Jinshanling Great Wall
Jinshanling Great Wall has been restored for easier climb. Visitors can hike all the way from Jinshanling to Simatai west. The Great Wall at Jinshanling has complete defensive system including barrier walls, battlement walls, watchtowers, gun emplacements, shooting holes, horse blocking walls, and branch cities. It is known as the 'paradise of photographer'. Located about 130 kilometers (80 miles) northeast of Beijing downtown, visitors can take a bus nearby Wangjing West Subway Station to get there.
Jinshanling Great Wall, Beijing |
Basic Facts of Jinshanling Great Wall
It was constructed under the direction of general Xu Da in 1368 during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), and renovated under the supervision of the great general Qi Jiguang and the local governor Tan Lun in 1567.
It zigzags from Longyu Pass in the west, and ends at the Wangjing Tower in the east, with a total length of 10.5 kilometers (6.5 miles), a height of 5 meters (16 feet) to 8 meters (26 feet), and an altitude of 700 meters (2,297 feet) above sea level.
It has 67 watchtowers, 3 beacon towers, and 5 passes. They are densely distributed, at intervals of 50 meters (55 yards) to 100 meters (110 yards).
The watchtowers differ in construction materials, the number of tiers, and the patterns of roofs. Some of them are made of bricks and wood, while others are made of bricks and stone. Some has one storey, while others have two or three. The roofs of the watchtowers also vary, including domes, flat roofs, square ones, and octagonal ones.
Opening Hours | April to October: 6:00 - 18:00 November to March: 6:00 - 17:30 |
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Admission Fee | April to October: CNY 65 November to March: CNY 55 Free for children under 1.2 meters (3.9 feet). Second entry: Jinshanling Great Wall is free of charge for the second entry, which means you can enter the scenic area for twice from the time when you buy the tickets to the closing time the next day. If you want a second entry, please explain in advance when purchasing tickets and buy the fingerprint ticket. Register your fingerprint at the ticket gate and verify the fingerprint when entering for the second time. |
General Tower
Small Jinshan Tower
Big Jinshan Tower
Bricks with Characters
Kylin Screen Wall
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How to Tour Jinshanling Great Wall
From November 16th to March 15th, visitors are not allowed to enter from the East Gate and only the Front Gate is available, but they can still exit from the East Gate before 15:00.
The Front Gate is closer to famous watchtowers like General Tower, Small Jinshan Tower and Big Jinshan Tower, hence more popular among visitors.
If you don't want to climb, a cable car is available from the Front Gate to Small Jinshan Tower. A single ride takes about 16 minutes.
Schedule of the Cableway | 8:00- 17:30 |
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Fee of the Cableway | CNY 40 for a single trip CNY 60 for round-way ticket |
Jinshanling Great Wall Map |
Recommended Jinshanling Great Wall Hiking Routes
Route 2: You may also start from Zhuanduokou Pass, via General Tower and Shalingkou Pass, to Small Jinshan Tower. After that, you may take a cable car down the mountain. The distance is about 4 km (2.5 miles), and it takes about 2 hours to complete the hiking.
Route 3: Start hiking from Zhuanduokou Pass, via General Tower, Shalingkou Pass, Small and Big Jinshan Towers to Houchuankou Pass. The whole journey is about 5 km (3 miles), and it takes hikers around 3 hours to finish it. After the visit, you may go down the mountain from Jinshan Horse Track.
Route 4: Start hiking from Shalingkou Pass, and go by Small and Big Jinshan Tower, Houchuankou Pass, Eastern Five-window Tower, bricks with characters, and Kylin Screen Wall. Finally, you may go down the mountain and exit through the east gate. The route is about 7km (4 miles), and it takes about 4 hours to complete.
When is the Best Time for a Visit?
How to Get To Jinshanling Great Wall from Downtown Beijing
→ Take bus no. 858 to Luanping Coach Station. The bus departs from 07:00 to 16:30 with an interval of about an hour; ticket fare for a single trip is CNY 33, and it takes about 2 hours on the way. The bus returns from 06:30 and 16:00, also with a frequency of about an hour.
→ After arriving at Luanping Coach Station, hire a cab to Jinshanling Great Wall directly, costing CNY 40-60 and taking around half an hour..
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Jinshanling Great Wall Marathon
See detailed Great Wall Marathon
Where to Stay and Eat
There are some restaurants near the Front Gate, where you can taste some local delicacies.
Further Reading:
Simatai to Jinshanling Great Wall Hiking
Jinshanling to Simatai Great Wall Hiking
6 Best Places to See Great Wall of China
8 Interesting Places in Beijing You May Not Know
12 Best Places to Visit near Beijing
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We are planning to get the 8am bus from Beijing to Jinshanling on Sunday then hike from Jinshanling to Gubeikou. Once there take the minivan (or a taxi/didi) to Gubei water town and spend the night there. Does this seem feasible to you? How long would the hike take for 2 fit people?
Thanks for your help!
While at Wangjing West Station there are buses every hour starting at 7 but I didn't understand the route these buses take. I read that after an hour and a half they drop you off at a rest area and from there you take a shuttle bus to the wall. Would it be possible to know what is the exact route regarding this choice?
Thanks a lot.
On weekdays you can take a train from Beijing North, Qinghe or Changping North Railway Station to Gubeikou, then take a taxi to Jinshanling.