China > Beijing > The great Wall of China (Jinshanling)
The great Wall of China (Jinshanling)
N 40°41.02', E 117°14.187'
2016-04-16
Our rating: 7.60
Overall rating: - Rate this place - 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Great Wall is the most famous tourist destination in China, you cannot miss it. Recently you can often find the terrible pictures on the Internet, like this one.
The sea of tourists at Badaling section ©photo.sf.co.ua
Don't worry, as in many other cases, these pictures just a hoax. Photo was taken during a national holiday, it's the most popular section of the wall - Badaling, closest to Beijing and easily accessible by public transport. Wall can be visited in many areas, so forget about Badaling and Juyongguan. Read here a description of all areas and some other useful information. We originally planned to go from Jiankou to Mutianyu. But two weeks before the trip reconstruction began at these areas, so we went to the Jinshanling section (金山岭 长城), built in 1567-1570 years. Jinshanling has two advantages (2016): - no tourists, we met around 20 - most of the wall is original Unfortunately Jinshanling is located 130 km from Beijing. Of course you can reach this location with a public transport, but with a few transfers and a big waste of time. We had only one day and did not want to risk, so found on the internet the driver with the car for 1,200 yuan ($180). It is expensive and it is possible to find a cheaper option for 1000 or 800. If this is still expensive, google for information on tourist bus to Jinshanling from Wangjing West subway station. And information about public transport can be found here . Visiting the wall looks like this: you come to the entrance, then to a wall, walk through a certain number of towers and then either descend back to the entrance along the other path, or go to another exit. We entered through the Middle gate and went out through the East gate. Futher, in the direction of Simatai, you cannot go since 2015.
Map of Jinshanling ©travelchinaguide.com
It took us about 2.5 hours to pass 21 towers. Don't forget to take water, warm clothing and light umbrella. The way to the wall (tickets $10). On the site there is even a cable car, but we did not use it.
The great Wall of China (Jinshanling) ©Yuriy Buriak
Blossom in April
The great Wall of China (Jinshanling) ©Yuriy Buriak
Entrance to the wall Zhuanduokou pass
The great Wall of China (Jinshanling) ©Yuriy Buriak
At first we passed reconstructed section
The great Wall of China (Jinshanling) ©Yuriy Buriak
And then original one. Which is better - decide for yourself
The great Wall of China (Jinshanling) ©Yuriy Buriak
Sometimes it's almost ruins, but you can safely pass
The great Wall of China (Jinshanling) ©Yuriy Buriak
The great Wall of China (Jinshanling) ©Yuriy Buriak
The great Wall of China (Jinshanling) ©Yuriy Buriak
The great Wall of China (Jinshanling) ©Yuriy Buriak
All towers are different, as they have a different purpose. Here, for example, some residential tower
The great Wall of China (Jinshanling) ©Yuriy Buriak
The great Wall of China (Jinshanling) ©Yuriy Buriak
In general, it is not difficult to walk, but in one place you have to climb almost vertically.
The great Wall of China (Jinshanling) ©Yuriy Buriak
Attention! If you want to go from one area to another on the wall, you need to know whether the passage between the areas is opened. Very often some sections or towers are closed for reconstruction. If you can not find information on the Internet, take a map and ask at the entrance.
Tags, China: mountains , unusual buildings Tags, all countries: mountains , unusual buildings
- Rate this place -
Location : ------------ 1 - Far beyond the settlements, you must spend minimum a day 2 - Near the small town, you need to walk long distance 3 - Can be reached only by car 4 - A small town with a poor public transport 5 - Outside the settlements, but with excellent transport links 6 - A small town with excellent transport links 7 - Medium-size city 8 - Suburb of the capital or major city, the ability to reach by public transport 9 - Big city 10 - Capital
Impressions : ------------ 1 - No point in visiting 2 - Boring, wasted time 3 - You can visit, if you have a lot of free time and nothing better to do 4 - A lot of things, but not so interesting 5 - It seems to be interesting, but hard way to spoil the impression 6 - There is something interesting, but the rest is not worth the attention 7 - Probably interesting, but for everybody 8 - Very cool, but difficult to see everything and long-distance trails 9 - Very cool, but there are similar facilities in other locations 10 - Very cool, this is not anywhere else
Number of tourists (weekend afternoon) : ------------ 1 - Crowds, impossible to see everything normally 2 - A lot of tourists, a long wait 3 - A lot of tourists, the organization is lame 4 - A lot of tourists, but good organization 5 - There are many tourists, but they are concentrated in one place and you can walk freely 6 - Many tourists everywhere, but the large space is compensated 7 - The average number of tourists. To photograph, you must wait 8 - Tourists are, but they do not interfere 9 - There are few tourists 10 - You are alone
State : ------------ 1 - Only title left 2 - Dull ruins 3 - On restoration 4 - The picturesque ruins 5 - Have not been restored, the state is poor 6 - Partially destroyed, but the rest of the normal state 7 - Have not been restored, good condition 8 - OK, but it is possible to make better 9 - Looks good from the outside, partial repair inside or without repair 10 - In excellent condition, well-groomed area
Picturesque (for the photographer) : ------------ 1 - - 2 - - 3 - Horrible background, normal pictures only from the top 4 - wires and cars do not allow make normal photo 5 - Interfere with foreign objects 6 - In the city, but more or less normal photo can be made 7 - Beautiful, but you can take pictures with just one point 8 - Very nice, but you can only shoot at a certain time 9 - Very nice, but hard to get to the good weather or permanently interfere with tourists 10 - Very nice, but occasionally interferes with the weather or tourists
* - Note: Description of the evaluation is not always appropriate for a particular object, it's just a little help
Our rating - 7.60
Location : ------------ 1 - Far beyond the settlements, you must spend minimum a day 2 - Near the small town, you need to walk long distance 3 - Can be reached only by car 4 - A small town with a poor public transport 5 - Outside the settlements, but with excellent transport links 6 - A small town with excellent transport links 7 - Medium-size city 8 - Suburb of the capital or major city, the ability to reach by public transport 9 - Big city 10 - Capital
Impressions : ------------ 1 - No point in visiting 2 - Boring, wasted time 3 - You can visit, if you have a lot of free time and nothing better to do 4 - A lot of things, but not so interesting 5 - It seems to be interesting, but hard way to spoil the impression 6 - There is something interesting, but the rest is not worth the attention 7 - Probably interesting, but for everybody 8 - Very cool, but difficult to see everything and long-distance trails 9 - Very cool, but there are similar facilities in other locations 10 - Very cool, this is not anywhere else
Number of tourists (weekend afternoon) : ------------ 1 - Crowds, impossible to see everything normally 2 - A lot of tourists, a long wait 3 - A lot of tourists, the organization is lame 4 - A lot of tourists, but good organization 5 - There are many tourists, but they are concentrated in one place and you can walk freely 6 - Many tourists everywhere, but the large space is compensated 7 - The average number of tourists. To photograph, you must wait 8 - Tourists are, but they do not interfere 9 - There are few tourists 10 - You are alone
State : ------------ 1 - Only title left 2 - Dull ruins 3 - On restoration 4 - The picturesque ruins 5 - Have not been restored, the state is poor 6 - Partially destroyed, but the rest of the normal state 7 - Have not been restored, good condition 8 - OK, but it is possible to make better 9 - Looks good from the outside, partial repair inside or without repair 10 - In excellent condition, well-groomed area
Picturesque (for the photographer) : ------------ 1 - - 2 - - 3 - Horrible background, normal pictures only from the top 4 - wires and cars do not allow make normal photo 5 - Interfere with foreign objects 6 - In the city, but more or less normal photo can be made 7 - Beautiful, but you can take pictures with just one point 8 - Very nice, but you can only shoot at a certain time 9 - Very nice, but hard to get to the good weather or permanently interfere with tourists 10 - Very nice, but occasionally interferes with the weather or tourists
* - Note: Description of the evaluation is not always appropriate for a particular object, it's just a little help
Visitor's rating - 0.00
Location : ------------ 1 - Far beyond the settlements, you must spend minimum a day 2 - Near the small town, you need to walk long distance 3 - Can be reached only by car 4 - A small town with a poor public transport 5 - Outside the settlements, but with excellent transport links 6 - A small town with excellent transport links 7 - Medium-size city 8 - Suburb of the capital or major city, the ability to reach by public transport 9 - Big city 10 - Capital
Impressions : ------------ 1 - No point in visiting 2 - Boring, wasted time 3 - You can visit, if you have a lot of free time and nothing better to do 4 - A lot of things, but not so interesting 5 - It seems to be interesting, but hard way to spoil the impression 6 - There is something interesting, but the rest is not worth the attention 7 - Probably interesting, but for everybody 8 - Very cool, but difficult to see everything and long-distance trails 9 - Very cool, but there are similar facilities in other locations 10 - Very cool, this is not anywhere else
Number of tourists (weekend afternoon) : ------------ 1 - Crowds, impossible to see everything normally 2 - A lot of tourists, a long wait 3 - A lot of tourists, the organization is lame 4 - A lot of tourists, but good organization 5 - There are many tourists, but they are concentrated in one place and you can walk freely 6 - Many tourists everywhere, but the large space is compensated 7 - The average number of tourists. To photograph, you must wait 8 - Tourists are, but they do not interfere 9 - There are few tourists 10 - You are alone
State : ------------ 1 - Only title left 2 - Dull ruins 3 - On restoration 4 - The picturesque ruins 5 - Have not been restored, the state is poor 6 - Partially destroyed, but the rest of the normal state 7 - Have not been restored, good condition 8 - OK, but it is possible to make better 9 - Looks good from the outside, partial repair inside or without repair 10 - In excellent condition, well-groomed area
Picturesque (for the photographer) : ------------ 1 - - 2 - - 3 - Horrible background, normal pictures only from the top 4 - wires and cars do not allow make normal photo 5 - Interfere with foreign objects 6 - In the city, but more or less normal photo can be made 7 - Beautiful, but you can take pictures with just one point 8 - Very nice, but you can only shoot at a certain time 9 - Very nice, but hard to get to the good weather or permanently interfere with tourists 10 - Very nice, but occasionally interferes with the weather or tourists
* - Note: Description of the evaluation is not always appropriate for a particular object, it's just a little help