Constructed during the Ming Dynasty in 1368 CE, the Jinshanling section of the Great Wall is famous for its many watchtowers and stunning vistas as the rest of the wall stretches out to the east and west. On a clear night, it's possible to see the milkyway. One of the best times to go is in April when the trees are blooming and the landscape comes alive!

The hike is not too strenuous, but there are many steep sections of the wall where the stairs are uneven and treacherous. From the ticket gate (65 RMB), the quickest way up is to the Shalingkou pass. From there, you can't go wrong in either heading east or west.

Getting There: There are many ways to get to Jingshanling from Beijing. During the summer months of peak travel there is a tourist bus that departs from Wangjing West subway stop on line 13/15. The bust departs at 8am and returns from Jinshanling at 3pm. You can also take the bus to Luanping (滦平县) which also departs from outside the Wangjing West subway station and get off at the Jinshanling service area stop. From there, you can either hike the few remaining miles to the gate or hire a driver. The bus leaves around every hour between 7am-4:30pm from Wangjing going there and 6am-4pm coming back.

• Note on Camping: camping on the Great Wall is popular with many people, and the rules and legality of it are still unclear in many places. Jinshanling has a campsite in the valley near the base of the wall. I would suggest camping there and going up at night to see the stars. If you do camp on the wall, you do so at your own risk and please respect the environment. It is a UNESCO world heritage site.