Beijing Great Wall Hike Jinshanling-simatai West Sunset/morning

Amazing experience, I did this by myself and it was perfect. Guide and driver were friendly and everything went on time

Insane experience of hiking part of the Jinshanling Great Wall section. Highly recommend, I couldn‘t believe how beautiful it was up there. It was very well organised, I was contacted in advance on WeChat with all the infos, and met the group outside a metro station. We then took a bus for 2 hours to the wall entrance. There is an uphill hike of about 30 minutes to get to the wall itself, then we had about 4 hours to get from the East Gate to General Tower to watch the sunset. I would recommend to wear shoes with good grip and to bring plenty of food. You should also have a good fitness and not be afraid of heights. Some downhill climbs can feel very exposed. There are also food/drink vendors in a few of the towers on the way, but the food usually consists of chocolate/crisps. It took us almost 3 hours to do the first half of the hike, which covered the unrestored section of the wall (we also took a lot of pictures) and then another hour for the restored section. The group then watched the sunset together and headed back to the bus.

Was a great experience, the walk was super beautiful and it was not crowded!

Exactly the experience I was hoping for. Met Jackie at the meeting place in Beijing, we got picked up by a tour bus and off to Jinshanling we went. On arrival, Jackie gave us some information and set us on our way to meet us about 4 hours later at the General's Tower. For the next hours we experienced a really quiet part of the wall which ended with an absoutely stunning sunset at the General's Tower. Recommended if you want to experience a quieter part of the wall and walk on your own. I especially think doing the sunset experience was a good choice. The hottest part of the day over, very little people on the wall and the chance for a beautiful sunset.

Two friends recommended this uncrowded section of the Great Wall and we are glad they did. If you like hiking and are not afraid of steep steps up and down, definitely do. We enjoyed the sunset tour.

We had a great time on this trip, well worth paying the money to visit this part of the wall. It was very quiet with very few other people and excellent for pictures. Our driver spoke good English and helped in anyway he could. Word of warning, it’s not an easy hike with lots of steps!!

Very well organized tour. Great communication, easy instructions, timely arrival. Flexible. Spent around 4 hours on the wall. Friendly and professional. All recommendations.

Do the sunset tour- it is truly magnificent. My friend and I went with driver Jackie, and it was an incredible experience. The views are unbelievable, and this section of the wall isn’t busy so you can experience everything without a huge crowd. We had time to explore, hike, and enjoy the views and met up for a drink at sunset. The small group of 5 made logistics and transportation easy as well.

Incredible tour, highly recomend. Easy meeting point in Beijing. Convienient stop before the wall to get drinks etc. Walk itself was breathtaking, yes a little more steep and challenging than imagined but worth every minute. Plenty of time on the wall itself, not rushed or anything, relaxed pace. Only saw a handful of other tourists on the wall, very quiet. Would go every weekend if I could!

Incredible and surreal experience hiking the Great Wall with little to no crowd at all. Our driver and tour guide Jackie was outstanding—he was friendly, clear with instructions, and provided great conversation. He was also patient and allowed the entire group to fully enjoy the sunset until everyone was ready to leave. Would definitely recommend this tour to anyone looking to experience a more remote part of the Great Wall.

Incredible and surreal experience hiking the Great Wall with little to no crowd at all. Our driver and tour guide Jackie was outstanding—he was friendly, clear, and provided great conversation. He was also patient and allowed the entire group to fully enjoy the sunset until everyone was ready to leave. Would definitely recommend this tour to anyone looking to experience a more remote part of the Great Wall.

This tour was amazing, we went for sunset and there was no one else at the Wall! Our guide Jackie was amazing and it was very clear where to go. I’d highly recommend this if you are happy to do some walking and want a quiet and special experience!

Fantastic trip to the Great Wall. Jackie was friendly, efficient, and on time. Smooth trip both directions and we ended up with almost 4 hours on the wall. Can’t recommend this enough!

Absolutely fabulous best time ever guide was fantastic. Fully recommend this tour definitely one of the highlights of our trip to Beijing.

Highly recommend this tour if you want to experience an uncrowded part of the Great Wall. We practically had it to ourselves! We were a group of 5, which was perfect! The driver was also very friendly. Thank you!

We had one of the best trips ever! We went with driver/guide Jackie and a group of 5 people. Jackie was a nice and patient guy who Let us wonder around after the trip on the wall. The group was small and cosy. There was almost no one at the wall. We could even drink a beer which we bought at the First souvenirshop (with a very sweet old lady) in silence on the wall. Crazy! We were very lucky with the weather because the sunsetview was amazing. It was a tough climb with a lot of stairs (different heights also) but absolutely worth it. After the walk Jackie asked if we wanted to eat at the local restaurant. If You have time for it, go check it out! It was a small place where locals were also eating, the food was nice and a good way to end the day with the group. 10/10 recommend!!!

Had a really awesome Day! The driver was fun, helpfull und friendly. He showed us some really wild and lonely parts of the famous Wall. Because of the rain we had a nice and authentic Chinese Dinner together afterwards. Couldn't imagen a better experience to visit the wall. Highly recommend!

He got us up on the wall when it was almost impossible. We had the BEST time ever. He did an extra an gave us a core memory. Thank you so much! We were only with 4 people up on the wall. It was perfect.

Great hiking spot. Not crowded. 6 was a perfect size for the group. Jackie the guide was amazing - cool dude - he knew the area and history well - spoke great English.

An amazing experience. It is well worth the slightly longer drive, as the scenery is majestic. There was hardly anyone there so we were free to take in all the beauty and tranquility. The steps up to the wall and the walk are a bit testing, so a minimum level of fitness is required. Having said that there are very frequent stops for a rest so as long as you take your time it’s fine. Definitely not for people with mobility issues. One of the nicest days in my life!

I chose the long road walking up the East Gate to start at East Five Window Tower. The plan was to take about 40 minutes for East Gate (I was already behind schedule) and 3 hours to the meeting point. Half way I thought I would never make it as the ancient part of the Wall is quite hard to walk on. In the second half it got easier. I reached on time but with another 30-60 minutes more it would have been comfortable. We then went for dinner at a farmhouse. It’s definitely worth pulling through despite leg pain for the next 3 days. The view and especially the sunset were so worth it. If you are worried, you can buy a cable car ticket and take the shortcut up. Especially the old part has its very own charm with an incredible insect world and tropical nature feeling. There were almost no people that day so I was very happy. Our guide was very patient and knowledgeable.

The Jianshanling sunset tour was an amazing experience. This section of the wall had almost no people, included both natural and renovated sections of the wall, and offered a nice workout. I'd highly recommend booking this!

Outstanding tour! Not crowded at all, even during golden week. It is a challenging hike, so physical fitness is a must. The sunset was insanely beautiful and our driver very friendly. You walk at your own pace and only meet again at the central tower. Best thing we did and well worth the long drive (2-3hrs).

It was worth the longer drive from Beijing to climb the Great Wall at Jinshanling, the views were spectacular, there was a good density of towers decorating the wall. The climb was steep which in my opinion made it a better experience at one of the wonders of the world. We were lucky to see a golden sunset to round off a lovely afternoon hike. Before the tour, there was detailed joining instructions, and communication was done via tripadvisor messages and WeChat. Our tour guide Jackie was helpful in explaining the history behind this section of the Great Wall, and knowledgeable when asked questions, answering in English with ease. The included transfer from Beijing town centre was adequate, if it was more luxurious it would make this tour perfect (even colder air con, more comfortable seats, less noise during motorway speeds). Nevertheless, thank you for getting us there and back safely.

I loved the Sunset Tour. Everything was perfect. Easy communication, a comfortable ride and a stunning hike along a part of the Great Wall that is hardly visited. Amazing to watch sunset from the wall. I highly recommend the tour.

This is transport rather than a tour. There is no commentary, just a driver. The walk is quite strenuous, particularly in the heat of summer. It’s a long walk with LOTS of very steep stairs & ramps which are very uneven

Don’t think, just book it! This part of the wall is spectacular. Zero tourists and just the most jaw dropping views. Jackie and Miya were excellent guides. I felt safe and well communicated the entire trip. I would highly recommend

Iris was great. Very friendly and with very good English. Bring snacks to the trek and good grippy shoes.

Had a great day out from Beijing to the wall. Was a bit further to drive, but amazing views and nice challenging walk over the wall. Excellent organisation by Iris, our friendly guide, who walked with us the whole way.

Iris was a great guide for our tour! And this part of the Wall is great for pictures as it is not crowded. Takes some work to get there but it is worth it!

Before booking the tour I was hesitant because I wasn’t sure which section would be the best. I am soooo happy I chose this one! Everywhere I went in Beijing it was way too crowded and this hiking was lovely! I barely saw people around so you have plenty of opportunities to enjoy and even get nice photos without rushing. The tour guide, Iris, is one of the kindest and sweetest persons ever! She made me feel so comfortable, she explained beforehand all the details you should know about the hiking. We had 3 good hours to do some trekking. It’s perfect time to be on time to come back. It’s one of the best tours I’ve ever taken! Lots of nature. It rained for a bit so it was more challenging to climb. You need to make sure you are wearing proper shoes because it can be slippery during rainy days. Xièxiè for the amazing experience!

Iris is a great tour guide! The great wall is amazing. This tour route isn't very populated and it is absolutely beautiful.

This trip is amazing. We enjoyed so much. There were few visitors there and it was quite challenging in some section. The guide is very kind and considerate. Recommend it!

This was a good hike. Our tour guide Jen took us up to the start of the hike and we met up with her at the end of 2.5/3 hours. The first part was difficult but can be avoided by taking the gondola but we had fun hiking. After that, there were a few locations with steep upward slopes but overall very do-able.

I usually don't write reviews for a specific person or thing. But the tour really are worth every cent (fen is the Chinese unit of cent). The tour includes round trip bus rides and admission. It takes about 2.5 hours from downtown Beijing to Jinshanling. Our tour guide, surnamed Han, was very good at what she does. She introduced every photo-worthy spot in Jinshanling. We took lots of picture on the way.

<p>My husband and I chose this particular tour as it was considered to be less touristy and had elements of both original and restored parts of the wall. Our tour guide, Jane was fantastic. She provided us with a great understanding of the history and was open to answer any questions the group may have had. She also offered to provide us with helpful tips during our stay in China too, including some dining options that would be suitable for vegetarians and even made some phone calls for us on the coach to enquire. We would definitely recommend this tour to anyone visiting China.</p>

It's 3h driving, but definitely worth the drive! Everything was nicely arranged, with a good tour guide. You can walk at your own pace so at most moments we were completely alone. Definite must do while in Beijing!

If you are looking for a perfectly organized trip to the wall, go for this. The section is very less touristic and you go an do the hike at your own pace. Just a couple of short steep hikes. Rest is a stroll! We went to the wall in a comfortable bus and Jia (Jane), our tour guide, was super friendly and helpful. Highly recommended!

Had a great time, the scenery was amazing, the hike was fun, our guide Jane was friendly, helpful and informative. I would definitely recommend this trip!

Our guide was May. She was just amazing, her English was very good and we had a lot of fun together. Hike was even more amazing then I was expecting. It was very windy but sunny. It's a fair moderate hike, you spent 3h in the car each way and the hike itself is 3h as well.

Winter was a great time to go. Barely saw any other tourists. Had a fantastic day and got some great pics.

if you are in Beijing, this trip is a must. it is a once in the lifetime opportunity, and the views from the Wall are breathtaking. you can see for miles in all directions, and the Great Wall itself is a piece of history thousands of years old. the temperature was very cold that day, but it wasn't too windy on the Wall and all the hiking helped to warm us up the whole time. when they say "hike" they mean it; this is no leisure stroll. some parts of the Wall are very steep and treacherous if you are not careful so I would not recommend this particular trip to people who are not confident hikers. for those of you who do want to see the Great Wall and feel confident in their ability, definitely book this trip with Beijing Downtown Backpackers. i have no complaints at all with the company. the customer service was excellent - i accidentally booked the wrong day and i didn't realize until i got a call that they were waiting on the bus for me while I was still in Hangzhou. they moved my reservation to the day i wanted very quickly and there was no fee. the tour does not provide lunch, so make sure to bring some food, but they provided a water bottle to everyone for free. the tour guide Mei was super welcoming and friendly, and she spoke very good english. she knew lots of history about Beijing and the Great Wall, but she made it engaging and her explanations didn't feel like a lecture. overall, i had a fantastic experience at the Great Wall - it is one i will remember for the rest of my life.

<p>This to me is the very best way to experience the Great Wall, provided you are active and can enjoy a 3-hour hike by yourself which sometimes can be a little steep. Jinshanling is far enough from Beijing to not be crowded with tourists we were pretty much the only group at the wall, fifteen people, and it is vast enough so you can walk by yourself if you like, and also restored enough to be walkable and not perilous. If you are in shape and are up for the exercise, this might be the day you'll remember the most for years to come of your visit to China, like it is ours. Also, the guide from Beijing Backpackers Hostel was very cool.</p>

<p>We had a great day. The site is wonderful. Very friendly guide. Highly recommended.</p>

Really fantastic!! Everything is arranged.

Recommended, deserted wall, incredible photos, excellent organization and timing. I recommend it to those who want to see part of the real wall before the restoration and to those who, like me, do not like organized tours and group waiting times... well, here you won't have to wait for anyone and can experience the visit independently.

The Jinshaling section tour was spectacular! The view at dawn was very beautiful. There were very few people in the place and it was possible to take advantage of the wall over about 3 hours.

Exceptional moment, the sunset is definitely worth it, it would be a shame to miss it. I loved walking on the Great Wall. The value for money is very good, and it is nice to walk independently on the section. Sunshine was waiting for us on arrival and was very friendly, made us lots of pictures. A great time!

A fairly demanding walk, recommended to be a minimum sportsman, not to have ankle knee problems etc because the steps are high, the ramparts can be very steep. Otherwise very good itinerary of 5h taking its time and making breaks and photos. It is possible to buy water, beer and drink on the towers. The sunset is over the mountain, not over the wall but it is beautiful. We were the only group on the wall