong>Sunday:</strong>

-  breakfast 9:30—10:30

-  10:30 departure and visit Hongluo temple

-  13:00 return to Beijing

-  15:00 arrival Beijing

<strong>Notes:</strong>

1)  Please wear appropriate shoes and clothing.
2) Bring a raincoat in case of rain.
3) Please bring take your fully charged mobile phone.
4) Accommodation is at a local farm with guest rooms, all rooms are singles with private bathroom

<strong>Availability:</strong> every month from March – October

<strong>Cost:</strong>       1.000RMB/person, including accommodation, transport, guide, food and entrance tickets

Book and pay with your Chinese language course and receive a <strong>10% Discount</strong>

This is not a mass tourism event, so <strong>places are limited.</strong> If you want to go, please [button color=red url=http://ltl-chinois.fr/contact-us/ target=self]Sign up[/button] early.