Jinshanling Great Wall is a Ming-dynasty section in Hebei Province, about two to two and a half hours by car from central Beijing. Walkers come for the long ridge of watchtowers and loop hikes of about 3 to 10 km, with a cable car for the first climb. Visitors aged 60 and over enter free with a passport.
- Tickets: about CNY 65 (about US$10) for adults; free for 60+ with passport; children under 1.2 m free (as of November 2026)
- Cable car: about CNY 40 one way, CNY 60 return
- Opening hours: main gate last entry 5:30 p.m., closing 6:30 p.m. (May 2026 hours; may vary by season)
- Walking level: moderate, with gentle and steep stretches
- Getting there: about 2 to 2.5 hours by car via the Jingcheng Expressway, Bakeshiying exit
67 watchtowers on the Daxiaojinshan ridge
From any tower at Jinshanling you can follow the wall along the Daxiaojinshan ridge, rising and dipping from one watchtower to the next until the far ones shrink to dots. Building here began in 1368, the first year of the Ming dynasty, and the scenic area counts 5 passes, 67 watchtowers and 3 beacon towers. It was named a national 5A scenic area, China’s top rating, in December 2020.
Chengde’s government lists three “wonders” at Jinshanling: the Qilin screen wall, named for the mythical beast of Chinese legend; the wall of inscribed bricks, with characters pressed into the brick faces; and the General’s Tower. Jinshanling is also known for sunrise and sunset. In season the main gate opens long before dawn, so early risers can be on the wall as the first light comes over the ridges.
Where Jinshanling is, and how it relates to Simatai
Jinshanling is in Bakeshiying Town, Luanping County, part of the city of Chengde in Hebei Province. That puts it just outside Beijing Municipality, on the border with Beijing’s Miyun District. On the Beijing side of that border is the Simatai Great Wall, with Gubei Water Town at its foot.
The two are neighbors on the map, but they are separate scenic areas in different provinces, each with its own tickets and gates. The walks Jinshanling publishes are loops that bring you back to its own gates, and Simatai’s day area is its own stretch of East Towers 1 to 10. So we plan them as two separate visits, not as one walk between them. If you would like both, see our Simatai Great Wall and Gubei Water Town guide.
Tickets and prices (as of November 2026)
| Ticket | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult entrance | About CNY 65 (about US$10) |
| Seniors 60+ | Free with passport or other valid original ID |
| Students | About CNY 32, half price, with a valid student card |
| Children under 1.2 m | Free |
| Cable car | About CNY 40 one way, CNY 60 return (about US$6 / US$9) |
| Electric cart to the foot of the wall | About CNY 10 one way |
These prices come from Chengde’s tourism bureau and 2026 travel press rather than a published tariff, so read them as approximate. Travelers in autumn 2026 report a lower off-season adult price of CNY 55 (about US$8), though sources disagree on exactly when the off-season starts, so we confirm the price for your date when we book.
Free entry for seniors has applied since 23 July 2025, and it covers overseas visitors: the rule lists passports alongside Chinese ID cards and Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan permits. Bring the original passport on the day, since a photo or photocopy won’t count.
Opening hours
Jinshanling has two entrances. In the hours published for May 2026, the main gate let walkers in from 4:00 a.m., stopped selling tickets at 5:00 p.m., took last entry at 5:30 p.m. and closed at 6:30 p.m. The east gate opened at 8:00 a.m., with last entry at 4:00 p.m. Hours can shift with the season, and we could not verify cable car hours, so we check both for your date before you travel.
Walking routes at Jinshanling
The scenic area describes four loop walks, all on the open wall. Distances are approximate.
- About 3 km: the shortest loop, a good choice if you want time on the wall without a long hike.
- About 4 km: by way of Little Jinshan Tower and the cable car station, so it pairs well with a ride up.
- About 5 km: out to Houchuankou, often called the best photo spot on Jinshanling.
- About 10 km: the long walk east to the East Five-Eye Tower and the east gate.
The walking is moderate. Easy stretches along the crest alternate with steep flights of uneven steps where you will want a hand on the parapet. Wear shoes with good grip, carry water and a hat, and add a warm layer from late autumn, as the ridge is open to the wind. On our tours the guide sets the pace for the slowest walker and you can turn back at any tower.
If you walk regularly at home, the 5 km loop out to Houchuankou is a good fit. Grandparents or anyone wary of steep steps can ride the cable car and spend an hour or two on the gentler stretches near the top. Experienced hikers with a full day can take on the 10 km route to the east gate.
Tell us your dates, group size and what you would like to see. We reply with a day-by-day plan and a written quote.
Getting there from Beijing
By car the route is the Jingcheng Expressway to the Bakeshiying exit. From central Beijing that takes about two to two and a half hours in normal traffic, and longer at weekends and on public holidays, so we set off early. On weekends and holidays there is also a direct bus from the Wangjing West transport hub at 8:00 a.m., returning at 4:00 p.m., which works if your day fits its timetable.
At the scenic area an electric cart runs about 1.2 km from the visitor center to the commercial street at the foot of the wall. If you would rather stretch your legs after the drive, the same distance is about a 15-minute walk.
When to go
Jinshanling looks its best early and late in the day, when low light picks out each tower along the ridge. An early start from Beijing puts you on the wall in the cool of the morning. Staying for the late afternoon light means a drive back to the city after dark, which is easy in a private car. For month-by-month weather, read our guide to the best time to visit Beijing.
How Jinshanling compares with other sections
Choose Jinshanling if walking the wall is the main point of your day and you don’t mind the longer drive. It is rated moderate, a step up from Mutianyu and Badaling, which are the easier choices for grandparents and young children. Mutianyu is also closer, at about one and a half to two hours from the city, and Simatai next door is steeper still. If your group mixes keen walkers with people who would rather not climb, the cable car lets everyone reach the wall: the walkers head off on a longer loop while the others take it slowly near the top station.
To compare every open section near Beijing side by side, start with our guide to which part of the Great Wall to visit.
Hiking Jinshanling with us
Our Jinshanling Great Wall hiking day tour is a private day: a car or van with a driver just for your group, an English-speaking guide, and hotel pick-up and drop-off in central Beijing. The entrance ticket is included, and the cable car is optional and paid on the day. We walk only the open stretches inside the scenic area, choose the loop that suits your group, and you can change the pace, take breaks or finish early whenever you like. There are no shopping stops.
Tell us your dates, group size and what you would like to see. We reply with a day-by-day plan and a written quote.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Jinshanling Great Wall ticket?
About CNY 65 (about US$10) for adults as of November 2026. Students with a valid card pay about half, and children under 1.2 m enter free. Travelers in autumn 2026 report a lower off-season price of CNY 55, so we confirm the price for your date when we book.
Is Jinshanling free for seniors?
Since 23 July 2025, visitors aged 60 and over enter free with their own valid original ID, and passports are explicitly accepted, so overseas seniors qualify. Bring the original passport on the day; a photo or copy will not count.
How long does it take to get to Jinshanling from Beijing?
About two to two and a half hours by car from central Beijing in normal traffic, on the Jingcheng Expressway to the Bakeshiying exit. Allow extra time at weekends and on public holidays, when traffic out of the city is heavier.
Is there a cable car at Jinshanling?
There is one, at about CNY 40 one way or CNY 60 return. It takes the effort out of the first climb, and the 4 km loop walk passes the cable car station. Travelers report that it runs only between the main gate area and Little Jinshan Tower. We check operating hours for your date, since they are not reliably published.
Can you hike from Jinshanling to Simatai?
Jinshanling, in Hebei, and Simatai, in Beijing's Miyun District, are separate scenic areas with their own tickets and gates. We plan them as two visits: a loop walk at Jinshanling, and Simatai's own open stretch of East Towers 1 to 10 as a separate trip.
How hard is the Jinshanling hike?
Moderate. Gentle stretches along the ridge mix with steep, uneven steps. Loop walks run from about 3 km to about 10 km, so you can pick a distance that suits your group, and the cable car shortens the climb for anyone who prefers to ride.
Is Jinshanling in Beijing?
It is outside Beijing, in Luanping County, part of Chengde in Hebei Province, just across the border from Beijing's Miyun District. It still works well as a day trip from Beijing if you leave early in the morning.
Facts checked: 5 November 2026. Ticket prices, opening hours and entry rules can change; we re-check before every booking.