Jinshanling Great Wall - Map, Opening Hours, How to Get There
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.
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: CNY65 for an adult
- Location: Luanping County, Chengde City, Hebei Province
Jinshanling Great Wall Hiking Route
1. Full Hiking Route, approximately 16 kilometers, 5-6 hours
Starting from the central entrance, walk along the expressway to the east gate of the scenic area. Upon entering the east gate, head east on foot, passing by the East Five Watchtower. Continue walking to Hou Chuankou, enjoying the magnificent views of the Great Wall along the way.
Arrive at Xiao Jinshan, where you can choose to take a rest or continue hiking. Proceed to Shalingkou to experience the steep and magnificent beauty of the Great Wall. Pass through Zhuanduokou, and continue walking westward to Taochunkou. Finally, return from Taochunkou to the entrance of the scenic area, and conclude the hike at the Jinshanling Great Wall Visitor Center.
2. Half Hiking Route, approximately 8 kilometers, 3-4 hours
Starting from the central entrance, walk along the expressway to the east gate of the scenic area. Upon entering the east gate, you can choose to head directly towards Taochunkou. Passing through Zhuanduokou and Shalingkou, both essential parts of the Great Wall that should not be missed. At Xiao Jinshan, you can choose to take a cable car up the mountain or continue hiking to Hou Chuankou. Finally, return to the entrance of the scenic area to conclude the hike.
Jinshanling Cable Car
The cable car at Jinshanling Great Wall operates between Xiaojinshan Tower and the ticket checking point at the middle gate of the scenic area. Taking the shuttle bus from the middle gate of the scenic area will take you to the ticket checking point, with a fee of CNY10.
| Boarding Point | Disembarking Point | A single Trip | A Round Trip | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cable Car | Xiaojinshan Tower | Ticket Checking | CNY40 | CNY60 |
Jinshanling Great Wall Marathon
Jinshanling Great Wall Marathon is recognized as one of the world's toughest marathons. The race route passes through scenic highways, ascends the Jinshanling Great Wall, and then continues through distinctive mountain trails, covering all the attractions of the scenic area along the way.
Jinshanling Great Wall Vs Mutianyu Great Wall
| Jinshanling | Mutianyu | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Chengde City, Hebei Province | Huairou District, Beijing |
| Driving Time from Beijing | 150 minutes | 100 minutes |
| Watchtower | 67 | 20 |
| Cable car | Yes | Yes |
| Chairlift | No | Yes |
| Toboggan | No | Yes |
| Crowded | Less Crowded | More Crowded |
| Night Tour | No | Yes |
| Recommended Visit Time | 5 hour | 4 hours |
Jinshanling Great Wall to Simatai Great Wall
The Great Wall to the west of Simatai connects with the Jinshanling Great Wall. The walk from Jinshanling Great Wall to Simatai Great Wall spans nearly 10 kilometers and takes about 4 hours in total. By walking from Watchtower 1 to Watchtower 14 of Simatai, you will have completed the hike on the Simatai Great Wall and started entering the Jinshanling Great Wall.
The hiking route from Simatai to Jinshanling is filled with challenges and risks, making it a great choice to hike with partners who share the same destination.
Recommended Tour: Simatai to Jinshanling Great Wall Hiking Tour
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.
Best Time to Visit the Jinshanling Great Wall
The best time to visit Jinshanling Great Wall is from mid-October to early November when Jinshanling is filled with a variety of red foliage. From the cable car, one can see three colors red, orange, and yellow. October happens to be autumn, with an average daytime temperature of 20 degrees Celsius and less precipitation, making it ideal for outdoor activities.
How to Get to the Jinshanling Great Wall
1. By Train + Taxi
Take a suburban train from Beijing North Railway Station to Gubeikou Railway Station, and then take a taxi to Jinshanling Great Wall. The taxi ride takes 20 minutes and costs CNY20.
| Train Number | Departure Time | Arrival Time | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| S501 | 6:58 | 9:23 | 2hrs25m |
| S503 | 14:20 | 16:50 | 2hrs30m |
2. By Bus
A direct bus from Dongzhimen outside Beijing to Jinshanling Great Wall operates on weekends and public holidays only. The bus runs once a day, departing from Dongzhimen to Jinshanling at 8:00 and returning from Jinshanling to Dongzhimen at 16:00. The ticket price is CNY50.
3. Private Transfer
Public transportation always requires waiting for fixed departure times before you can set off, but with a private transfer, you can depart anytime after you get in the car. Our driver can directly take you to the scenic area and pick you up again after your visit to bring you back to your hotel. There is also a tour guide on board.
Jinshanling Great Wall Tour
The Gubeikou Great Wall is a completely unmanaged wild section of the Great Wall, with some parts overgrown with wild grass making it hard to see the path. Without extensive wilderness hiking experience, it is difficult to find the direction.
In contrast, a portion of the Jinshanling Great Wall has been restored, with a wide pathway. However, the restored sections have collapsed in some places, requiring a combination of hands and feet to maintain balance when going up and down slopes.
Our tour guide will tell you what needs to be known on your hiking from Simatai to Jinshanling Great Wall.