Originally Posted by
sniles
If you are in good shape and have a full day (and driver to pick you up at the other end) i would opt for Simatai. Its a great hike. Its a little further away from Beijing than the others but well worth it.
Hiked this stretch about a year ago and it was fantastic. Few touts, yet one of them was running around with a box of ice cream.
You do however get the local 'tail' hoping for a chance to help you with something for a tip.
The stretch had, at most, 3 buses worth of tourists. Relatively empty and beautiful.