TOUR A20: Affordable Gubeikou, Jinshanling, Simatai Hikes with Camping on the Great Wall

 7:20 am: Meet at Chaoyangmen Subway Station Exit A. Depart for Jinshanling Great Wall. 

7:20 am: Meet at Chaoyangmen Subway Station Exit A. Depart for Jinshanling Great Wall. 

10:00 am : Arrive at Jinshanling. We will hike for about 3.5 hours, from Jinshanling and across to West Simatai also referred to as "Second Valley". Jinshanling is one of the best parts of The Great Wall as it has many original features. It was crowned “Second Valley” because it was built on the Greater and Lesser Jinshan (‘Gold Mountain’) Ranges. A tablet with the Chinese inscription for Jinshanling Great Wall was set into this section. This section of the wall has been left untouched since 1570. It is a remote and relatively isolated section of the Great Wall. As there are relatively few tourists at Jinshanling Great Wall, it is a good place to explore on foot. The Jinshanling Great Wall was initially built from 1368 to 1389 in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), and in 1567 and 1570 reconstruction of the Wall was mainly directed by General Qi Jiguang (1528-1588). Poems and tablet writings can be found on the Jinshanling Great Wall left from the time when Qi Jiguang directed the refurbishment of this section of the Great Wall. 

2:00 pm: Gourmet lunch at a local restaurant at the foot of the Great Wall.

3:00 pm: Our local staff will transfer you from Jinshanling to Gubeikou Great Wall. 

4:00 -5:30 pm: Experience a breathtaking sunset at Gubeikou. Get a great insight into the history of Gubeikou wall. Soak up the spectacular views of its original, unrestored state. If you are an experienced hiker this is an amazing trek as you get to really enjoy nature at its best. This is the oldest part of the Great Wall situated close to Beijing it is also not too far to climb giving you a unique opportunity to visit the oldest and unreserved part of The Great Wall. . 

6:30-7:30 pm: Let’s dine. Enjoy a mouthwatering Chinese cuisine in our camping headquarters. Later, you will be escorted to the watchtower dubbed “The General’s Tower” by our local guide, who will assist you in setting up the tent. The tent, sleeping bag, and mattress are provided. In cold weather, we will provide you with two sleeping bags in order to fight off the cold and receive a good night’s sleep. Fall asleep as you gaze upon the stars from inside the watchtower.

Good morning!

5:30 am: Wake up to a glorious sunrise. This sunrise is a golden opportunity as it can only be experienced by camping out on The Great Wall. Don’t forget your camera and drone too as this is a wonderful spot for taking photos. 

6:30 am: Enjoy a Continental breakfast. 

 10 am: We will take you to the entrance of Gubei Watertown via our coach bus. Another tour guide will be waiting for you at the entrance to give you the tickets for the Watertown and the Simatai tour. Once you receive the tickets You can begin your adventure alone.

The Simatai section of the Great Wall is situated at Gubeikou, an old town of strategic significance and is now managed by Gubei Watertown Resort. It is among the best-preseved sections of the Great Wall of the Ming Dynasty. The Simatai section spans 5.4 kms and has a total of 35 watchtowers. Due to the safety concern, Gubei Watertown only opens the eastern watchtowers to 10 people at a time. However, you will still see the Single-sided Wall that can only be found at Simatai. Local people refer to this side of the wall as a “Heavenly Stairway” 

This is a fantastic section of the wall characterized by the delicate and unique designs and diversified structures, it incorporates a variety of the styles of other parts of the Great Wall, Simatai is reputed as the Museum of the Great Wall. Besides its picturesque landscapes, Simatai is also a treasure of historical and cultural heritage. 

You may walk and climb to the watchtower #5 and hike from there, or you can take the cable car to go up or down with extra fee.

 Situated in Gubeikou Town of Miyun County in Beijing, Gubei Water Town surrounds the beautiful Mandarin Duck Lake Reservoir and leans against the Simatai Great Wall, the most dangerous and majestic section of the entire Great Wall. Regarded as 'Wuzhen in Beijing', Gubei Water Town boasts a combination of mountains, water and ancient villages.

The water town is built on the former 5 sub natural villages of Simatai Village at the foot of Simatai Great Wall. The Simatai village was developed from Simatai Castle built during the reign of Emperor Wanli ( 1573 -1620 ) in Ming Dynasty (1368–1644).

It is not just a historical water town but is a northern Chinese version of Wuzhen Water Town in the Southern China, has developed into a large-scale sightseeing and holiday destination. Covering an area of 3.5 square miles (9 square kilometers), the holiday resort includes two scenic districts, the Gubei Water Town and the Simatai Great Wall.

3:30 pm: We will return to Beijing via our coach bus.The drop off point is at Dongzhimen Bus Terminal, you can easily transfer from here to subway line 2 or take another bus from here back to your hotel. If you have any questions don’t hesitate your tour guide is more than happy to help.