The Great Wall of China at Simatai Section

Simatai Great Wall is regarded as "the most representative section of the Great Wall in China". It is also a time-honored section, which still retains its original look. Compared with other sections, the Great Wall at Simatai has its own features, such as being quieter with fewer visitors, perilous, steep, dense, peculiar, and an exceptional example of architectural art.

Why You Should Visit Simatai Great Wall?

• The Great Wall at Simatai is one of the few sections that still retains its original look. You can witness and experience the most authentic historic artwork there.
• It's one of the steepest sections of the Great Wall and was built along the ridges of mountains.
• Dense watchtowers. A watchtower is located every 100 to 200 meters, which is denser than other sections.
• Night view. It's the only section of the Great Wall where you can admire the night view and enjoy a romantic nighttime stroll.
• Traditional Chinese water town. Gubei Water Town is located at the foot of the Great Wall at Simatai, which was built according to the traditional Chinese southern architectural style.

Simatai Great Wall's Facts

• Who Built It?
• The Simatai section of the Great Wall was built by a famous general named Qi Jiguang (1528–1588) in the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644).

• When Was It Built?
• The Great Wall at Simatai was first constructed in the Northern Qi Dynasty (550–577), and was rebuilt and extended in the Ming Dynasty.

• How Long and How Wide Is It?
• It is 5.4 kilometers long and the narrowest part is just 40 centimeters wide.

• Open Sections
• Up to now, Tower 1 and Tower 10 are the only ones open to visitors.

• Physical Challenge
• Make sure you are physically fit because it's a challenging section of the Great Wall. If you have knee problems, you should think about your condition carefully.

Dazzling Night View of the Great Wall at Simatai

As night falls, the Great Wall at Simatai is lit up to resemble a huge dragon that is eager to fly into the sky. It's romantic to admire the beautiful night view while hanging out in a traditional Chinese water town, which is located at the foot of the Great Wall at Simatai. Don't worry about the safety of climbing at night. The section for walking at night is flat without steps or going through steep mountains. Enjoy your nighttime stroll across the Great Wall at Simatai.

Travel Tips for the Great Wall at Simatai

• Admission fee: 40 yuan
• Opening hours:
• Daytime — April to October, 8am to 6pm; November to March, 8am to 5:30pm
• Night — April to October, 6pm to 10pm; November to March, 5:30pm to 9pm
• Open sections at night: East Tower 5 and East Tower 6
• Cable car: 90 yuan (single trip), 160 yuan (round trip)
• Location: Gubeikou Town, Miyun County, Beijing; it's about 120 kilometers from central Beijing
• Best times: April, May, September, or October. The weather is comfortable for visitors while the scenery is wonderful.

Make Enough Preparations

• Go in a group, not alone. You may need help when you climb up steep steps and mountain paths.
• Take plenty of energy drinks and food. It's hard to find a store on the mountains.
• Wear proper shoes and clothing. You need to climb mountains for about 3 hours, so wearing the correct footwear and clothing is helpful.
• Carry a backpack to keep your hands free so you can grab grasses or bushes when climbing in steep areas.
• If you want to explore the unopened section, you should prepare professional hiking equipment, such as an alpenstock, kneepads, and a mountaineering suit.

Make a Reservation in Advance

In order to guarantee the safety of visitors, tourist numbers are limited in each time interval. Therefore, you need to make a reservation in advance; if you don’t, a ticket may not be available when you arrive there.

• Step 1: Make a reservation — apply 1 to 10 days beforehand.
• Step 2: Use your real identity to buy a ticket because your ID will be checked.
• Step 3: You will receive a booking confirmation and need to remember the details. Visit the Great Wall at Simatai within the period of validity.
• Step 4: Buy an entry ticket with your booking confirmation in the visitor center.

How to Get There

It takes about 2 hours to get from Beijing’s city center to the Great Wall at Simatai. There is no direct bus, so you have to transfer between buses.

• Step 1: Go to Dongzhimen Bus Station, and take bus 980 to Miyun Town.
• Step 2: Take a taxi to the Great Wall at Simatai. Try to make a bargain with the taxi driver.

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