Great Wall at Shanhaiguan Pass (Zhendong Gate), Hebei, China

4IlyaRivkin 5:00 PM Apr 29, 2014

Shanghaiguan - one day trip (from Beijing)
I would suggest to wait for a good day and then go but you might ave problem to get early ticket for Dong che (bukket train). The ride will take you 2 hours and a half and it will arrive to the new train station. From there either a bus or a electric rickshaw (you can ask him to wait for you for additional fee), 1￥ either one to the main attraction LAOLONGTOU. There was a taxi driver that offered to go to a 10km ride out of the city for a nice great wall view but I didn't have time. There is another place called jianshan (or something) but it is closed now.. I've decided to go first to laolongtou because it's the main thing to see. a nice place where the great wall meets the see. You can spend there about 2 hours wondering around. get off the entrance and walk to the shrine along the beach to get a better view of the place. It was pretty windy so I suggest to bring some clothes. After finishing there I headed back to the city. The old city is surrounded by a wall with 4 gates. I've entered through the south gate and walked all the way up the main street till I got to the Drum or bell tower (you can't miss it in the middle of the street) and turned right (east) to get to the "FIRST PASS UNDER HEAVEN". It's the first pass through the great wall. The place now is under construction but you can climb it and walk both ways. TICKETS- there are several inclussive tickets. so get what youu need. If you don't plan to climb the drum tower and finished laolongtou get the simple ticket (around 20￥) From there you can head out via the main street (southwards) after passing few buildings on the right you'll get to the Museum of the great wall (which is very impressive) - it is free but closed on Mondays. if you go out through the gate that is located at the end of the street you will get to train station. I greatly recommend turning west (before you go out of the old city) to stroll the Hutongs of the old city if you have the time. It is a very nice experience to see how the people live there and it's different from Beijing Do not be afraid, you won't get lost. TICKET FAIR - Regular seat in a D... train will cost you 7 Yuan one way. First class will cost 92.5 Yuan one way took the second train around 10:00 and the tran back at 17:30 and was enough, Although if you take the 7am train you can take it easy and enjoy lunch or something. I would suggest bringing food with you. If you are planning to stay the night check which hotel can accommodate yo (not all can).

5Jaxomsyd79 5:00 PM Mar 2, 2018

A great alternative to visiting Beijing area Great Wall areas
Having been to the Great Wall in the Beijing area on a previous trip, we went for an alternative experience at Shanhaiguan to see the Wall from the sea and into the mountains. We visited with a private day tour with a long train trip from and back to Beijing. The tour was quite helpful for us as tourists only speaking English as getting around from the train station in other areas in Shanhaiguan, while not impossible for tourists, would be challenging. In the off season there were no crowds which was nice. The museum is worthwhile and informative. It has English translation for English-speaking visitors. The wall and gate at the Pass is great. Quite expansive in its' rebuilt/maintained form and worth a good amount of time walking about and on top of. The town surrounding the wall is also quite interesting. Just nearby we did a tour of a large family house/compound once owned by a local wealthy family. Our guide in his childhood had lived there after it was converted to communal housing by the local Party redistribution of land in the area in the 50s and gave us some interesting insight. For photo taking purposes, just be mindful that if you visit during a bad pollution period for Beijing, the area between Shanghaiguan and Beijing is where a lot of steel production and other industry happens and so don't expect the pollution to dissipate at all. We earlier climbed the wall in the mountains nearby and visited the Dragon's Head as the Wall starts at/reaches the sea. Both great for visits and recommended.