Jinshanling is an outstanding place to access the wall and Catherine Lu's driver a great way to get there - The Great Wall is undoubtedly one of the most impressive sights in the world and walking along (a short part of it) is a truly memorable experience. Jinshanling is the best place to see it if you're in Beijing - even at the height of summer there were very few people, the access to the wall is easy (a ropeway for an extra charge or gentle walk along a very well maintained wide path), the condition of the wall is superb and the views are spectacular. Catherine Lu tours provided an excellent driver for us to take us from central Beijing to Jinshanling - the vehicle was in good condition, the driving was safe and the driver communicated well via wechat (translating). The journey took around 2-2 and a half hours each way. We chose not to take a guide - the driver made sure we headed off in the right direction and its very easy to find your way around. Jinshanling itself has places to buy snacks and drinks (and there are a few vendors on the wall selling souvenirs and snacks).

Thank you Catherine Lu Tours - Jinshanling is one of the best preserved sections of the Great Wall. We were lucky to have May as our tour guide and to have good weather that day and to enjoy the beautiful views. The car was clean and comfortable.

Justin top player! - We had a great local experience with Justin. Great food experience, the best we had in Beijing. We definitely recommend it!!!

This is the way to go! - Without doubt the way to go if your in Beijing and looking to spend time and see the Great Wall. I had seen at first hand the crowds when trying to see and experience the main sights around the city and was warned that it would be the same at best or most likely worse when it came to visiting any of the traditional wall sites outside Beijing. After reading about this trip and specifically the mention of it not been so busy, I had to give it a go. I must admit, I was a bit worried that the tour might not be as was and that we’d come away disappointed but absolutely not the case. From the start, our guide Eric rang the hotel the day before to ensure we were all set and turned up on time with driver. Eric is a great guide. Energetic, polite, knowledgeable and has a passion for what he does. The section of the wall is a little further out from Beijing but absolutely no queues or mayhem! We got to see the wall at our leisure and had a great chat with Eric along our hike about the Wall and wider Chinese history. The lunch nearby was delicious and plentiful. The local family who prepared the food were so friendly even though English was in short supply. They made sure we had plenty to eat and made a big deal about our two kids! I fully advise anyone who wants to see the Wall to seriously consider this option and with Eric as a guide, you won’t be disappointed. The hike along the wall is a good challenge in places and this shoukd be kept in mind but there is cable car option there too which we didn’t use.

Amazing Great Wall Trip - I took a delightful day trip to the Great Wall with an amazing guide, May. She made the experience memorable from start to finish. We went to one of the sections that is less crowded and has great scenic views. The views and environment were amazing. The section of the Wall was well preserved. Overall, I would highly recommend May because she is knowledgeable and approachable, and will make your experience amazing!

Excellent, even in rain - The drive from Beijing to Jinshanling was about two hours, but after the first hour the scenery becomes quite beautiful and is worth the trip. Although it was raining/foggy the day we visited, the Great Wall actually turned out to be very aesthetic in the mist. The Jinshanling section feels very isolated and has a rugged beauty. Plus, the weather wasn’t too hot. It also wasn’t too crowded, and we got some excellent photos! Our guide, May, was enthusiastic and very accommodating. She helped us change from a hike to a cable-car at the last minute because it was raining. Then, she let us wander around the wall as much as we wanted and didn’t force us to visit gift shops or anything. Lunch was good, too. Because we had extra time, May arranged for us to also visit the Heavenly Temple that afternoon (which we were otherwise worried we wouldn’t get to visit before we left Beijing). I would highly recommend the Jinshanling section of the Great Wall (rain or shine) and May as a guide!

Amazing tour to the Great Wall at Jinshanling - Wow, what an amazing experience! Brad was a fantastic guide. We hiked for about 2.5 hours, including walking up to the Wall to avoid the cable car. We walked for about 6km, with 327m of climbing, including plenty of stops for photos. There are some steep sections, so you need to be reasonably fit, but anyone who has done any hill walking would be OK with this. The views are spectacular and there were no crowds. Jinshanling is definitely an excellent place to visit the Great Wall. After the hike we had an delicious lunch at a local restaurant. The food was very good. Our driver did a great job getting us to the Wall and back. We requested a 7am pickup from our hotel, which was perfect for us. We were dropped off back at the hotel at 3pm, so this was an 8 hour trip. Everything was perfect. Thank you Brad and Catherine. Very highly recommended.

Almost lost for words at this remarkable part of history. - It was a 'wow' moment from the time we got on the wall and the best word I can use to describe our visit was incredible. Justin was our guide and was knowledgeable and friendly. Private transfer tour is definitely the way to go for comfort especially on a hot day! We enjoyed a delicious lunch with lots of vegetables for me and a spicy chicken dish for my husband, along with rice - we were stuffed full at the end. For me taking an umbrella on a very hot day well into the 30's C was a godsend and highly recommended for taking the edge off the unrelenting heat beating down. There were also hardly any people on the wall which made it more pleasant than fighting with crowds of people like back in Beijing. I highly recommend this part of the wall to visit if you have the time to do a day trip. Catherine Lu Tours is a reputable and trustworthy company to deal with.

Exciting day hike to EXPERIENCE the Great Wall - This trip was fun and exciting for my teenage daughter and I. We request an early start at 7:30am, and our tour guide May showed up at the hotel with the driver on time. It took about 2.5 hour of driving to reach that section of the Great Wall. May is knowledgeable and gave us a lot of information and interesting stories about the Great Wall during the drive. May is extremely fit, and she adjusted her pace to allow us time to appreciate the breathtaking views and the historical significance of the towers and the wall. Compared to the more touristy and crowded BaDaLin or MuTianYu sections of the Great Wall, Jinshanling Great Wall is very quiet and has no crowd. We bumped into several hikers along the way, but a lot of the time we are the only group on the wall. The views are spectacular and inspiring. The hike is a bit challenging for several steep sections of the wall and initial ascent to the first tower, but I would rate it as moderate overall. I highly recommend this tour. It is a pretty long day with the commuting and hiking, and a relaxed lunch after the hike, but well worth the time. Thank you May and Catherine!

Day tour of Jinshanling Section of The Great Wall - I truly enjoyed this tour. Angel led the way again. She is a real trooper. They say you are a Hero if you can climb up to and walk The Great Wall. She does it all the time, so that tells you great she is! I had been to Mutianyu, but I feel like this section was much better. The first half of the wall was in original state and felt more Authentic. The second half had been remodeled. The views were fantastic. It was the perfect day. We only saw maybe 50 people in total. If you are looking for a wall visit that is not super busy like Badaling and some of the others, this is place to go. Be warned though, there are some steep climbs. You're the best Angel!