Off the wall

Mighty and shrouded in history, China's best-known attraction tends to loose its splendor after its myths crumble and we're taken to see every section with every new friend and relative visiting Beijing. It turns out the biggest man-made fortification in the world isn't visible from space, isn't actually a single continuous structure and, despite its size and height, was unable to protect the Celestial Empire from barbarian invasions. The best way to restore the wonder over the local landmark is to venture beyond the typical tourist haunts and discover the hidden wonders that make China's stone barrage a World Cultural Heritage site. Now that spring has arrived, here are our top three suggestions to discover the wild side of the wall.

Sidecar the wall

Charming and cheeky, hopping into a vintage sidecar motorbike to drive up to the Great Wall has a hint of black and white movie meets Indiana Jones thrill, and is as adventurous as it is romantic.

You'll go past the crowds and the traffic to ride through the mountains and villages. You'll get to see the Silver Pagodas and stop at the crest of the wall for a homemade picnic and a glass of wine. Along the way, the experienced driver-guide will tell you the historical facts and interesting tales about the iconic landmark. On the return, there's one last stop for a dinner at some hidden restaurant serving local delicacies that one would never find otherwise.

About 3,000 people, Beijingers and overseas visitors, praise the activity as fun, safe and family-friendly. Beijing Sideways has been organizing these tours to the roads less traveled around the wall and within the city since 2007. "Our drivers are all long-time sidecar riders. We have never had any accident with our bikes, but we always recommend that our passengers wear helmets (that we provide); we only accept one passenger per motorbike on the Great Wall tours, so they can relax comfortably in the sidecar and even take a nap on the way back," explained Gael Thoreau, managing director of Beijing Sideways.

Wild Great Wall tour costs 2,000 yuan ($317) per person and includes lunch (one passenger per bike only).

Visit www.beijingsideways.com for more info or call Thoreau directly on 139-1103-4847.

Ride the wall

Riding a horse around the wild area of the Great Wall is the way to travel back in time and get a taste of what life was like in the days of feudal conflicts and barbarian invasions. The tour starts with a horse ride through grasslands and into the village farms and local farmers' courtyards. You'll get fresh fruit picked from trees and enjoy a typical lunch of barbecue fish and wild vegetables in the company of local people. This time of the year you'll be able to ride the green pastures and watch swallows in their love nests, which makes this one-day tour a lovely escape from the city. The riding pace speeds up on the way to the wall and you can take a climbing and hiking amble along unrestored sections of the wall for extra excitement.

Since Personalized Tour & Play (PTP) Club started organizing these tours three years ago, about 300 explorers have taken a ride to the wall. Horses belong to local farmers and are meek. "The horseback riding is safe for beginners, as well as experienced riders. We usually arrange for a local farmer to lead the horse for the inexperienced riders," confirmed George Xu, the organizer.

Unlike most Chinese tours running on tight schedules, you can customize your trip in terms of schedule, tour length and activities. "What I do is tailor our service to the visitor's needs and try to make everybody happy," said Xu.

Talk to Xu if you're interested in other activities such as overnight trips to the wall, a home stay with local farmers or an escape to Longqing Gorge Park for bungee jumping, zip lining and rock climbing.

Horseback riding tours usually run on Sundays, starting early at 9 am and bringing visitors back to town around 7 pm. The 400 yuan fee per person includes guide service, transportation, lunch, horse riding and climbing. Discounts are available for group tours.

Call Xu at 136-9302-6428 or email ptpclubchina@gmail.com or voipxu@yahoo.com.cn.

Sleep on the wall

The overnight trip to the wall is the only option available for those who want to watch the sun slip beneath the rugged hills north of Beijing and catch its first rays when it rises the next day over the wall. While camping isn't for everybody, the overnight trips to the wall are a laid back and group-friendly idea. The Happy Dragon Hostel organizes these tours to leave downtown at 2 pm. Arrival at the Great Wall happens around 4:30 and dinner takes place at 5:30 at one of the villages near the Great Wall. The 1.5 hour stroll is a time to indulge in the scenery. At around 8 visitors reach the camp tower to watch the sunset and revel in a barbecue party. Curfew is at 10 pm because campers are back on their feet at 4:45 am to see the sunrise. The second stretch of the hike down the wall starts at 6:30 am.

Tours should be booked two days in advance and for a minimum number of four people. The trip costs 450 yuan, including transport, tickets, tents, sleeping bags, guide, dinner and breakfast. The barbecue on the Great Wall includes meat and beer.

Call 8402-5715/8401-5584 for details.

Also check

Visit Beijing Hikers at www.beijinghikers.com for information on regular hiking tours that go to unrestored sections of the wall. Beijing Hikers' service is impeccable, the website is comprehensive and the experienced staff will be able to inform you fully. Check the difficulty level of the hike before making your reservation.

The Wild Wall at www.wildwall.com allows you to experience the wall by visiting farmhouses or camping on weekends or longer tours in the company of William Lindesay, who makes presentations on his adventures, research and the wall's facts and history.