Great Wall of China - Jinshanling Section

UNESCO World Heritage Site (The Great Wall, 1987) · Chengde, Hebei

The photographers' Great Wall: a Ming-dynasty stretch rebuilt from about 1567 under the generals Qi Jiguang and Tan Lun, riding a chain of steep ridges in Luanping County, Hebei, about 130 km northeast of central Beijing. Its dense line of watchtowers, many with elaborate brick vaults, barrier walls pierced with arrow slits, and bricks still stamped with the names of the army units that made them, make it one of the finest surviving examples of Ming military engineering. The eastern section is carefully restored while stretches beyond fade into crumbling wild wall, so walkers see both faces of the Wall in a single hike. Far quieter than Badaling or Mutianyu, it is famous for sunrise and sunset light and for winter snow. A cable car climbs to the Small Jinshan Tower, but the old walking link to Simatai is closed.

Jinshanling Great Wall Scenic Area, Bakeshiying Town, Luanping County, Chengde, Hebei, China

Daily; main gate roughly early morning to late afternoon or early evening depending on season (sources vary from about 6:00-17:00 in winter to 4:00-18:30 in summer). Cable car about 8:00-17:00, usually paused for winter maintenance.

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