Contrary to what most people believe, the Great Wall is not one long continuous wall, but rather multiple walls. Each part of the wall is unique and not so unique in its own way. Many travelers often have trouble deciding which part of the Great Wall is the best.
The most popular part of the wall is Badaling and consequently, the part you will want to avoid, especially during Chinese holidays and weekends. While Badaling is quite crowded, it is the most renovated and safest.
Other popular options are Jiankou, Jinshanling, Mutianyu, and Simatai.
I visited Jinshanling, which is considered one of the most beautiful parts of the Great Wall and an excellent place to hike. Unlike Badaling, Jinshanling is more authentic as there is less renovation. I visited in May and saw very few tourists the entire time I was there (4 hours).
Jinshanling is a bit far from Beijing (154 kilometers/96 miles), but worth it if you have the time. Lucky for me, I had some local friends drive me there, but if you don’t have the fortune of having Chinese friends then you can easily take public transportation, which will save you about $50 from having to take a tour from your hostel/hotel.
From Wangjing West Station take the bus bound for Luanping (every 40 minutes between 7:00am-4:30 pm) all the way until you reach the Jinshanling Resting Area next to the highway. From here, take the free shuttle bus the rest of the 6 kilometer journey.
You’ll pay about 23rmb for the bus (one way) and 65rmb for the entrance fee for Jinshanling. To return to Beijing, just go to the visitor’s section of the resting area and take the bus back, which leaves every hour. Ask about the bus schedule at the resting area when you arrive in the morning to avoid any problems later.
