4 Wild & Remote Great Wall Homestays
By Dominique Wong
Want to get away this summer? Try a Great Wall homestay. Airbnb has loads of accommodation options – check out our pick of the best.
1. Hatchery by the Great Wall
Not content with throwing pop-ups and incubating food concepts, Beijing-based Hatchery is now offering homestays at its Great Wall holiday home. The property features a courtyard, three bedrooms (beds for 6 people), BBQ, wifi, kitchen and vegetable patch. All you have to do is sit back and relax in the beautiful surrounds. Transportation to and from the house can be provided.
RMB387+ per night; Search "半山山居长城山景房 Greatwall Resort" in Airbnb.
2. Great Wall Fresh
Located in Chenjiapu village in Hebei, Great Wall Fresh is a restaurant, guesthouse and “the Chen family’s country home.” The property also includes a farm with plenty of pesticide-free produce. Healthy home-cooked meals, check. Plus, as it’s a pretty remote destination, expect undisturbed trails covering ramshackle areas of the Wall – and with members of the Chen family on hand to guide.
RMB40 per night (incl. breakfast); www.greatwallfresh.com (contact via chxiyuan@sina.com or 138 1028 4682)
3. The Barracks
The Barracks is the home of William Lindesay, scholar and explorer of The Great Wall (he coined the term the ‘Wild Wall’), and includes nine guest rooms. Visitors can enjoy a range of trips to unrestored sections of the Wall, described as ‘back to basics luxury,’ which include guided walks and home-cooked meals. Located in Huairou district, the house is right on the steps of the Wall.
WildWall weekends (Fri evening-Sun lunchtime) are USD550 per person; www.wildwall.com (contact via william@ wildwall.com)
4. Half-Mountain Resort
An Airbnb favorite (5 stars!), Half-Mountain Resort, located near the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall, houses six people in three bedrooms. Expect basic amenities such as heating, wifi, washer and breakfast, as well as bonuses like a hot tub and on-site parking. Aside from hiking, visitors can also take part in a dyeing and weaving workshop (book in advance).
RMB388+ per night; www.airbnb.com/rooms/13006111
For more Beijing news, click "Read more" below.