Jinshanling Great Wall Hiking

Jinshanling Great Wall is one of the finest examples of its kind in the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644), with the most complex construction and the densest towers. Due to its remote location in the deep mountains, it has not been greatly damaged and has basically maintained its original appearance more than 600 years ago, with a total length of 10.5 km (6.5 miles), 5 passes, 67 watch towers, and 3 beacon towers. Rated by National Geographic as the most beautiful stretch of the Great Wall of China, it is also the most preferred spot for photographers. Compared with more famed sections such as Badaling and Mutianyu, the Jinshanling is more niche and therefore relatively less visited. Enter before 8:30 in the morning, and you’ll find that the whole Great Wall is so quiet as if it only belongs to you.

● Basic Facts of Jinshanling

	Mar.16 - Nov.15 (high season)	Nov.16 - Mar.15 (low season)
Entrance Fee	CNY 65	CNY 55
Opening Hours for Middle Gate	04:00 - 18:30	06:00 - 17:00
Opening Hours for East Gate	08:30 - 17:00	09:30 - 15:30
Opening Hours for West Gate	09:00 - 17:00	09:30 - 15:30

* The ticket can be purchased on the Jinshanling Great Wall WeChat Official Account (Chinese version only) using Wechat payment or on site.

● Best Time to Visit: April, May, September and October
Especially in early April, apricot trees all over the mountains are in bloom. The sea of pink and white flowers and the winding Great Wall made of blue bricks complement each other, forming one of the most spectacular spring paintings of northern China. Also, various cultural activities will be held here, such as a Chinese traditional-style clothing show, allowing you to immerse yourself in the endless charm of the Jinshanling Great Wall.How to get to Jinshanling?
Public transportation to Jinshanling, about 130 kilometers from downtown Beijing, is not very convenient actually as it either has few choices or requires many transfers. Here are two common ways:

● S5 Train
Starting from Beijing North Railway Station, it takes about 2.5 hours and cost CNY 12 to Gubeikou Station, and then take a 20-minute taxi to Jinshanling Great Wall for CNY 40 - 50.

Beijing North Railway Station → Gubeikou Station

Train No.	Departure - Arrival	Travel Time
S501	06:57 - 09:23	2h26min
S503	14:19 - 16:50	2h31min

Gubeikou Station → Beijing North Railway Station

Train No.	Departure - Arrival	Travel Time
S502	10:00 - 12:29	2h29min
S504	17:20 - 19:52	2h32min

● Tourist Bus
Set off from Dongzhimen Public Transport Hub at 08:00 and arrive about 2 hours later. At 16:00, get on the bus in the parking lot of the scenic area and return to the downtown area. It costs CNY 160 for a round trip and CNY 100 for a single trip.

* Note that the tourist bus runs only on weekends and public holidays.

Although Jinshanling can also be reached by city bus, it requires multiple transfers and takes about 4 hours in total, so it is not recommended.

Highlights along Jinshanling Hiking Route
Hiking Route: Middle Gate - Zhuanduokou Pass - General Tower - Shalingkou Pass - Small Jinshan Tower - Big Jinshan Tower - Houchuankou Pass - East Five-window Tower - East Gate
Hiking Duration: 3-4.5 hours
Difficulty: ★★★☆☆
Scenery: ★★★★★
What to prepare: non-slip sneakers, windbreaker jacket, sunglasses or hats

At the Middle Gate of the Jinshanling Great Wall, you can opt to take a shuttle for CNY 10 one way to the Ticket Check instead of walking for about half an hour. If you want to buy a round-trip ticket, it will cost CNY 20. Next, follow the signs and go through a short section of concrete road to the Zhuanduokou Pass, where your sight will be first caught by a large statue of a man on horseback with a sword. It is Qi Jiguang, a well-known general who was indispensable to the construction history of the Great Wall in the Ming Dynasty. Going up the steps, the Great Wall sneaking along with the undulating mountains can be seen, which is like a giant lying dragon. Passing by lots of shooting and loop holes with various kinds of designs, such as peach, sagittate and zigzag shapes, you’ll come to the East Terrance. Surprisingly, here you can overlook the opposite West Terrance, where a Chinese stunt actor Mr. Ke Shouliang once flew over this wall by motorcycle in 1992. Proceed towards the General Tower, the command center at ancient times, which is now the best place to photograph the sunrise, sunset, and the sea of clouds. Along the way, prepare to be awestruck by some brick fences about 2 meters (7 feet) high, known as the Barrier Wall, which are tiered screens with several holes for observation and shooting built to prevent enemies from storming the wall and seizing the strategic watchtowers. Don’t forget to capture your amazing moments in this popular photo area.

Continue east past the Shalingkou Pass, and you’ll see the Small Jinshan Tower “beckons” to you ahead. Take the opportunity to appreciate the magnificent panoramic view of the Jinshanling Great Wall here. The towering Big Jinshan Tower is striking in that its construction materials like rafters, eaves and windows of the upstairs building are made of special durable bricks that resemble wood, which looks very delicate. Between Houchuankou Pass and the East Five-window Tower, pay close attention to the flank walls, on which there are many precious inscribed bricks indicating when and by which the military team built it. It offers valuable proof for the research of this defense miracle. Also worth mentioning is the brick-and-wood Black Tower with three floors. On the ground floor, you’ll find a narrow underground passage that provides direct access to the middle and upper floors. It is said that the door on the ground floor would be locked during the war, and even if it was broken through, soldiers on the middle and upper floors could still shoot the enemies from a commanding position. Finally, descend the wall and end your exciting hike at the East Gate.● Alternative Hiking Options:
If you don’t want the hiking tour too tiring, such as you may be a family with children, perhaps stop your hike at Small Jinshan Tower, which is the most popular route that contains the essence of the Great Wall scenery. Or stop at the Houchuankou Pass, where you have already passed through all the photo-friendly parts.

● Cableway
There is a cableway available here, and it takes about 20 minutes from the station near the Middle Gate to the Small Jinshan Tower. Notice that it stops the service at 16:30 every day. However, its carriages are a bit worn out, with aging glass obscuring for viewing or photographing. Plus it runs relatively slowly, so it's not recommended unless you are in poor physical fitness.
* Ticket Price for Your Reference:
Single trip per person: CNY 40
Round trip per person: CNY 60

● Memo on Food and Accommodation
You are advised to have a big breakfast before you leave for Jinshanling and pack some snacks like compressed biscuits, bread, or burgers to help you replenish energy when doing the hike on the Great Wall. At the foot of the Wall, there is a small commercial strip with a few restaurants for you to reach some simple home-made dishes, such as the Peach Spring Girl Restaurant, where the average cost per person is around CNY 55 (USD 7.5). If you are interested, you can also stay for the night in nearby hotels or farmhouses. Additionally, perhaps get to the paid campsite for entertainment.

► Dinner Suggestion in Downtown Beijing:
Regarding Beijing cuisine, the world-renowned Peking Duck always tops the list. When you are back in town, perhaps give the celebrated brand Big Pear Roast Duck a try, which has been in business for nearly 30 years and has risen to prominence in Beijing for its affordable price and authentic taste. In addition to the signature roast duck, you can also find a variety of home-cooked dishes with both traditional and creative flavors from all its 69 branches, of which the Yabao Road branch, about a 15-minute taxi ride from the Forbidden City, might be the most convenient one. The restaurant has a quiet ambiance, with elegant music and a murmur of the water from a large fishpond. In such an environment, relishing the glossy tender duck meat, shredded cucumber and scallion wrapped in thin rice paper coated with secret toppings, is the ultimate sensory enjoyment!
Average cost per person: CNY 90 (USD 12)
Address: 1F, No.6, Yabao Building, Yabao Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing

We do hope that you can find something useful for yourself from the above information. Since the difficulties in transportation of your self-guided trip to Jinshanling, which is really far off from the urban area, can not be ignored, it’s better to consider our personalized Jinshanling Great Wall Beijing tour with private transfers, which can save you from a lot of unnecessary hassle. Want a campsite BBQ dinner after the hike as well? We can also arrange it for you and then return to the downtown the next day. Of course, if you are interested in other sections of the Great Wall in Beijing like Badaling, or other city highlights like the Forbidden City, also feel free to contact our travel consultants to craft the itineraries to your satisfaction.