Jinshanling

In my personal opinion, this is by far the most under-rated scenic spots in and around Beijing area. First, it is well connected with super highway only 2.5 hour drive from the downtown. Not like the other section, which is even more popular known as Mutianyu, 50% is super highway, the other half is normal state road, with many stop lights and intersections. Although it is much closer to the city, facting the time of traffic it normally takes the same time to get there. So although Jinshanling is even further but it takes almost the same time. Second, the wall here are roughly half repaired the other half as original. By law and national protection regulations, the most authentic Great Wall near Beijing area you can see which opened as a scenic spot. Third, 金山岭大酒店, Jinshanling Great Wall hotel, located less than 100m away from the west entrarea of the scenic spot, western standard 4-5 star hotel rooms, it also offers individual private courtyards with multiple rooms for family. Last but not least, it is much much less crowded than the other sections of the Great Wall. So if you really want the climbing/walking/exploring experience, this is the best place you should be heading for.

‘A must visit if you want peace and quietness while exploring the great wall’ After considering many parts of the Chinese Wall, I decided to go the Jinshangling part. Getting there is confusing. I took a bus from Beijing to Luanping and then a taxi (DiDi). Be careful to check the destination. I accidentally put the destination at Jinshanling highway resting area and lost almost 1 hour searching for the main entrance….I got to the entrance at around 230PM. Which made me decide to not take the last bus back to Beijing (at Luanping terminal at around 3PM) Fortunately this did mean I had most parts of the wall for myself since most visitors go there during the morning ! The weather was amazing with clear skies and sunny weather. The Jinshaling was the highlight of my China trip! Be mindful that if you miss the last bus from Luanping to Beijing, you need to get a taxi to the nearest train station (Miyun) instead of Beijing. You can then take a train or another taxi back to Beijing. It took me some time to get a taxi (30minutes), so patience is required 😝

Long before I started travelling I was dreaming of the Great Wall. Here it became reality and it didn‘t let me down. Good mix of restored and original sections. Beautiful views of the autumn coloured surrounding landscape. Less people due to a longer journey from Bejing.

Climbed Simatai Great Wall a day earlier and found Jinshangling Great Wall to be much easier. The view was magnificent and it was crowd was less during March period.

Visited late Nov2023. Though it’s 2.5 hours away from Beijing, worth the journey. Combined with day trip to gubei / Beijing water town. Beautiful, serene, peaceful and pretty much had the wall to ourselves. Sense of history and wilderness all at once. Takes a bit of effort to ascend to the wall but once up there - the hike was not strenuous at all (for middle aged office-bound folks who aren’t exercise buffs). Hiked from Houchuankou to General Tower in ~2.5 to 3 hours with plenty of photo stops. Got there via private car hire - driver took us all the way to the start of hiking trail at base of the wall (else there will be another 1-2km walk from entrance of Jinshanling complex to get there)

Great part to visit of the great wall. This is approx a 2,5 h drive from central Beijing but totally worth it. Not nearly as many people as the easier connected parts. When you get up, just keep walking and soon you will have a whole section to your self with fantastic views. 10/10 Would recommend!

The Jinshanling Great Wall was built in the Ming Dynasty, listed in the third batch of national key cultural relics protection units in 1988. Jinshanling Great Wall is a national-level scenic spot and a national 5A-level tourist attraction as well at this moment! The emergence of the Great Wall allows us to see the buildings of human civilization from satellites. The greatness of the Great Wall allows us to imagine the historical trajectory of national struggle in the past. The establishment of the Great Wall let the world see the blood and tears of the Chinese nation in pursuit of survival and the greatness of the nation. You! You must visit here in person, walk on this mottled city wall, step on this collapsed mausoleum line, feel the greatness of this time and space, this world, this nation, feel all the scenery, and experience this boundless vastness. It is not in vain this life!

WOW.. what incredible views.. best place to see Great wall . around 80 kms away from Beijing. booked a private van with some friends and reached the ticket office in 2 hrs.. there were very few tourists and the sight is insanely beautiful.. we met a really cute dog who hiked with us all the way... Loved it