Last Update: 8th October 2020
What is the Jinshanling to Simatai Hiking ?
Compared to the Great Wall of China (Jiankou to Mutianyu Hike), Great Wall of China (Jinshanling to Simatai Hike) is much easier. Although the distance is approximately 10 kilometers, it just takes you 4 to 6 hours hike from Jinshanling to Simatai.
Please note that, you could only hike from Jinshanling to the west section of Simatai as from the west section of Simatai, the Great Wall of China (Simatai) has been blocked for several years.
- Chinese Name: Jinshanling Tubuzhi Simatai Changcheng Xiduan (金山岭徒步至司马台长城西段)
- Length: 10.5 kilometers (5 – 6 kilometers open to the public)
- Things to do there: Photography, Architecture, Chinese Culture and History, Hiking
- Who visits: Photographers, Chinese Culture and History Lovers, Adventure Enthusiasts
- Time required: 5 – 6 x Hours
Wendy Wei Tours offers a variety of different packaged tours as well as custom tours including Jinshanling to Simatai Hiking, among other attractions and destinations. To find out more, please visit our Tours page or Contact Us directly to find out more.
Most sections of the road on Houchuankou Jinshanling and the west section of Simatai are easy to walk on. Only a small section of the road at the connection between the eastern section of Jinshanling and Simatai has not been repaired. Though, this section of the road is also easy to hike on. There is a single-sided wall behind the 12th tower at Great Wall of China (Simatai), and there are other scenic spots such as the ladder, the flyover, etc.
It is not recommended to explore these spots as it is dangerous without any protection equipment to hike through them. If you would like to challenge theses spots, you need to climb them with both your hands and feet and take good care of yourself without any heavy stuff.
When hike through Jinshanling, you will see the bricks engraved with characters, which show the constructors and building time of the great wall. Explore Wanjing Tower at Jinshanling, and climb the ladder to the Fairy Tower – the highest point of the Great Wall of China (Simatai) if interested.
If you are planning to visit Great Wall of China (Jinshanling) for photography purposes, the best time to visit it is at sunrise or the sunset. The best months for photographing are from May to October as the rainbow and clouds always appear after rain in summer and autumn.
As the start point of the route for Great Wall of China – (Jinshanling to Simatai Hike) is at Jinshanling, you just need to know how to get to Great Wall of China (Jinshanling).
The administration of Great Wall of China (Jinshanling) offers shuttle buses from Dondzhimen Gate in Beijing to Great Wall of China (Jinshanling). Therefore, there are a few options.
- Rent a vehicle from Beijing or Luanping. This is the quickest and most direct option.
- Take the shuttle bus from Dongzhimen on Saturday, Sunday and during the public holidays between April 1 and October 31. The journey lasts for around 2 hours. The ticket for the shuttle bus includes the round-trip between Dongzhimen Gate and the Great Wall of China (Jinshanling), one-way chairlift and the admission to the Great Wall of China (Jinshanling).
- Opening hours for Jinshanling: 08:00 – 17:00 (March 16 – November 15); 09:00 – 16:00 (November 16 – March 15)
- Opening hours for Simatai: 08:00 – 20:00; 08:00 – 17:00 (opening hours for the entrance for daytime); 17:30 – 20:00 (opening hours for the entrance for evening)
- As at 8th October 2020, entrance pricing (from March 16 to November 15) is 65 CNY per person; the elder between 60 years old (60 years old included) and 70 years old (70 years old not included) are charged 32 CNY per person; children under 1.2m (1.2m not included) are free of charge.
- Entrance pricing (from November 16 to March 15) is 55 CNY per person; the elder between 60 years old (60 years old included) and 70 years old (70 years old not included) are charged 28 CNY per person; children under 1.2m (1.2m not included) are free of charge.
- From February 2014 on, the administration of the Great Wall of China (Simatai) doesn’t sell the ticket for the Great Wall of China (Simatai) but sell the combo ticket for the Great Wall of China (Simatai) and the Gubei Water Town. If visitors would like to explore the Great Wall of China (Simatai), they should buy the combo ticket.
- The combo ticket for the Great Wall of China (Simatai) and Gubei Water Town is 170 CNY per person; children between 1.2m tall (1.2m tall included) and 1.5m tall (1.5m tall not included) are charged 85 CNY per person; the elder above 60 years old (60 years old included) are charged 85 CNY per person; children under 1.2m tall (1.2m tall not included) are free of charge.
- For the latest pricing information, please contact us via email (info@wendyweitours.com)
- Please book the combo ticket for the Great Wall of China (Simatai) and Gubei Water Town one day prior to the visit date at least at the official website (http://www.wtown.com/index.php/Yuyue/great_wall_reservation) with your passports details.
- The hours for booking the combo ticket for the Great Wall of China (Simatai) and Gubei Water Town are 09:30 – 10:00, 11:30 – 12:00 and 13:30 – 14:00.
- During every entrance, only 1,200 visitors are allowed to enter the scenic area of Simatai and Gubei Water Town for safety of the visitors.
- Visitors can enter the scenic area of Simatai and Gubei Water Town at 10:00, 12:00 and 14:00. At any other time, visitors are not allowed to enter it.
- Please take enough drinking water and food for the hike.
- If you are interested to enjoy the sunset at Jinshanling, please take flashlights and enough batteries.
- Please take enough warm clothes with you if you are not planning to explore the Great Wall of China in summer, especially when you would like to photograph the sunset at Jinshanling.
Wendy Wei Tours offers a variety of different packaged tours as well as custom tours including Jinshanling to Simatai Hiking, among other attractions and destinations. To find out more, please visit our Tours page or Contact Us directly to find out more.