Jinshanling to Simatai — FAQ

[Bryan]

Hiking between Jinshanling and Simatai is one of the most popular Great Wall hikes. Hopefully these answers to frequently asked questions will be helpful to those planning to do the hike.

What's the hike like?

It's a wonderful adventure and a reasonably strenuous undertaking. The scenery is fantastic and the Great Wall itself is beyond belief. If you get the chance to do this hike, you will remember it for a long time.

How to get there and back?

It's easiest to find a taxi that will take you to your starting point and then pick you up at your end point and return you to Beijing. You could also take a bus to Gubeikou and find local taxis from there if you want to save some money. Buses between Beijing and Chengde go through Gubeikou and there are always local taxis at the main bus stop in Gubeikou. Some hotels and other organizations offer group tours as well. Transportation will be about 2 to 3 hours each way depending on where you are in Bejing.

Jinshanling to Simatai, or Simatai to Jinshanling?

Jinshanling to Simatai seems to be somewhat more popular, but each direction has its pros and cons. One nice thing about going from Jinshanling to Simatai is that, once you reach Simatai, you can decide whether you want to climb up the Simatai ridge once you arrive there, depending on your fatigue level and available time. It's also easier to find transportation from Simatai if you don't have pre-arranged transportation, although as time goes by and Jinshanling becomes more and more popular, this is becoming less of an issue.

What are the costs?

In addition to transportation costs, you will need to pay for ¥50 RMB tickets for both Jinshanling and Simatai. If you plan to ride cable cars, you will pay about ¥50 RMB each for one-way rides. And if you want to cross over the bridge, you may be charged about ¥10. Plus, of course, costs for hotels, restaurants, refreshments, souvenirs, etc.

How difficult is the hike?

You need to be in good physical condition to complete this hike. There are thousands of steps and some of them are steep. When you aren't on the steps you're still climbing up and down; there are few level areas. Due to the long and steep inclines, the hike is dangerous and you should be careful. However, there is no actual climbing and you don't need any special equipment or climbing experience.

Can I make it in my physical condition?

If you are unsure, consider starting at Jinshanling and heading towards Simatai. Monitor yourself and be willing to turn around before you reach the half way point if you have any doubts at all. Even if you return to Jinshanling rather than going all the way to Simatai, you will have a great experience with less stress.

How long will the hike take?

Plan on four to six hours of hiking all told, depending on your exact route and speed. Also plan to spend some time exploring at each end of the hike if possible.

Jinshanling map
Red paths: Great Wall, blue paths: foot paths, yellow line: cable car

Where should I get on and off of the Wall?

Look at the maps in this post to see where you can access the Wall at Jinshanling and Simatai. I recommend hiking all the way through Jinshanling so that you can reach Xiwuyanlou (A on the Jinshanling map) at the west end of Jinshanling at the beginning or end of your hike, and then turning around. This is a world-famous photo spot and when you look east toward Simatai from here you will see why. In this case you will use the Zhuanduokou pass tower as your entrance / exit point.

What should I bring with me?

Bring food and plenty of water. Wear good hiking shoes or boots and appropriate clothing for the weather. Also wear a hat and/or sunscreen to protect yourself from the sun. Bring your camera. And bring some money for tickets and other expenses.

Will I get lost?

Not likely. The route is easy to follow. If you study the maps in this post before you go then you won't have any problems. Be aware that the parking lot for Jinshanling is on the north side of the Wall, and the parking lot for Simatai is on the south side, as this can be confusing.

Simatai map
Red paths: Great Wall, blue or black paths: foot paths, yellow line: cable car, green path: trail

How crowded is it?

This depends on when you go. If it's a holiday and the weather is good, you should expect crowds. If it's very cold then you may not see many people. To minimize crowds, go during the week instead of the weekend. Avoid holidays. Try to hike as early in the day as possible.

Are there hotels in the area?

Yes there are hotels at Jinshanling and hotels at Simatai.

Are there restaurants in the area?

Yes, there are restaurants at both Jinshanling and Simatai.

Are there restrooms?

Yes, there are restrooms at both Jinshanling and Simatai. There are none in between, so be aware.

Overall route
Yellow rectangles indicate areas of detailed maps
At the center of this map is the border between Jinshanling and Simatai. All hikers must buy tickets in this area.

What about locals that want to sell you things?

Local vendors will try to walk along with you. They will offer to carry your pack and eventually they will try to sell you food, drinks, or souvenirs. Just treat them with respect and they will treat you the same. Most of them speak a little bit of English. They understand "no thanks" but that won't keep them from pulling additional T-shirts and books and postcards from their packs and quoting you a price about 5 times higher than they will actually accept. You are not obligated to buy from them.

What's the weather like?

Hot and rainy in the summer and cold in the winter. Pleasant in the Spring and especially in the Fall. The Great Wall follows mountain ridges and therefore it can be very windy.

When is the best time to visit?

See Best time to visit the Great Wall of China.

Should I go if it rains?

No. Wait for better weather.

Will my cell phone work?

Yes. Don't use it, though, in case of lightning or thunderstorms.

Where can I get the best photos?

With the impressive Great Wall and the beautiful scenery, you will probably find this one of the most photogenic areas you have ever seen. Both detail and panoramic photos here are a good idea. The best panoramas are of course from high points, of which there are many. As usual, the best light can be found at sunrise and sunset. A wide-angle lens is very helpful for Great Wall photography.

Can this hike be extended?

Yes. Hiking to the east beyond tower 12 at Simatai isn't recommended or allowed, but hiking to the west beyong Jinshanling to Gubeikou is very possible. If you're interested in this possibility, start your hike at Simatai or Gubeikou and hike to Jinshanling. You could plan to spend the night at Jinshanling. While it's possible to hike the entire distance in one day, we recommend taking two days.

Where can I find more information on Jinshanling and Simatai?

Jinshanling Forum
Simatai Forum

Jinshanling Review
Simatai Review

Detailed map of the Great Wall around Beijing

[sophie]

I did exactly this hike last year with some schoolmates. I won't ever forget it. I felt like a true hero after we finished. If you have any questions you should feel free to ask me about it. The next day my legs were sore but my pride was swollen even more. I can recommend this hike to anyone who would want to have a wonderful experience at the Great Wall!

[Bryan]

Originally Posted by sophie

I did exactly this hike last year with some schoolmates. I won't ever forget it. I felt like a true hero after we finished. If you have any questions you should feel free to ask me about it. The next day my legs were sore but my pride was swollen even more. I can recommend this hike to anyone who would want to have a wonderful experience at the Great Wall!

Sophie's vivid description can be found here.

[PWCCA]

Wow, thanks for all this info, this is all a big help

[JoeCool]

Originally Posted by PWCCA

Wow, thanks for all this info, this is all a big help

Yes it is a tremendous help. Some more questions about the zip line please. How much does it cost for the zip line? And does it take a long time to walk down if we don't take the zip line?

[Bryan]

Originally Posted by JoeCool

Yes it is a tremendous help. Some more questions about the zip line please. How much does it cost for the zip line? And does it take a long time to walk down if we don't take the zip line?

I believe it costs ¥35 RMB but I am not sure. I have never tried it. It's just too scary to me! People ride on it regularly, and I doubt anyone has ever been hurt on it, but it's not that safe-looking to me.

From the top of the zip line, it takes about fifteen to twenty minutes to walk down to the parking lot. One thing to realize about the zip line, though, is that it takes you to the far side of the reservoir and you must then walk from there back to the parking lot. So it probably only saves you about ten minutes. The walkway is sloped, rather than steps, so it's not hard to walk down.

I made a separate post about the zipline in the Simatai forum, where you can see its location on the map.

[rasols]

Could you wear a pair of good sandals for this hike or would this be a problem? I'm thinking of doing this hike when I'm in Beijing July and real shoes might be a bit warm.

Do you think this hike is a bad idea in July because of the heat?

[Bryan]

Originally Posted by rasols

Could you wear a pair of good sandals for this hike or would this be a problem? I'm thinking of doing this hike when I'm in Beijing July and real shoes might be a bit warm.

Do you think this hike is a bad idea in July because of the heat?

It will truly be hot and there will be a chance of thunderstorms. But that doesn't make it a bad idea, just not the ideal time.

I would only do this hike in sandals if you're wearing sandals that you have previously used to hike in steep and slippery terrain. If in doubt, I would suggest your being on the safe side rather than having cool feet.

[PWCCA]

What is the best way to get to Jinshanling from Beijing? We will be going there on the 30th Apr (walking Jinshanling a while and staying at the Jinshan Hotel... and then do the hike from Jinshanling to Simatai the next morning) and have investigated the costs of private taxis but its rather expensive. Are the buses reliable? And is it easy to get back from Simatai via bus? What are all the bus routes?

ps... if anyone is in Jinshanling on May 1st you are more than welcome to join us.

[Bryan]

Originally Posted by PWCCA

What is the best way to get to Jinshanling from Beijing? We will be going there on the 30th Apr (walking Jinshanling a while and staying at the Jinshan Hotel... and then do the hike from Jinshanling to Simatai the next morning) and have investigated the costs of private taxis but its rather expensive. Are the buses reliable? And is it easy to get back from Simatai via bus? What are all the bus routes?

ps... if anyone is in Jinshanling on May 1st you are more than welcome to join us.

Take a bus from Beijing bound for Chengde, and get off at Gubeikou (40°41'21"N 117°9'23"E). These buses used to leave from Dongzhimen station but I think that station is closed now. From Gubeikou, take a taxi to Jinshanling or Simatai.

To return from Jinshanling or Simatai, get a taxi to Gubeikou. Wait at the bus stop (40°41'21"N 117°9'23"E) for a southbound bus. You can wait for a Beijing bus (coming from Chengde to Beijing) or get on a bus for Miyun and transfer from there to Beijing.