See China like a true explorer

Off the beaten path adventure -

China’s economy is growing fast, and so is its tourism industry. This does not only result in an increase in domestic tourism, also inbound tourism is growing rapidly. More and more people choose the country as their travel destination. On the list of the world’s top tourism destinations, China has reached third place. You can read more on the subject in China’s booming economy. Touristic spots are crowded, entree fees can be high and your ‘authentic China’ experience can get spoilt because of this. If you’re traveling to China, chances are high you’re interested in experiencing ancient China. There is a tour-operator in Beijing that provides this to the adventurous and true explorer: Dandelion Hiking.

China in the old days
Most visitors to China do not escape their own fantasies about ancient China. A time in history when dynasties flourished, bronze artifacts were of special importance and gorgeous pottery was made. A time when – from 11.000 B.C. – the future was predicted through the use of so called oracle bones, bones from animals which were inscripted with Chinese signs. A time when emperor Qin Shi Huangdi had his terracotta army of horses and warriors made to guard his future tomb.

Dandelion Hiking: for dreamers that seek unique places
Dandelion Hiking is focussed on providing travelers an authentic China experience. Their website describes their business as follows: Dandelion Hiking is for dreamers who enjoy exploration and adventure in all four seasons. They stay away from the metropolitan areas and fancy resorts; instead they set off to seek unique places, where the population is scattered and the modern world forgotten. There are no tours of the Forbidden City, capital museum or Terracotta Warriors. Instead we leave the beaten track in search for real culture and nature. The trails you hike are what they always have been without human restoration.

Small group exploration
My personal experience with this organisation is positive. We left Beijing in a group of 5 people, including the local guide. She brought us by public transport to a place where we hopped on a minivan that dropped us at a part of the great wall of China that is not visited by tourists. Before we started climbing to the top, we had a tasty lunch in a local eatery where tourists are a rare species. The simple, but tasteful dishes provided us with the right energy we needed when climbing and hiking the wall for a few hours. The sensation of hiking on top of a piece of the great wall of China that is untouched, well preserved and deserted is thrilling and the experience is unique. We found our way back through the Chinese mountains and farmgrounds, which was a tiny adventure on its own!

The owners, Heidi from Inner Mongolia, China and Fred from Belgium are knowledgeable and very approachable and act out their profession with the right passion.

Check their website for more information and the area they cover and check their agenda for upcoming hiking trips!