Private Jinshanling Great Wall Day from Beijing

Mutianyu and Badaling are the most visited sections of the Great Wall near Beijing. Jinshanling is the one people choose when they would rather walk than queue. The listing describes it as less developed and a favourite with photographers and hikers. The listing counts 67 watchtowers along it, built in different styles at intervals of about 150 metres.

Your guide and a private car collect you from your hotel lobby at a time you choose. The drive to Jinshanling takes about two and a half hours, and the guide uses it to explain the history and stories of the wall while you watch the countryside outside Beijing change. On arrival there is no fixed programme. You decide how far to hike and how long to stay, and the guide goes with you, takes photographs of your group and answers questions on the way.

The tour is sold with options, including combination days that pair the wall with another sight; choose these on the booking page, because the price and the details change with the combination. The highlights mention a local lunch, but the entrance ticket and meal arrangements vary by option, so read what your chosen version includes before you pay. The whole day takes nine to ten hours.

Bring shoes with a good grip, water and sun protection. The wall here is hilly and parts are steep. Because the tour is private, the pace is yours.

Jinshanling lies in Hebei province, a little over two hours by road north-east of Beijing, which is why the day is long. The wall here was rebuilt in the Ming dynasty, and the listing traces its first construction to the sixth century. It is often walked towards Simatai, the next section, but how far you can go depends on the option you book and on conditions at the time, so confirm the plan with your guide. Bring water, a hat and shoes with a firm sole; there is little shade on the wall.

It is booked through GetYourGuide, which shows free cancellation, so check the cutoff for your date. This day suits travellers who have already seen the busy sections or who want space for photography and hiking. If you want the easiest approach, with cable-car access, a Mutianyu day is the simpler choice.