Jinshanling Great Wall-map/opening hours/how to get there
Jinshanling Great Wall is the most beautiful Great Wall section. The wall is best preserved while keeping much of its original features. If you are looking for a not-so-challenging Great Wall authentic experience, the Jinshanling Great Wall is your best choice.
Quick Facts About Jinshanling Great Wall
- Name in Chinese: Jīn shān lǐng 金山岭
- Opening Hours: 6:30-17:30 from November 16th to March 15th; 6:00-18:00 from March 16th to November 15th
- Ticket Price: RMB 65 for adults; RMB 32 for students
- Location: Luanping County, Chengde City, Hebei Province
How Tall is the Jinshanling Great Wall
Jinshanling stands at an altitude of 700 meters. After climbing the mountain, you can see the Simatai Reservoir in the east and Miyun Reservoir in the south. The total length of Jinshanling is about 15 kilometers, and the height of the wall is about 7 meters, with a width of 5 meters. Five horses can run abreast on the wall.
Can you Walk From Jinshanling to Simatai
Jinshanling and Simatai sections of the Great Wall are 6 kilometers apart. Although the Jinshanling section is in sight from the Simatai section, the open sections of the two scenic spots are not connected and there is a river in between, making it impossible to walk there.
But if you want to challenge yourself by hiking from Jinshanling Great Wall to Simatai, you can book a Simatai to Jinshanling Great Wall Hiking Group Tour. It will be safer to start the journey with your friends.
Highlights of the Great Wall
The name Jinshanling Great Wall was derived from Big and Small Jinshanling, the land formations on which the wall was built. There are sixty-seven towers on the Jinshanling and the most famous part you should not miss.
Fairy Tower
The Fairy Tower is the most beautiful tower on the Jinshanling section of the Great Wall. It gives people a feeling of delicacy and refinement, making you feel that it is not a defensive facility in war, but a pavilion like a fairyland.
Storage Tower
The Storage Tower is a defensive facility of the Great Wall and also the third line of defense. When enemies invade and the defense is overwhelmed, the soldiers can quickly retreat to the Storage Tower to continue fighting.
Golden Mountain Tower
The Jinshanling section of the Great Wall has the Big Golden Mountain Tower and the Small Golden Mountain Tower. The Small Golden Mountain Tower is built on one side of the enemy tower, with a sheer cliff below. The Big Golden Mountain Tower has a small room inside, and its eaves and windows are made of polished blue bricks.
Hollow Platform
The Hollow Platform is divided into two floors, connected by stone stairs. The upper floor is a small room where soldiers can stand guard and shelter from the wind and rain. The lower floor has 6 passages and 10 interconnected doors.
The Best Time to Visit the Jinshanling Great Wall
The best time to visit the Jinshanling Great Wall is in April, May, September, and October. During these periods, the temperature is moderate and the scenery of the Great Wall is also attractive. At the beginning of April every year, Jinshanling holds an apricot flower festival, so if you go there during this time, you also have the chance to enjoy the beautiful sea of flowers.
Tips for Traveling in Jinshanling Great Wall
- Dressing: wear a pair of sturdy hiking shoes and long-sleeved clothes, because there will be mosquitoes on the mountain.
- Food: bring enough water and food, such as compressed biscuits and chocolates.
- Weather: check the weather forecast before departure, and avoid hiking in thunderstorm weather.
- Be a civilized tourist: during the hike, do not paint or scribble on the city wall to avoid damaging the Great Wall.
- Other items: raincoat, umbrella, power bank, camera, garbage bags.
Accommodation in Jinshanling Great Wall
There is a hotel at the entrance of the scenic area - Jinshanling Great Wall Hotel. The hotel has only two floors, but it has 202 rooms. The hotel is built in a style similar to that of a Siheyuan, preserving the original trees and vegetation, and forming a hutong-style layout.
How to Get to the Jinshanling Great Wall
Taking a bus from Beijing to Jinshanling Great Wall Scenic Spot
The bus to Jinshanling Great Wall starts from Dongzhimen of Beijing every year from April to November. The departure time is 8:00 on weekends and public holidays, and the return time from the Great Wall is 15:00. The one-way journey takes about 2 hours.
Take Beijing Subway Line 2 and Line 13 to Dongzhimen Station, exit from E, and the boarding place for the shuttle bus is 200 meters north of Dongzhimen Transportation Hub.
Taking a bus from Beijing to the Jinshanling Service Area
You can take Beijing Subway Line 13 or Line 15 to Wangjing West Station, exit from B, walk 100 meters eastward, take the intercity bus to Jinshanling Service Area, and then take the scenic spot bus.
Departure times for Jinshanling Service Area: 10: 00, 11: 00, 13: 00, 15: 30
Departure times for Jinshanling Great Wall: 10: 30, 11: 30, 13: 30, 15: 00
Arrange a Tour for Jinshanling Pass
A trip to the Great Wall is full of challenges. You may need a professional tour guide so that you don't have to worry about transportation, accommodation, and food. During the trip, you can also learn about the history of the Great Wall of China.
You can customize your trip with China Travel. We will arrange your trip according to your interests and budget, to make your China trip unforgettable.