Originally Posted by
dkrt
Question - On our trip to the Great Wall we are going to avoid Badaling and head for Jinshanling to get dropped off, then hike to Simatai. Does anyone know if taxis are available and waiting there at Simatai for hire back to Beijing?
Not taxis as such. You need to return to the main road where you can flag down buses en route from Chengde to Beijing. There may be farm vehicles willing to take you to the road, and minibuses from Miyun looking for hire, although with an outrageous idea of what's a fair price. From Miyun you can also get a bus.
You're best to reach Simatai by mid-afternoon if you don't wish to get stranded or be faced with a long walk, or find your choices so limited that you have to pay a very high price.
Peter N-H
China