Hike at Jinshanling and Simatai, with Affordable Camping

TOUR A20: The affordable group hike and private camping at the most famous Jinshanling and Simatai

UPDATE

We are sorry but this group tour is not running due to the few people visiting Beijing after the pandemic. However, we have developed a wonderful but affordable camping tour (2GC2) for everyone. You may also consider taking the Gold Package of 2AB. We've optimized the program to make it more affordable for you.

Highlights:

* If you are looking for breathtaking views with a relatively more affordable walk, then this hike will be right up your alley!

* Catch stunning views and meet NO crowds on great rolling terrain.

* 3-3.5 hours of walking on the Great Wall at Jinshanling

* 2-3 hours of walking on the Great Wall at Simatai

* Walk from the restored part to the original wide side, covering the best three sections of the Great Wall.

* Flat rate program in English with discounts for more than one members of your party

* Group size varies from 5 people to 35 people depending on the signups of each day

* Lunch, dinner and breakfast are included.

* Camp on the Great Wall at night to experience what the ancient warriors could do.

* Bonus tour to Gubei Watertown

* Last-minute signup is OK, even past midnight. There is NO deadline.

* Available every day!

Covered by the Price

* Group transport on a coach bus;

* Private car transfers between Jinshanling and Gubeikou sections;

* Bread and water for those who do not have time to take the breakfast on Day 1;

* Restaurant lunch and dinner;

* Continental breakfast on Day 2;

* Bottled water;

* General admissions to the Great Wall sections and the Watertown;

* Camping gears (tent, sleeping bag and mattress)

* English-speaking guide on Day 1 hike.

* Free morning pickup if your hotel is within the 2nd Ring Road (Loop). If you stay outside this radius, please go to our meeting point at Chaoyangmen Subway Station, a very easy place to get together.

(Private hotel transfer is $19 per car if you stay outside the loop.)

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BRIEF TRIP ITINERARY

DAY 1: Chaoyangmen Station to Jinshanling and Gubeikou, Great Wall

Between 6:30 am and 7:30 am, you will be picked up from your hotel by your English-speaking guide and driver if you are staying in a hotel within the 2nd Ring Road. Otherwise, you will meet us in the Chaoyangmen Subway Station to board the bus for today's tour. From Chaoyangmen, we will make the approximate 2.5-hour drive to the Great Wall at Jinshanling.

The group will hike for three hours from Jinshanling to West Simatai (also called East Jinshanling). Most of the group will return to Beijing after the hike. Only you from the group will continue to camp today. We will pick you up from the lunch at Jinshanling to transfer you to Gubeikou. You will continue to have a chance to watch the beautiful sunset. Toward evening, we will treat you with a country-style dinner in our camping base. We will set up the camp for you to sleep on the Great Wall. Enjoy!

DAY 2 : Simatai Hike and Watertown Tour. Return to Beijing

Wake up to enjoy the fantastic sunset from the camping tower. We'll transfer you to Gubei Watertown, where you'll meet with a new guide to receive your Simatai and Watertown tickets. You'll browse the Watertown by yourself. Hiking Simatai should be your priority. Get on our bus to return to Beijing at 3 pm.

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Day 1: Hiking at Jinshanling and Gubeikou with Camping

Jinshanling-West Simatai Hike

7:20 am: Meet at Chaoyangmen Subway Station Exit A. Depart for Jinshanling Great Wall.

10:00 am : Arrive at Jinshanling. Today's hike takes about 3.5 hours at Jinshanling and across to West Simatai or called "Second Valley," also a part of Jinshanling. The Great Wall at Jinshanling is one of the Great Wall's best-preserved parts with many original features. It got its name because it was built on the Greater and Lesser Jinshan (‘Gold Mountain’) Ranges. As there are relatively few tourists at Jinshanling Great Wall, it is an excellent place to explore on foot. The Jinshanling Great Wall was initially built from 1368 to 1389 in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), and in 1567 and 1570, the rebuilding of the Wall was by General Qi Jiguang (1528-1588).

2:00 pm: Gourmet lunch at a local restaurant at the foot of the Great Wall.

Camping on the Great Wall

3:00 pm: Our local staff will transfer you from Jinshanling to Gubeikou Great Wall.

4:00 -5:30 pm: Watch the magnificent sunset at Gubeikou. Gubeikou offers a unique insight into the Wall's history and outstanding views of its original, unrestored state, making it great for those accustomed to hiking in wild areas. It is the oldest part of the Great Wall near Beijing. However, it does not require a long climbing to get on the Wall from the ground.

6:30-7:30: Have a gourmet Chinese dinner in our camping headquarter, a farmotel. Our local guide will walk with you to the watchtower called "The General's Tower" to set up the tent with you. The tent, sleeping bag, and mattress are provided. In cold weather, doubled sleeping bags are offered to allow you to have a good sleep at a low temperature. You'll enjoy the rest of the night under the stars and the Moon inside the tower.

5:30 am: Wake up and welcome the beautiful sunrise that is only possible to watch by sleeping on the Wall. Take lots of photos if you can. You can fly a drone here if you wish.

6:30 am Continental breakfast.

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Day 2: Hiking at Simatai and Watertown Tour

Simatai Great Wall Hike

10 am: Our local staff will transfer you to the entrance of Gubei Watertown. You will meet with another tour guide handing over you the Watertown ticket, including the Simatai tour. You will start your time by yourself inside the Watertown.

The Simatai section of the Great Wall is situated at Gubeikou, an old town of strategic significance now managed by Gubei Watertown Resort. It is among the best-preserved sections of the Great Wall of the Ming Dynasty. The Simatai section spans 5.4 km and has a total of 35 watchtowers. Due to the safety concern, Gubei Watertown only opens the eastern watchtowers 2 to 10 to the public at this time, but you will still the Single-sided Wall that only can be found at Simatai. This type of wall looks like a Heavenly Stairway as local people call.

A fantastic section characterized by the delicate and unique design and diversified structures incorporates a variety of the styles of other parts of the Great Wall. Simatai is known as the Museum of the Great Wall. Besides its picturesque landscapes, Simatai is also a treasure of historical and cultural heritage.

You may walk and climb to the watchtower #5 and hike from there, or you can take the cable car to go up or down with extra fees.

Gubei Watertown Tour

Situated in Gubeikou Town of Miyun County in Beijing, Gubei Water Town surrounds the beautiful Mandarin Duck Lake Reservoir and leans against the Simatai Great Wall, the most dangerous and majestic section of the entire Great Wall. Regarded as 'Wuzhen in Beijing,' Gubei Water Town boasts a combination of mountains, water, and ancient villages.

The water town is built on the former five subnatural villages of Simatai Village at the foot of Simatai Great Wall. The Simatai village was developed from Simatai Castle built during the reign of Emperor Wanli ( 1573 -1620 ) in the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644).

It is not just a historical water town but also a northern Chinese version of Wuzhen Water Town in Southern China. It has developed into a large-scale sightseeing and holiday destination.

3:30 pm: You will get on our coach bus to return to Beijing. You will get off at Dongzhimen Bus Terminal, where you can transfer to Subway Line 2 or another bus to go back to your hotel. Your guide can give you further directions on the bus.

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