The dense watchtower cluster
Jinshanling packs more than 60 watchtowers and enemy towers into its open stretch, many with original Ming brickwork and arrow-slit windows you can still step through.
Great Wall & Landmarks
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Jinshanling Great Wall: Complete Visitor Guide
The half-restored Wall where a serious ridge hike to Simatai begins
Jinshanling is the Great Wall for people who want to walk a real ridge rather than pose on a restored ramp. About half of its stretch is rebuilt and half left wild, and the eastern end flows into the legendary Jinshanling–Simatai hike. This guide covers the 980 bus and Miyun transfer, the cable car, passport booking, and how to connect the ridge walk to Simatai.
Quick Facts
- Opening hours
- 08:00–17:00 (summer) · 08:00–16:30 (winter)
- Last entry
- 16:00 (summer) · 15:30 (winter)
- Closed
- Open daily
- Suggested time
- Half day; full day with the Simatai hike
- Ticket price
- Around CNY 65; confirm on the official channel
- Best season
- Autumn (Sep–Oct) and spring for hiking
- Booking
- Required — passport ID, real-name reservation
- Nearest metro
- No metro at site — Line 15 to Wangjing West, then the 980 bus to Miyun
How to Book Jinshanling with a Foreign Passport
Jinshanling sells real-name tickets tied to your passport through its official WeChat mini-program. Book before you travel, especially if you plan to continue the ridge hike toward Simatai, which needs its own Gubei Water Town reservation.
- Book on the official Jinshanling Great Wall WeChat mini-program (search 金山岭长城). Ignore third-party markups.
- Enter your passport number exactly; one passport equals one ticket and is scanned at the gate.
- Decide on the cable car when you book — it saves the initial climb but the wild ridge is the real draw.
- If hiking on to Simatai, book Gubei Water Town separately; the Simatai portion cannot be entered without it.
Getting There
By metro
Take Metro Line 15 to Wangjing West, then the 980 Express bus to Miyun. From Miyun transfer to a local bus or taxi for the final 30–40 minutes to the Jinshanling entrance.
By taxi
Show the driver 金山岭长城 (Jinshanling Great Wall). From Miyun a taxi to the gate is a negotiable flat fare.
Entrances
Enter at the west (restored) gate. Walk east along the ridge toward Simatai; the east exit links to Gubei Water Town if you have that booking.
What to See Inside
The restored west ridge
The western half is rebuilt and easy to walk, giving a safe taste of the Wall with sweeping valley views and the photo-friendly General's Tower.
The wild east ridge
East of the restored section the Wall turns genuinely wild — tilted slabs, overgrown steps and no railings. This is the heart of the Jinshanling–Simatai hike.
The Simatai link
The eastern end meets Simatai across a gully. With a Gubei Water Town booking you can continue; without it, turn back at the boundary.
Photo Gallery
A General's Border Wall
Jinshanling was built in the 1560s under the Ming general Qi Jiguang, who strengthened the northern line with closely spaced watchtowers and a double-wall system. Its name means golden mountain ridge, after the hills it crowns.
After the Ming fell in 1644 the section was abandoned and weathered for centuries, which is why so much of it remains unreconstructed. Only the western portion was restored in the late 20th century, leaving the east as one of the best wild-Wall hikes near Beijing.
Today Jinshanling is prized by hikers for its mix of intact and ruined wall across roughly 10 kilometres. It is the starting point of the celebrated Jinshanling–Simatai traverse, widely considered the finest day hike on the whole Great Wall.
Suggested Route
- 1. Wangjing West to Miyun Take Line 15 to Wangjing West and the 980 Express to Miyun, then a taxi or local bus to the Jinshanling west gate.
- 2. West gate ticket check Show your passport ticket at the restored west gate; take the cable car or start walking the rebuilt ridge.
- 3. Walk the restored west ridge Stroll east past the General's Tower and the dense watchtower cluster, photographing the valley on both sides.
- 4. Enter the wild east ridge Beyond the restored section the Wall turns wild — go slowly, watch your footing, and enjoy the unreconstructed Ming brickwork.
- 5. Turn at the Simatai boundary Stop at the Simatai link; with a Gubei booking continue, otherwise retrace to the west gate and your Miyun transfer.
Mistakes to Avoid
- Do not attempt the Simatai link without a Gubei Water Town booking — the gate is enforced.
- Bring proper hiking shoes; the wild east ridge has loose stone and no railings.
- Book the 980 and Miyun transfer as a real trip — it is 2.5 hours each way.
- Carry water and food; the wild ridge has no vendors between the gates.
- Bring your physical passport — it is scanned at Jinshanling and at Simatai.
Combine It With
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to book Jinshanling in advance?
Yes. Tickets are real-name and tied to your passport, booked on the official WeChat mini-program. If you plan to hike on to Simatai, you must also book Gubei Water Town separately, as the Simatai end cannot be entered without it.
How much does Jinshanling cost?
Entry is around CNY 65, with the cable car extra. Confirm the current figure on the official account before you go, as prices shift by season and the cable car is sometimes sold separately.
How long does Jinshanling take?
A half day covers the restored west ridge; allow a full day if you hike the wild east section or continue toward Simatai. The 980 bus and Miyun transfer add about 2.5 hours each way.
When is the best time to visit Jinshanling?
Autumn (September–October) and spring offer the best hiking weather and clearest views. Avoid summer heat and winter ice, when the wild ridge is slippery and the cable car may close.
Can I hike from Jinshanling to Simatai?
Yes — the ridge walk east is one of the best Wall hikes in China. You must hold a Gubei Water Town reservation to cross into Simatai, and the full traverse takes most of a day.
