Jinshanling Great Wall Travel Tips

Jinshanling Great Wall (金山岭长城) is one of the most beautiful Great Wall sections. It was originally built between 1368 and 1389 during the Ming Dynasty and rebuilt in 1570 under the supervision of famous General Qi Jiguang. If you want to see the original status Great Wall from Beijing, this is the best option for you.

Jinshanling Great Wall Coach Tour

If you do not want to arrange transportation yourself, and want to make things easier. You can consider our guided coach tours to Jinshanling Great wall. The tour is daily available and includes hotel pick up and drop off, shared air-con coach, English speaking guide and Chinese lunch. All there are offered at affordable price.

Check the details at: Jinshanling Great Wall Coach Tour– $55/person (Daily available, non-shopping)

How Far is Jinshanling Great Wall from Beijing?

Jinshanling Great Wall is about 140 km northeast of Beijing, about 2.5 hours drive. It is further than other Great Wall sections like Badaling and Mutianyu, but many parts of this section still keep original status of the Great Wall.

How long is Jinshanling Great Wall?

Jinshanling Great Wall is 10.5 km long. It has 31 watchtowers in total, about one every 150 meters. The advised length of hiking is 3-4 hours.

Entrance Tickets and Opening Hours

Entrance fee: RMB65  (April 1 – Oct 31); RMB55 (Nov 1- the next Mar.31)
Opening Hours: March 16- Nov 15 5:00-18:00;   Nov 16 – March 15 9:00-16:00
Cable Car: RMB60 for one way, RMB100 for round way
Service Pone: 0314-8830222

Note: If you want to enter the tourist area the second day with the same ticket, you need to register your fingerprint at the entrance gate.

Best Time to Visit

The best time to visit Jinshanling is from May to October. In one day, the sunrise and sunset present the most amazing scenery.

Advise to avoid China’s following major holidays when there many domestic Chinese tourists on the wall:
National Day Holiday (October 1–7)
Labor Day Holiday (May 1–3)

Jinshanling Great Wall Map

Hiking Routes:

Starting from check-in gate, there are three routes leading to the wall, the first one is at the left side of of the entrance gate, the second one on the left side at next fork, the third path is at the end of the road. Each way takes about 1 hour to the wall on mountain top.

There is also cable car available, it takes about 20 minutes to the mountain top, you can take it if you don’t have confidence in your physical strength.

Most visitors will take cable car to the wall on mountain  top, hike from east to west and walk down from Zhuanduokou. If you want to challenge your physical strength, you can walk up to wall from Zhuanduokou and hike from west to east, walk down from Houchuankou, this way you will find the scenery gradually becomes more wonderful.

Note: The path connecting Jinshanling and Simatai is closed. It is impossible to hike from Jinshanling to Simatai. If you want to visit Simatai, You need to buy ticket from its own ticket office, which is 18 km from Jinshanling.

What to Prepare for Hiking

The steps to the wall are steep and uneven. Hikers need to be in good physical condition.

Advise to wear hiking boots to avoid sprain. Better to take snacks and bottled water to keep your energy.

Take sunglasses and sun cream, and hats during summer. Wear warm clothes and hat if you hike in winter.

Where to Stay

If you are a shutterbug and want to shoot sunset and sunrise, you can choose to stay one night in Jinshan Hotel (金山宾馆) at the foot or cheaper home stay at the entrance.

Staying overnight or sleeping on the wall is not allowed. You can do camping at the foot of the wall. Staying at a local farmer’s house is another alternative.

Where to Eat

Outside the ticket gate there is Jinshan Restaurant （金山餐厅）, which offers local Chinese food.

How to Get to Jinshanling Great Wall

Travelers can take shuttle bus to Jinshanling Great Wall:

1. Holiday Express Bus (Most convenient, weekends & holidays only)

• Route: Beijing Bus Holiday Line 8 (Jinshanling Great Wall Special Line)
• Boarding location: Dongzhimen Wai Bus Station
• Schedule:
  • Departure from Beijing: 8:00
  • Return from Jinshanling: 16:00
• Duration: About 2.5 hours
• Fare: 50 yuan one way
• Note: Runs from Qingming Festival to October 25, only on weekends and public holidays.

2. Intercity Bus + Free Shuttle (Available all year)

• Step 1: Take the Beijing–Luanping intercity bus
  • Boarding: Bus station near Exit B, Wangjing West Station (Subway Line 13)
  • Fare: Around 20–33 yuan
  • Duration: 1.5–2 hours, get off at Jinshanling Service Area
• Step 2: Transfer to the free scenic area shuttle bus to Jinshanling Great Wall
• Shuttle times (service area departure): 10:00, 11:00, 13:00, 15:30
• Return shuttle (scenic area departure): 10:30, 11:30, 13:30, 15:00

3. Private car

4 seats Volkswagen Passat or similar USD170
6 seats Buick Van or similar USD215

Let us know if you have any question about Jinshanling Great Wall. Leave your comment below and we will answer your question as soon as possible.

Video of Jinshanling Great Wall