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The Jinshanling Great Wall is situated on the Big and Small Jinshanling, hence its name. Based on huge stone bars, the Great Wall was then made by huge bricks, each of which weighed about 12 kilograms (26 pounds). It has five main passes and 67 watchtowers. Every 100 meters (328 feet), there is an enemy tower each of which is about ten meters (33 feet) high. Featuring various structures and having various functions, those watchtowers are either one tiered or two-tiered. On the first floor there are some windows for shooting arrows. The roofs of the towers are many and varied, flat, arched, quadrangular or octagonal. Some are used to store weapons and hay. Others are used as soldiers' bedrooms. Among them, the most celebrated are the Big and Small Jinshan Watchtowers.
The big Jinshan Watchtower has two tiers which are connected by stone stairs. On the top of the tower is a small room used as the soldiers' retiring room. This small room has a unique structure. The rafters and eaves of the room are all made from polished bricks. The Small Jinshan Watchtower was constructed by soldiers from Zhejiang and Jiangsu Provinces led by Qi Jiguang, a famous general in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). To remind themselves of their hometowns, the tower was named Jinshan which was a pavilion's name in the Jiangxin Island in Zhanjiang.
The Wangjinglou Tower, the General Tower, the Black Tower and the Taochun Tower are also must-sees on the Jinshanling Great Wall. Each tower has its legend. Legend has it that the stone bars used to build the Wangjinglou Tower were carried to the mountain top by Er Lang Shen, the nephew of the Jade Emperor. The general tower was named to commemorate Wu Guihua, a heroine who sacrificed herself to resist northern invader's invasion in the Ming Dynasty. The Black Tower and the Taochun Tower were christened to commemorate two girls, Heigu and Taochun, who made great contributions to the construction of the Great Wall.
The Wall for Preventing the Horses, the Retaining Wall, the Bricks with Words Written on and the Kylin Screen are also renowned and worth a visit. Meanwhile, there is a three-kilometer (two miles) Night Great Wall and an eight hundred meters (0.5 miles) cable way. Anyone who visits the Jinshanling Great Wall should not miss them.
| Admission Fee: | CNY 50 (Mar. 15 - Nov. 15); CNY 40 (Nov. 16- the next Mar.14) |
| Cable Way: | CNY 50 (round-trip) ; CNY 30 (one-way) |
Jinshanling Great Wall in Beijing
Broken Great Wall at Jinshanling 
Jinshanling Travel Tips
Jinshanling Great Wall Transportation
By Bus
1. Take a bus to Miyun County at Beijing Dongzhimen Long Distance Bus Station, and take the local tourist bus to Jinshanling Great Wall in Miyun County.
2. Take a bus to Chengde at Liuliqiao Long Distance Bus Station, the bus leaves at about every one hour between 08:00 and 18:00, and get off at Jinshanling Intersection, and take a taxi or walk to Jinshanling Great Wall.
Drive Travel – Drive along the "Beijing – Miyun Expressway" and "Beijing – Chengde Expressway", pass Gu Bei Kou Town, go down 10 km (6.2 miles) and arrive at Jinshanling Great Wall.
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Jinshan HotelLocated 800 meters (875 yards) to Jinshanling Great Wall, Jinshan Hotel is a two star hotel, the only foreign-related hotel in Jinshanling Great Wall scenic area. It is only a twenty-minute walk from the hotel to Jinshanling Great Wall. The hotel features the architecture of Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) Dynasties. It has 62 rooms to accommodate about 130 guests. Both the domestic and international long-distance calls can be placed in the rooms. The meeting room in the hotel is equipped with broad-band access. Jinshan Restaurant in the hotel serves Chinese and Western styles of cuisine. It can receive over 300 people at the same time. There is an open square outside the restaurant. Equipped with professional stage lights and acoustic equipment, it is an ideal place to hold bonfire party and barbecues.
Other Lodgings
Besides, visitors can stay in the hostels at the foot of Jinshanling Great Wall. A room to hold four persons often costs CNY 15 each night. For visitors who prefer to live in the farmhouse, Hua Lou Gou Village is recommended. To sleep on the adobe kang in a villager's home is indeed an unforgettable experience. It costs about CNY 15 per person.
What to eat
Try "Peasant Dish" in Hua Lou Gou Village at the foot of Jinshanling Great Wall. Recommended Dish: Baked Small Corn Cake and Stewed Beancurd with Chinese cabbage
Local Speciality: Walnut, Hawthorn, Mushroom, Bracken, Day lily, Chestnut, Apple, Soybean food and Free range eggs
Related Link: Hiking from Jinshanling to Simatai
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Q & A on Jinshanling Great Wall
1.
Dec. 7,2009 03:59 Reply
Ms.Pilar(Spain) said:
Hello,
Me and me brother are going to Beijing early february and are thinking of doing the trek from Jinshanling to Simatai. Is it safe to do this trek in winter?
Thanks, Pilar
Dec. 7,2009 19:54
Ms.SLEEPYHAMSTER replied:
Well, this route is dangerous and diffcult, but it is favored by many trekkers because it brings challenge. You can have a try, and should be very careful, and don't go there when it snows.
Good trip!
2.
Sep. 28,2009 22:35 Reply
Mr.Basu(India) said:
Hi,
7 of us are planning to go on a day hike from JSL to Simatai. Can anyone please provide the following info?
- Cost of ticket in bus 980 till Miyuan city (to calculate whether a tour operator would be cheaper or not)
- Where to find regular buses to Beijing once we get to Simatai?
- If we hire a cab from Simatai to return, how much will he charge.
We will travel during the autumn holidays in 1st week of Oct.
Thanks for your help in advance.
Sep. 29,2009 01:33
Mr.Sam replied:
To answer your questions one by one:
1. It costs CNY 10.
2. You can go to Simatai parking lot to hire a bus back to beijing.
3. It costs about CNY 400 to 600, and you can bargain and can share with other passengers, which may save a lot of money.
Sep. 29,2009 21:49
Mr.Basu(India) replied:
Thank you Mr. Sam. This is going to be of great help to my decision.
3.
Sep. 21,2009 03:52 Reply
Ms.bee(France) said:
Hello,
I am going to see the great wall this week end , walking between Jingshandling and SImatai.
I am planning to arrive the evening so that I could see the sun rise in the morning.
Is there accomodation ver cheap just near the wall, at what time I could go to the wall ( before 6am to see the sunrise)? do you have tips? Thanks
Sep. 21,2009 04:50
Ms.Wong replied:
You will find there are many hostels located in the village near Jinshanling Great Wall, and the price is cheaper than the hotels in the city. You should start very early to see the sunrise, because the mountain road is not very easy, and it's getting cold. So if possible, you can ask one villager to lead you the way for your safety concern.
4.
Sep. 10,2009 06:33 Reply
Mr.NKY(malaysia) said:
Is this section children-friendly? Will be going to Beijing next week with kids around. Thanks
Sep. 12,2009 21:44
Mr.Reason replied:
This section is wild without being repaired. The bricks are loose and there are no side walls in many parts. It is suitable for adults. If you go there with children, you'd better be very careful.
5.
Jul. 24,2009 00:11 Reply
Ms.Hunter(UK) said:
Ihave a question. We are visiting from England and desperately want to see the Great Wall snaking into the distance, with well built watch towers not crumbling. we would also love to have a walk along the wall. Will the walk from jinshanling to simitai fulfill these requirements or can you suggest somewhere better? Also, can we get from Beijing to jinshanling and do the walk and then from simitai back to beijing in a day on buses? Thanks, Anna
Jul. 25,2009 20:43
Mr.Joseph replied:
Hi, Jinshanling to Simatai is a popular hiking route. It needs about four hours to finish the trek. It basically fulfills your requirements except there are some sections really dangerous. Many bricks are loose lack of reparation. Some watch towers are crumbling especially when it winds. You can do the walk from Jinshanling to Simatai in one day and get back from Simatai by hiring a car back to Beijing at Simatai Parking Lot. It's no problem. But if you do not like this unrepaired section, you can visit Badaling or Mutianyu, which are well repaired with no crumbling watch towers. Good trip!
Sep. 2,2009 15:44
Mr.Tracey(U.K) replied:
I have just read your email and hope this is not too late. My wife and I (both in our late 40s) just did this very walk from Jinshanling to simatai < it was fantastic you have the wall to yourselves and will easily complete the walk in the allocated time of 4 and half hours.the cost was $26.00 and was great value for money. if you need any help, shoot me an email,,,,,wayne.tracey1@ntlworld.com
We are also from the U.k