Hike! 2 day Trek: Gubeikou to Simatai

[fjaramillo]

Hi
First of all I wanted to thank you for your forum; now I realise that I can find a lot more information that I really imagined I could find.
I also realise that I am not the only one who likes the great wall that much.

I will be in Beijing in the week from the 17th to the 22nd of August and I wanted to do Gubeikou Jinshanling Simatai on a 2 day trek, but this time I wanted to do it on my own, that means, getting to Gubeikou by myself and then do the first part, sleep in Jinshanling and finally finish in Simatai the second day.

Do you think it is difficult to get to Gubeikou by public transportation?
Do you think it is better if I hire a guide? (I just read on the forum that there’s a guy who can guide you and helps you find a place to sleep, the first day, for 540 yuans)
And finally, is it easy to get a transport to go back to Beijing?
Is there another trek that you can do in 2 days around the Beijing section of the great wall?
Thank you in advance for all your help.
Freddy.

[Bryan]

Hi Freddy,

We're glad you like the forum. It is truly a group effort and everyone who contributes deserves your thanks.

I think the only possible issue you might have would be finding your way around the military area detour between Gubeikou and Jinshanling. It is somewhat easy to get lost here unless you can use a GPS to follow the path shown on our Beijing area Great Wall map.

Getting to and from Gubeikou is easy; just use the bus from Beijing to Chengde; it goes right through Gubeikou. When you arrive at Simatai, you can easily find someone to take you back to Gubeikou.

There are many other possible two-day treks but this one is a good choice for a start.

Keep an eye on the mid-August weather and don't go if there are thunderstorms.

[chinoook]

Hi,

I did the walk from Gubeikou to Simatai only four weeks ago. Here are my recommendations:

- Get to Gubeikou by bus (at the weekend I will give updated information how to get there the most easy and fast way).

- Stay the night at Gubeikou (a really magic place wich deserves some more time than just to get of the coach). I will at this weekend give updated information where to stay and how to get the most of it!

- Do the walk in one day. The detour at the military area is critical. Without GPS you will have to do precise map work before (use the forum's information). The walk is easy for one day, I did it with two handicaps: 1. I broke my tendon right at Jinshanling 2. I walked with a girl ;-).


-chinoook

[fjaramillo]

Hi again:

Thank you for all your help.
The problem is that I do not own a GPS system. I just studied the map from gubeikou to Jinshanling and the detour seemed a little complicated.
Maybe it may be simple for someone who has done it already but, do you think it is possible to do it whithout a guide?
I mean, with a paper map (printed at home from google earth)?

[chinoook]

Originally Posted by fjaramillo

Hi again:

Thank you for all your help.
The problem is that I do not own a GPS system. I just studied the map from gubeikou to Jinshanling and the detour seemed a little complicated.
Maybe it may be simple for someone who has done it already but, do you think it is possible to do it whithout a guide?
I mean, with a paper map (printed at home from google earth)?

Yes.


-chinoook

[fjaramillo]

Hello again?
Do you know, wich is the best way to get to Gubeikou?
By train or by bus?
I heard that Gubeikou is in the way of the bus going to Chengde, is that true?
Maybe getting ther by train might be Ok, what would you do?
Thank you in advance.
Freddy

[chinoook]

I would take the bus. Right, it is the bus to Chengde. Just get off at Gubeikou.
You could start either at Dongzhimen long distance bus station (yes, it seems to be there again! You will need to find it first since I was told it moved it's location a bit. In july I have seen busses running from Gubeikou to Dongzhimen but could not get any further information. You can also leave at Liuliqiao bus station. They might want to pay for the whole distance to Chengde, just buy for the station at half of the way (forgot the name). Get off the bus in Gubeikou right at the checking point. The bus driver will tell you.

And again, I would stay for the night at Gubeikou. At farmers houses, who offer accomodation and food. Pricey, nice down the villages, local food. Just ask, on both side of the road there are plenty offers.


-chinoook