Beijing Transfer to Great Wall: Jinshanling or Simatai

Skip the logistics and get straight to the wall. Your driver handles the route while you decide what to hike.

A transfer service from downtown Beijing hotels to Jinshanling Great Wall or to Simatai Great Wall paired with Gubei Water Town, with hotel pickup and drop-off included. Choose between a shared 7-seat van (Jinshanling only) or private transport, and add a local guide if you want historical detail on the wall itself. Flexible departure times let you chase sunrise, daytime light or sunset views. The standard trip runs 8 to 9 hours. Bottled water and a multilingual driver come with every booking.

The experience

The driver picks you up at your hotel at whatever time you arrange: early for sunrise, midday for steady light, or late afternoon for sunset over the wall. You ride in an air-conditioned vehicle with complimentary bottled water. If you book the shared van option, you're in a 7-seat group heading to Jinshanling. If you choose private transport, the vehicle is yours alone, and you can decide the pace and the stops once you arrive.

Jinshanling Great Wall sits less crowded than the sections near Beijing city, with original wall sections still intact and steep enough for real hiking. Photographers favor it for the unspoiled vistas and the angle of light on the battlements. If you pick the Simatai and Gubei combo instead, you hike the wilder Simatai section first, then move to Gubei Water Town in the evening: lantern-lit streets, waterfront views, and traditional performances happen after dark. Your driver helps arrange entrance tickets at the site (you pay separately for those) and meets you at the parking lot when the day is done.

Adding a guide means someone walks the wall with you and explains the history, the construction, and what you're standing on: useful if the wall's age and the strategy behind its placement matter to you. Without a guide, you explore on your own terms. Either way, the driver speaks multiple languages and carries a translator device, so communication on the road stays smooth. If your day runs longer than the standard 8 to 9 hours, overtime costs USD 15 per hour for transport alone or USD 30 per hour if a guide is with you.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in downtown Beijing.
• bottled water during the ride.
• a professional driver equipped with a multilingual translator device.
• the option to add a local guide who joins your hike and explains the wall's history.
• flexible departure times for sunrise, daytime or sunset visits.

Options for this experience

6 options

Transfer to the Jinshanling Great Wall8 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 14:00Go to Jinshanling Great Wall. Your driver may speak Chinese, but knows exactly where to take you; a phone translator is available. Pickup is included.

Transfer to Gubei Water Town and Simatai8 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 14:00Visit Gubei Water Town and the Simatai Great Wall with this transfer service; entrance fees and meals are at your own expense. Pickup is included.

Transfer at sunrise or sunset7 departure times: the first at 02:00, the last at 16:00Sunrise or sunset transfer: choose this option for a sunrise or sunset transfer service to Jinshanling Great Wall. We will confirm the pickup time with you. Pickup is included.

See 3 more options

Jinshanling shared 7-seat van07:30 and 12:00Jinshanling shared 7-seat van: shared transfer in a 7-seater to Jinshanling Great Wall. Includes the 7-seater vehicle and hotel pickup and drop-off. Entrance fees and a guide are not included. Pickup is included.

Jinshanling Great Wall with a guide8 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 14:00Guided tour: this option includes an English-speaking tour guide and a private transfer. Pickup is included.

Gubei Water Town + Simatai + Guide8 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 14:00Tour with an English-speaking guide to Gubei Water Town and Simatai Great Wall; entrance fees and meals are at your own expense. Pickup is included.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day14 departure times: the first at 02:00, the last at 16:00

AgesAdult (4 to 90 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupPrivate

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availableInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Beijing Driver Guide Service

Is this one for you?Book private transport if your group wants to set the pace and the stops without waiting for others. Book the shared van if you're traveling solo or with one other person and want to split the cost. Add the guide if the wall's history and construction matter to you. Skip it if you prefer to explore and photograph on your own.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Infant (under 4): free.

Can I book a private vehicle just for my group, or do I have to share the van?

Private transport is available for all three destinations: Jinshanling, Simatai, and Gubei Water Town. The shared 7-seat van option is for Jinshanling only. If you want to go to Simatai or Gubei, you book private transport.

What time can the driver pick me up from my hotel?

Departure times are flexible, so you can arrange pickup for sunrise, daytime, or sunset depending on when you want to be on the wall. Confirm your preferred time when you book, and the driver will meet you at your hotel at that hour.

Do I need to buy entrance tickets to the Great Wall separately?

Yes, entrance fees are not included and you pay them at the site. Your driver can help arrange the tickets when you arrive.

What is Gubei Water Town, and what happens there in the evening?

Gubei Water Town is a restored traditional village with lantern-lit streets, waterfront views, and shops. When you visit in the evening as part of the Simatai combo, you can stroll the streets and watch traditional performances after you finish hiking the wall.

Does the guide come with every booking, or is it an add-on?

The guide is optional. You can book transport only and explore the wall independently, or add a local guide who will hike with you and share historical insights about the wall's construction and significance.

What happens if my day runs longer than 8 or 9 hours?

Overtime is charged at USD 15 per hour for transport-only service or USD 30 per hour if a guide is included. Confirm any overtime with your driver before the extra time begins.