visiting the great wall in a weeknot sure which location to go to?

Question

I intend to vist the wall next week and I would like to know whether I should go to the Jinshanling section or the Simatai section. I don't think I would want to walk for anymore than three hours but slightly longer would be fine. I would prefer to be without crowds of people (though this is difficult) and of course any good views would also be nice. I am travelling on my own so I am slightly nervous about what seems like a slightly complicated excursion! What transport do you recommend to get to the place? Once you have walked the length of the section how are you meant to get back to the bus?

Edison · Answer

The two sections are worth a visit. However, you need to make reservation if you plan to visit Simatai. A Wuzhen style water town is built near the wall. It charges very expensive entrance fee. So I think you may visit Jinshanling section. You can only take bus from Wangjing West to get there. Take subway line 13 or 15 to Wangjing West and then change special tourism line. It departs at 08:00. If you can't catch the bus, you can take bus between (Beijing - Luan Ping) and get off at JSL Highway Rest Area. There you can take free shuttle bus to reach the wall. The shuttle bus departs at 10:00, 11:00, 13:00 and 15:00.

Eliot · Answer

Ok great! Can I not just not go into the water tower at Simatai so that I don't have to pay? Which section has the better views? Is it worth taking the extra trouble to come to these non-touristy sections or is Bailing just as good if not better? I do not mind paying more for better views etc. if you think Simatai is better? How much roughly would they charge - that is if the water tower fee is completely necessary? Thanks, Eliot

Eliot · Answer

Aha! Is that in fact the Simatai is mostly a reconstruction and only a very small stretch is accessible? Maybe it is not at all accessible or only very partially accessed? Also will the tourist bus to JinShanLing take me all the way to the so called 'entrance' to that section and is there a last bus back?

Edison · Answer

Eliot, you can visit the wall only without visiting the water town. And you need to make a reservation online in advance. The admission fee to the wall is CNY 40. It costs CNY 150 to visit the water town. I personally the water town isn't worth a visit because it's all man-made. Currently, just the section between no.1 and no. 10 towers is open on Simatai. The scenery on these two sections are all good. If I were you, I would go to Jinshanling. It saves the trouble to make the reservation. Of course, there are buses that take you back to the high way rest area mentioned. You need to ask the driver when the last bus returns.

Visiting the Great Wall in a week and not sure which location to go to?

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