Lying in the Gubeikou Town northeast of Miyun County about 120 kilometers (75 miles) from Beijing, the Simatai Great Wall stretches about five kilometers (three miles) from the Wangjinglou Tower in the east and connects to the Jinshanling Great Wall in the west. It has 35 beacon towers. Constructed under the supervision of Qi Jiguang, a famous general in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), it is the only part of the Great Walls that still has the original appearance of the Ming Dynasty.
The Simatai Great Wall is celebrated for its steepness, queerness and intactness. The main tourist attractions include the Stairway to Heaven, the Fairy Tower, the Heaven Bridge and the Wangjinglou Tower.
The Simatai Great Wall is divided into eastern and western parts by a lake, named the Mandarin Duck Lake, which is fed by two springs. One is warm, the other is cold. Even in winter, the surface of the lake will never ice up.
The eastern part of the Great Wall has 15 watchtowers and was constructed on the steep ridge of the mountain. It looks like a winding dragon jumping out of the lake. There tourists can appreciate the Stairway to Heaven, the Fairy Tower, the Heaven Bridge and the Wangjinglou Tower.
In order to reach the Fairy Tower, tourists must climb the 85 degree slope Stairway to Heaven which is about 100 meters (328 feet) long and allows only one person to pass. Legend has it that the Fairy Tower was transformed from an antelope and that once the Lotus Flower Fairy lived there, hence its name. On the tower, there are some marble arches carved with lotus patterns.
With a height of about 1,000 meters (3,281 feet) above sea level, the Wangjinglou Tower is built on the highest part of the Great Wall. Between the Fairy Tower and the Wangjinglou is the Heaven Bridge, built across a deep abyss. Standing on the Wangjinglou Tower one can see the outline of Beijing City.
Compared with eastern part of the Great Wall, the western part is smoother. One can enjoy the intact pack walls, crenels, and kylin, animal and flower embossments.
Simatai also offers a wide range of activities. Tourists can go boating, swimming or fishing in the Mandarin Duck Lake.
| Admission Fee: | CNY 40 |
| Cable Way: | CNY 50 (Round Trip) CNY 30 (One Way) |
| Express Train to the Peak: | CNY 30 (Round Trip) CNY 20 (One Way) |
| Slippery Rope plus Boat: | CNY 35 |
| Boat: | CNY 10 |
Simatai Travel Tips
Mutianyu Great Wall Transportationa. Beijing Hub of Tour Dispatch has tourist buses to Simatai Great Wall.
| Departure time | Location | Address |
| 09:00 (Monday - Friday) | Tiananmen Dispatch Branch Center | No.1 Qianmen, Xi Da Jie, the southwest corner of Tiananmen Square |
| 07:30 – 08:30 (Saturday and Sunday) | Xuanwumen Dispatch Branch Center | Exit B, Subway Line 2, the northeast corner of Xuanwumen Road |
| Time | Price |
| Monday to Friday | Four People: CNY 300 per adult and CNY 280 per student Five to Eleven People: CNY 220 per adult and CNY 200 per student Twelve People and the above: CNY 160 per adult and CNY 140 per student |
| Weekends and Public Holidays | CNY 160 per adult and CNY 140 per student |
Note: The above prices include the round trip bus tickets and the ticket of Simatai Great Wall. Visitors are arranged to have a three hour tour on Simatai Great Wall. The tickets are available at No.5 and No.6 window at each visitors dispatch branch center. Tel: 010-83531111/66015622/66070900
b. Take a bus to Fengshan, Hebei at Beijing Dongzhimen long distance bus station. It will take you to Gubeikou from where you can climb to Simatai Great Wall.
c. Take bus No.980 to Miyun County at Beijing Dongzhimen long distance bus station. Around Gulou Dajie Street in Miyun County, there are taxies to Simatai Great Wall.
Dining at Mutianyu
Around Simatai Great Wall, there are many farmhouses serving the authentic "peasant dishes". Visitors are suggested to taste the local famous dish – Kuai Dun Fish (Stewed Fish). The fish are boiled in the water where it was lived, as the locals believe the fish tastes fresh cooked in this way. The fish soup is as white as milk, tasty and healthy.
Accommodation at Mutianyu
A room to accommodate four people in the hostels at the foot of Simatai Great Wall often charge CNY 15/person/night. The local inns cost CNY30-CNY40 per person. Visitors can also find a lodging at a villager' home in Hua Gou Lou Village.
Warm Prompt
a. Badly out of repair for years, Simatai Great Wall is noted for its great danger. Simatai Reservoir divides it into the eastern and western sections which are linked by a suspension bridge. For safety concerns and the protection of the wild wall, visitors are only allowed to climb the sections between the No.1 and No.4 gate towers in the eastern section. From the No.4 to the No.16 gate tower (also Wangjing Tower) where the famous "Single Wall" and "Sky Stair" are located, the wall has been neglected for years and skirts the edge of bottomless abyss. In the past, it was often reported that some visitors have lost their lives when ventured across this section, therefore, currently, it is forbidden to pass through this part of the wall. Please always remember that safety comes first!
b. Prepare enough water. The water is sold almost at every gate tower. But a bottle of water of 500 ml will charge visitors about CNY 10, which is much more expensive than the normal price.
Copyright© 1998-2009 TravelChinaGuide.com, All rights reserved.
Travelers' Voices on Simatai Great Wall
1.
Mar. 26,2009 03:38 Reply
Mrs.Arapin(Thailand) said:
If I go to Simatai Great Wall by myself :
Take No. 980 or 970 city bus at Dongzhimen in Beijing to Miyun County and then get on the bus to the Simatai Great Wall.
1.What is bus number that I will take at Miyun Country to Simatai ?
2.Does the bus reach to Simatai ?
3.How much is cost of bus ?
4.How long is the bus from Miyun to Simatai ?
God bless you.
Mar. 29,2009 20:24
Ms.Cora(Cora) replied:
Hi, Mrs. Arapin,
There are taxies which take you to Simatai Great Wall. You can bargin with the taxi driver for a good price to take you directly to Simatai.
Have a nice trip!
Jun. 6,2009 13:55
Ms.Dora(Portugal) replied:
Hi,
In what district is Dongzhimen? Where is that? I haven't found any timetables for the no. 980 ou 970, can you tell me where can i find?
Thank you
Jun. 6,2009 22:01
Mr.Smith replied:
To Ms.Dora,
Dongzhimen is located in Dongcheng District. The bus no.980 runs from Dongzhimen Wai (Out of Dongzhimen) to Miyun Long-distance bus station between 05:50 and 20:00. The bus no.970 also runs from Dongzhimen Wai (Out of Dongzhimen) to Miyun Long-distance bus station, but between 05:40 and 19:00.
Jun. 25,2009 15:58
Mrs.Dora(Portugal) replied:
Hello,
Sorry to bother you again. Are there any buses, instead of taxis, from Miyun to Simatai? And to come back? Is easy? Do you think a whole day is enough to go and come back?
Thank you,
Dora
2.
Jun. 23,2009 04:08 Reply
Mr.survivor(Australia) said:
Simatai Great Wall is too dangerous! Most of the wall have no handrails, and the deep cliff is just located beside the wall! I don't think a visitor who is afraid of high places should go there! Thanks goodness that I come from there ALIVE!
3.
Jun. 23,2009 03:59 Reply
Mr.Wilfrid(USA) said:
I wore backpack to climb Simatai. It is a wise decision because the mountains are too steep, there are many unexpected ups and downs. Most of the time you should use four limbs to climb the wall, and prepare enough water, a bottle of water sold at CNY 2 at the foot of the mountain, while on the mountain, it is sold at least CNY 3. You'd better bargin with the seller.
4.
Jun. 22,2009 04:32 Reply
Mrs.Smyth(China) said:
I plan to travel to the Great Wall with my daugher, who is 5 years old. Is visiting Simatai recommended?
JS
Jun. 22,2009 20:37
Ms.Hannah(China) replied:
Hi, Mrs.Smyth. If you go to Simatai alone, maybe it is a good choice, but since you will go there with your five years old daughter, I do not recommend Simatai to you. Because Simatai is a wild wall without being repaird. Many bricks on the wall are loosen and there are no handrails to help you go up and down in many parts. Most stairs are quite steep located beside the cliffs. I suggest you visit Badaling or Mutianyu, they are repaired walls which are safer to you and your daughter. Good trip!
5.
Jun. 20,2009 06:14 Reply
Mr.Hammer(USA) said:
Hi,
I wish to go to Simatai Great Wall next week.
Do you know if one is allowed to go to Heaven Bridge and Wangjinglou Tower?
If not, do you recommend to go there anyhow? Should I rather go to the western part of Simatai Great Wall?
Moreover, do you know a rather cheap place to stay for a night close to Simatai?
Many thanks!
Jun. 21,2009 03:01
Ms.Turdie replied:
The Heaven Bridge and Wangjinglou Tower are forbidden to visit because they are too dangerous. The western section of Simatai is safer and flat than the eastern section, so you can visit the western section. There are many farmhouses near Simatai Great Wall which are cheap and selective. You can lodge in a farmhouse in Huagoulou Village at the foot of the wall. It costs CNY 30 to CNY 40 per person. Good trip!
6.
Jun. 20,2009 21:43 Reply
Mr.Simon said:
I take a bus from Dongzhimen long distance bus station to Miyun County, and I hired a local bus to the wall, the whole trip costs me RMB 250. The wall is steep indeed, espeically in rains the stairs are rather slippery, so don't go there in rains or storms or snows. The most dangerous section is closed. Visitors should take care when visit Simatai.
7.
Jun. 16,2009 02:04 Reply
Mr.RICHARD8(Australia) said:
I wish to do a walk along the sections of the wall from Simatai to Jinshanling. Is this possible to do the complete walk? How long does it take? How far from Beijing and how long does it take to get there? Can one hire someone to drive one to Simatai and pick up from Jinshanling and to return to Beijing?
Jun. 16,2009 04:56
Mr.Lemon replied:
Some visitors finish the trip from Simatai to Jinshanling. They spend four hours for the whole trip. You have to prepare enough water and energy as there are some difficult sections which would take you more time and energy. Simatai is about 75 miles from Beijing. You can take a taxi to Simatai and discuss with the driver to see whether or not he would like to wait you in Jinshanling to take you to Beijing. If he does not agree, it doesn't matter, you will find many minibuses around Jinshanling which can take you back. Good trip!
Jun. 16,2009 22:35
Mr.spiteri(Australia) replied:
hi mr richard8,
my name is martin and i am about to do that journey starting tommorow. i look forward too passing that info onto you.
Jun. 17,2009 22:37
Mr.Richard8(Australia) replied:
Thank you Mr Lemon, most useful information. Mr Spiteri I look forward to your experiences.
8.
May. 10,2009 20:08 Reply
Ms.Sue(Bel) said:
Thank you Mr Wang,
But I also found this info:
There are three long-distance buses that run to nearby cities such as Beijing,Tianjin, Shijiazhuang, and Zhangjiakou daily from Chengde.
Mini buses run every 30 minutes from 06:00 until 16:00 between Chengde Long-distance Bus Station andBeijing Xizhimen Long-distance Station daily.
--> So there are busses going to Chengde from Beijing, from two stations, Xizhimen and Dongzhimen?
--> If yes, which is the nearest busstation to Simatai?
--> Does the longdistance bus have a busnumber?
Thank you,
Regards
May. 10,2009 21:33
Ms.Evelyn(China) replied:
Yes, there are long-distance buses from Dongzhimen or Xizhimen bus station to Chengde. The service hours of the buses at Xizhimen Bus Station is from 04:50 to 24:00. The distance is 233 kilometers and it takes about 4.5 hours to get to Chengde.
I'm sorry I cannot find any information about Dongzhimen bus schedule.But actually the runtime of Dongzhimen bus to Chengde is as much as that of Xizhimen.
9.
May. 8,2009 10:44 Reply
Ms.Sue(Bel) said:
Hey,
This summer I would like to visit Simatai with some friends and then travel from Simatai to Chengde.
Is there any bus that goes from Simatai to Chengde?
Thanks for your advice.
Sue
May. 9,2009 03:40
Mr.Wang replied:
Hi, there is no direct bus from Simatai to Chengde, but there is a bus to Chengde at Beijing Dongzhimen Bus Station. You can return to Beijing Dongzhimen Bus Station after you visit Simatai. It is located at No.45 DongZhiMen WaiXieJie in Chaoyang District.
Good trip!
10.
May. 6,2009 02:11 Reply
Mrs.Keren(USA) said:
Does anyone know how long is the drive from Chang Ling ming tombs to Simatai?
May. 7,2009 04:33
Mr.Gu replied:
Less than one hour, not very far.