Jinshanling to W. Simatai Great Wall Hike (TOUR 1AB)
TOUR 1AB: Jinshanling to W. Simatai Private Hike OR TOUR A5 Group Hike
SUMMARY
While the eastern portion of Simatai is closed for the Watertown Resort, the western half of is still open to hikers. In order to ensure that more foreign travelers can see this beautiful portion of the Great Wall, we have priced at an incredibly affordable rate that is lower than other travel agencies. The wall from Jinshanling to Simatai has just slightly been restored and its original appearance of more than 400 years old has been best preserved. Because it is full of challenge and with splendid and charming scenery, this section of the Great Wall has been the favorite destination of hiking lovers from all over the world.
DETAILED ITINERARY
Your guide will meet you around 8:00 am at your hotel. It will be a 2.5 hours of drive from Beijing to Jinshanling and West Simatai.
The West Simatai Great Wall is separated into eastern and western halves by a valley, with a rainbow-like chain bridge over the valley. The hills in the west are sloping gently, with 20 watchtowers remaining in good shape. The Simatai section of the Great Wall is one of the few sections to retain the original appearance of the Great Wall. Incorporating a variety of characteristics of other sections of the Great Wall, Simatai also displays some unique features of its own. It is often described with the following five words: perilous, dense, diverse, artful, and peculiar.
After about 90 minutes of hiking we will eventually pass over into Jinshanling Great Wall. The Great Wall at Jinshanling is one of the best preserved parts of the Great Wall with many original features. It got its name because it was built on the Greater and Lesser Jinshan (‘Gold Mountain’) Ranges. The Jinshanling Great Wall has not been repaired since 1570. It is a remote and relatively isolated section of the Great Wall. As there are relatively few tourists at Jinshanling Great Wall, it is a good place to explore on foot.
According to one hiker this is what you should expect to find at Jinshanling:
“Meticulous detail is evident in the construction of the wall. Everywhere consideration has been given to deterring and defeating invading armies. The uneven steps meant to slow down advancing armies should they make it onto the wall. The narrowing curves and paths that would bottleneck and slow them down, limiting the invaders to moving single file, making them vulnerable to the defending army. Far down the mountain each brick was crafted by thousands of workers and carried up the mountain on the backs of mules. The architecture and engineering a feat that would challenge us even today.”
When we finally reach the park at Jinshanling, we'll stop by a local farmer's restaurant for a late lunch before we head back to your hotel in Beijing.
THE LATEST REVIEW
"We chose to hike the Jinshanling section of the Great Wall and we had the most fantastic guide we could have hoped for. My husband is a real history buff and Oliver knew absolutely everything about the wall's history and there wasn't a question he couldn't answer. We learned so much from him and he took lots of great pics of us and made it so much more fun with all his great knowledge and friendly nature. He took us for the most amazing lunch afterwards too. Just delicious and he was very careful about my dietary restrictions. This was our favorite excursion after 3 weeks in Asia and we truly feel it was because Oliver made it so special. He really makes sure you have a great time. I also want to note the agent I booked the tour with online - Angela - was so helpful. You read about a lot of company scams where you pay up front and the guide never shows up, but Angela reassured me and her customer service was excellent and she answered all my questions. She even let us pay half up front and the last half on the day of the tour to reassure me the company was legit. I highly recommend using the Great Wall Adventure Club if you want the tour of a lifetime!" - Voyage48182042068, TripAdvisor, Experienced June 2019
You may add the Forbidden city or Summer Palace or another destination upon request.
Great Wall Adventure Club is the perfect guide for your Great Wall hiking and camping.
Highlights
- English tour;
- Well-experienced tour guide;
- Professional driver;
- Nice vehicle;
- General admissions included;
- Gourmet lunch included;
- Free bottled water;
- Free membership card;
- Hotel pickup & drop-off included;
- Airport pickup & drop-off at a low fee;
- Private or small group.
SERVICE PACKAGES AVAILABLE FOR YOU
PLATINUM PACKAGE
Private or Semi-private English Tour including private transfers, tickets and meal. Your guide will walk with you for every step from hotel pickup to drop-off and on the Great Wall!
GOLD PACKAGE
Use our top-rated professional private transfer service and tour by yourself. You can pick Volkswagen Passat, Buick Minivan, or luxury Mercedes and BMW. Everything is the same as the Platinum Package except that you pay less.
SILVER PACKAGE
GROUP HIKE A5 ($75 and with discounts)
If you travel alone and are seeking a group tour for social and economic reasons, please sign up our A5 Group Hike to Jinshanling and West Simatai. Same hiking trip but with less cost. Click below for A5 details.
Trip Map
Where are we going?
The red-shade is the area is where this tour covers. We will drive about 2 hours on a highway from Beijing to the Great Wall. Typically we will leave at 8 am from your hotel.