We Slept Inside a Great Wall Watchtower: What It Was Really Like
Sleeping on the Great Wall of China was one of the most unusual parts of our China trip. We spent the night in a tent inside a watchtower at Gubeikou with our 6-year-old — and it was more comfortable than I expected.
Yes, we actually slept on the Great Wall of China.
Not at a hotel nearby. Not at a campground overlooking the wall.
Our tent was set up inside a watchtower at Gubeikou, and we spent the night there with our 6-year-old.
The stone tower was more sheltered than I expected, the walls are thick and solid, our guide slept in a separate tent inside the same tower, and during the night we kept hearing what sounded like strong wind or something rushing.
The next morning, we realized it was a river rushing below us.
My phone had also died overnight. By the time I got out of the tent, the sun was already up but still low near the horizon. I grabbed my Insta360, climbed to the next watchtower, then continued onto the exposed stone steps going up the mountain.
That’s where I caught the early morning view.
And somehow, my daughter later came looking for me wearing my Great Wall T-shirt.
That morning ended up being my favorite part of our entire Great Wall trip.
Here’s what sleeping inside a Great Wall watchtower was actually like, including the tent setup, comfort, primitive bathroom situation, safety, what our tour provided, what I’d pack differently, and what it was like doing it with a 6-year-old or kids.
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Can You Sleep on the Great Wall of China?
We did, inside a watchtower at Gubeikou.
Our overnight was arranged in advance through the tour company handling our two-day Great Wall trip. They provided the tent, sleeping bags, transportation, meals and guide.
We did not simply arrive at the Great Wall and pitch a tent.
Camping and overnight access can vary by section and current local rules, so don’t assume that because we did this at Gubeikou, camping is allowed anywhere along the Great Wall.
Confirm the exact overnight location and current arrangements with your tour company before booking.
Where Did We Sleep on the Great Wall?
We slept at Gubeikou, not Jinshanling or Mutianyu.
Our overnight was part of a larger two-day Great Wall trip:
Jinshanling hike → drive to Gubeikou → sleep inside watchtower → early morning on the wall → drive to Mutianyu
We traveled between the sections by road. We did not hike continuously from one to the next.
If you’re interested in our complete route, what we paid and what was included:
2-Day Great Wall of China Itinerary: Jinshanling, Gubeikou & Mutianyu →
This article is specifically about what it was like spending the night inside the watchtower.
How We Arranged the Great Wall Overnight
We booked the overnight as part of our private two-day Great Wall trip.
After finishing our 3–4 hour Jinshanling hike, we returned to the base, took a shower, and then traveled by road to Gubeikou.
Our tour company handled the overnight logistics.
They provided:
- Tent
- Sleeping bags
- Transportation
- Guide
- Dinner
- Breakfast
- Camping setup
That meant we didn’t have to hike Jinshanling carrying a tent and sleeping equipment.
With a 6-year-old, that made a big difference.
Our Tent Was Actually Inside the Watchtower
When someone says they’re going “camping on the Great Wall,” you might picture a tent pitched outside with the wall in the background.
That’s not how ours was set up.
Our tent was inside the stone watchtower.
The tour company provided the tent and sleeping bags. Our guide had his own tent inside the same tower.
The walls were solid and thick, and the tower felt surprisingly sheltered.
It didn’t feel like we were lying completely exposed on top of a mountain.
It felt like camping inside a very old stone room.
Except that room happened to be part of the Great Wall of China.
Was It Comfortable Sleeping in a Great Wall Watchtower?
More than I expected.
The floor was stone, so obviously this wasn’t hotel comfort.
But with the tent and thick sleeping bags, we slept well and warm.
I wouldn’t describe it as luxurious, but I also wouldn’t describe our night as something we had to suffer through just for the experience.
For one night, we were comfortable.
And knowing where we’d be waking up made the basic sleeping setup a pretty fair trade.
What Did It Sound Like at Night?
This is one of the details I remember most.
During the night, we could hear a constant low sound.
It sounded like strong wind — steady and continuous.
We were inside a stone watchtower on the Great Wall, so wind seemed like the obvious explanation.
Then morning came.
I looked out and realized there was a large river rushing below us.
That’s what we’d been listening to.
We hadn’t even known it was there.
Are There Bathrooms When Camping on the Great Wall?
This is one of those details that’s better to know before you book.
Our guide described the bathroom situation at our Gubeikou overnight as “primitive style.”
There wasn’t a normal tourist restroom conveniently located inside the watchtower where we slept.
This isn’t the same bathroom setup you’d expect when visiting a developed tourist section of the Great Wall during the day.
If you’re booking an overnight, ask the tour company specifically:
- What bathroom facilities are available?
- How far are they from the sleeping location?
- Are they accessible during the night?
- What should you expect before and after camp?
We didn’t need luxury for one night, but “primitive style” is something I’d want to know beforehand, especially when traveling with children. But since we had camped at several primitive areas before, it was a non-issue for us.
Did We Feel Safe Sleeping in the Watchtower?
Yes, during our experience we felt safe.
Our guide slept in his own tent inside the same tower, so we weren’t there alone. The thick stone walls also made the sleeping area feel sheltered rather than exposed.
The part that required more caution was moving around the Great Wall itself.
The next morning, I climbed to the second watchtower next to where we slept and then continued onto stone steps climbing farther up the mountain.
Some of those steps had no railing.
The stone was uneven, and there wasn’t always something beside you to hold onto.
Later, my daughter came looking for me, and we went back up together.
If you’re planning to head onto the wall early in the morning, wear shoes with good grip and bring a headlamp or flashlight. Don’t depend entirely on your phone for light or photos.
Mine died overnight.
For more about the physical side of the Great Wall — stairs, steepness, shoes and kids:
[What It’s Really Like to Climb the Great Wall of China →]
What Was It Like Camping on the Great Wall With a 6-Year-Old?
Our daughter handled the overnight well.
In some ways, the camping itself was easier than the Jinshanling hike we’d completed earlier that day.
Once the tent was set up, we weren’t constantly walking or climbing. We could settle in for the night.
The bigger consideration was the terrain outside the sleeping area.
This is still the Great Wall.
There are uneven stones, steep steps and places without railings.
Our experience showed us that an overnight like this can work with a child, but I’d base that decision on your own child rather than age alone.
They need to be comfortable with camping, darkness, basic facilities and walking carefully on uneven terrain.
For whether children can physically handle climbing the Great Wall:
[What It’s Really Like to Climb the Great Wall of China →]
The Morning My Phone Died
My phone died overnight, so there was no alarm waiting to wake me up.
By the time I got outside, the sun was already above the horizon but still low. I grabbed my Insta360 camera and headed up the wall.
I left the watchtower where we had slept and climbed to the top of the second watchtower next to ours. From there, I continued onto the stone steps climbing farther up the mountain.
Some of the steps were steep and uneven, with no railing. I kept going for a while, filming the wall and mountains in the early morning light.
With my phone dead, I was glad I had brought two spare Insta360 batteries. They were the reason I could still capture that morning.
See the Insta360 camera we used →
Catching Sunrise From the Great Wall
I didn’t stay at the watchtower where we slept.
I grabbed my Insta360 and left the watchtower where we had slept. I climbed to the second watchtower next to ours, then continued onto the stone steps going farther up the mountain.
The sun was already above the horizon, but it was still low.
The steps continued upward along the mountain. They were steep and uneven, and sections had no railing.
I continued up to get a better view of the early morning light over the mountains and the Great Wall.
I eventually started heading back down.
That’s when I found my daughter coming up the wall looking for me. She had gotten up, realized I wasn’t there, and put on my Great Wall T-shirt before coming to find me.
So we turned around.
This time, we climbed back up together — toward the second watchtower and onto the mountain steps I’d just come down.
The sun was already up, so we didn’t watch it actually cross the horizon. What we caught was that quiet early morning light over the mountains and the Great Wall.
There were no crowds around us.
Of everything we did on the Great Wall, that morning was my favorite part.
What Should You Pack to Sleep on the Great Wall?
Our tour company provided the major camping equipment, so we didn’t need to bring our own tent or sleeping bags.
Based specifically on our overnight, I’d bring:
- Headlamp or flashlight
- Power bank
- Spare camera batteries
- Light layer for early morning
- Water
- Small snacks
- Small daypack
- Phone/camera
- Personal nighttime essentials
- Comfortable shoes with good grip
Camera Gear We Actually Used
I brought an Insta360 camera for the trip, along with two spare batteries.
The small size made it easy to carry during our Great Wall hikes, but the spare batteries turned out to be more important than I expected.
My phone died during the overnight. The next morning, the Insta360 still had power, so I was able to take it with me when I climbed from our sleeping watchtower to the next watchtower and farther up the mountain.
Our camera gear:
See the Insta360 we used →
If you’re spending a full day hiking or staying overnight, I’d bring a power bank for your phone and spare batteries for any camera you’re depending on. There aren’t convenient charging options once you’re out on the wall.
What I’d Ask Before Booking a Great Wall Overnight
Knowing what I know now, these are the questions I’d ask:
- Exactly where will we sleep?
- Is the tent inside or outside a watchtower?
- Is overnight camping currently permitted at that location?
- Does the guide stay overnight with us?
- Are the tent and sleeping bags included?
- What’s the bathroom situation?
- Are dinner and breakfast included?
- Do we have to carry camping equipment during the hike?
- How do we reach and leave the overnight location?
- What’s the backup plan if the weather turns bad?
I’d specifically ask the bathroom question rather than simply asking whether bathrooms are “available.”
“Available” and “primitive style” can mean very different things.
Sleeping on the Great Wall of China FAQ
Can You Really Sleep on the Great Wall of China?
We did.
Our tent was set up inside a watchtower at Gubeikou as part of a prearranged guided overnight.
That doesn’t mean visitors can camp anywhere along the Great Wall. Rules and access vary by location and can change.
Where Did You Sleep?
Inside a watchtower at Gubeikou.
We did not sleep at Jinshanling or Mutianyu.
Did You Sleep Directly on the Stone Floor?
Our tent was set up on the stone floor, and we slept inside it using sleeping bags supplied by our tour company.
Are There Bathrooms?
Our guide described the bathroom arrangement at our overnight location as “primitive style.”
Don’t expect the same facilities you’d find at a developed Great Wall tourist area.
Ask your tour company exactly what bathroom setup will be available at your specific overnight location.
Was It Cold at Night?
Our overnight was during summer.
The early morning was cooler than daytime, so having a light layer was useful.
Conditions will depend on season and weather.
Was It Scary?
Not for us.
Our guide slept inside the same tower, and the thick stone walls made the space feel sheltered.
The uneven stone, steep steps and no-railing sections required more attention than anything else.
Was It Comfortable?
For camping, yes.
It was still a tent on a stone floor rather than a hotel bed, but we slept well.
Can Kids Sleep on the Great Wall?
Our 6-year-old did and handled the overnight well.
Whether it’s suitable for another child depends on the child, weather, overnight setup and how comfortable they are with camping, basic facilities and uneven terrain.
Do You Need a Guide?
Our overnight was arranged through a tour company familiar with the area, and our guide stayed in the tower with us.
Because overnight rules and access can vary, I’d confirm current arrangements rather than assuming you can independently camp at a particular section.
How Much Did It Cost?
Our watchtower overnight was included in a larger two-day private Great Wall package, so we didn’t pay a separate camping-only price.
For our exact total cost, inclusions and route:
2-Day Great Wall of China Itinerary: Jinshanling, Gubeikou & Mutianyu →
Did You See the Actual Sunrise?
By the time I got out of the tent, the sun was already above the horizon, so we didn’t watch the exact moment it rose.
It was still low near the horizon, and we caught the early morning light from the second watchtower and the steps climbing farther up the mountain.
Is Sleeping on the Great Wall Worth It?
For us, yes.
Not because the tent was special.
Not because sleeping on a stone floor is somehow better than a hotel.
It was worth it because of where we woke up.
Would We Sleep on the Great Wall Again?
Yes.
The hike at Jinshanling was one of our favorite Great Wall experiences, but the overnight gave us something completely different.
At night, we heard a river we didn’t even know was there.
In the morning, my phone was dead.
The sun was already low over the horizon when I headed toward the next watchtower and up the mountain.
My daughter woke up and came looking for me wearing my Great Wall shirt.
So we climbed back up together.
She was six.
She may eventually forget what the tent looked like or what we ate the night before.
But I hope she remembers waking up on the Great Wall and climbing those steps with me that morning.
I know I will.
Plan Your Great Wall Trip
2-Day Great Wall of China Itinerary: Jinshanling, Gubeikou & Mutianyu
Our complete route, cost, transportation, Jinshanling hike and Mutianyu visit.
What It’s Really Like to Climb the Great Wall of China
How difficult it is, what the stairs are like, how long it takes, kids, shoes and choosing a section.
5-Day Beijing Itinerary With Kids
How our Great Wall trip fits into a longer Beijing itinerary.
25 Essential Beijing Travel Tips for First-Time Visitors
Transportation, payments, internet and practical things we learned during our trip.
How to Get Internet in China: SIM, eSIM & VPN Guide
What worked for us when getting online in mainland China.
more china travel guides and tips:
- 2 Day Great Wall of China Itinerary: Jinshanling, Gubeikou & Mutianyu
- How to Pay in China as a Foreigner in 2026: Alipay, WeChat Pay, Cash & Cards
- Jian Guo Garden Hotel Review: Our 2026 Beijing Stay
- 5 Day Beijing Itinerary With Kids: A Practical First-Time Guide
- 25 Essential Beijing Travel Tips for First-Time Visitors
- How to Get Internet in China: SIM, eSIM & VPN Guide (2026)
- We Slept Inside a Great Wall Watchtower: What It Was Really Like
