Airbnb has announced a first of its kind overnight experience on the Great Wall of China. This September, four lucky winners will each be one of the first people in thousands of years to spend the night on the Great Wall of China in a custom-designed home situated along the ancient portion of the wall. This unprecedented level of access will showcase the Great Wall to the world and promote sustainable tourism to China by spotlighting wide-ranging efforts to preserve the Wall’s deep heritage and bring Chinese culture to life.
Known as one of the greatest architectural feats in human history, the Great Wall was built as a border to protect Chinese states against raids thousands of years ago. Today, it is widely considered to be one of the seven wonders of the modern world, bringing visitors from all walks of life together.
“It’s been an honor to work with historians and preservationists groups in Beijing to bring this once-in-a-lifetime experience to the world,” said Nathan Blecharczyk, Co-Founder and Chairman of Airbnb China. “We are so proud to partner in this truly collective effort to highlight such an incredible landmark that now serves to unify people rather than divide them.”
High above the ground, guests will enter their one-of-a-kind modern bedroom created within a centuries-old tower perched along the Wall with 360-degree views offering the perfect vantage point to see the moon and stars. At sunset, guests will enjoy an intimate gourmet dinner with multiple courses, each representing a different aspect of Chinese culture. Dinner will be accompanied by a traditional Chinese music experience , which is bookable year-round for all travelers to China.
Following an evening under the stars, guests will embark on a sunrise hike through China’s breathtaking countryside while learning about the Great Wall, its heritage, history and protection efforts from the Wall’s official historians. During the stay, each winner will also have a chance to get hands-on with some of the most celebrated aspects of Chinese culture through additional Airbnb Experiences currently on the platform, such as making their own personal stamp by learning Chinese seal-engraving or learning calligraphy on Chinese traditional fans during a personal Chinese calligraphy course.
The Great Wall represents more than 2,600 years of history, spanning 21,000 kilometres across Earth. It was a border that now brings millions together each year to marvel at the one of the greatest architectural feats in human history. What if this world wonder was a place you could call home? To enter, for a chance to win, all you have to do is send a response, answering why you think it is more important now than ever to break down barriers between cultures and how you want to build new connections. Enter by 11:59 PM (Beijing time zone/GMT+8) August 11, 2018 on the listing page for the Great Wall on Airbnb. Winners will be flown in from anywhere in the world.