Standing in the Gubeikou Town of Miyun County about 120 kilometers from Beijing, Simatai Great Wall stretches 5.4 km from the Wangjinglou Tower in the east and connects to the Jinshanling Great Wall in the west.It is the only part of the Great Walls that still has the original appearance of the Ming Dynasty.
Its construction started in the early Hongwu years (1368-1398) of the Ming Dynasty. Like most sections of the Ming Dynasty Great Wall often visited today, this section was also built under the supervision of General Qi Jiguang.
Simatai Great Wall is known for its steepness and intactness. The main tourist attractions include the Stairway to Heaven, the Fairy Tower, the Heaven Bridge and the Wangjinglou Tower.
In the valley, the Simatai Great Wall is separated into two parts by the Simatai Reservoir, over which a chain bridge runs through east to west. Like two huge golden dragons, the two parts of the Great Wall wind down from the east and west mountains into the reservoir, forming a wonderful reflection of the magnificent Great Wall in the clear blue water.
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.
The watchtowers on the Simatai Great Wall exhibit a refined design and various structures. The most celebrated are the Wangjinglou (means Watching Beijing Tower), where one can enjoy lights of Beijing at night in the distance, and Xiannulou (means Angel's Tower), which is characterized by its exquisite structure,with no reference concerning its name origin. 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.
It has been listed by the UNESCO as one of the World Cultural Heritages.
Admission Fee: 35 RMB
Opening Hours: 08:00 -17:00
Hiking to Jinshanling Great Wall: 4 hours.
Time for visit only Simatai: 2 hours
Beijing Tour Routes Includes Simatai Great Wall
BD-10. Simatai Great Wall
Chinatravelkey can arrange the Simatai Great Wall to replace Badaling Great Wall in the following itinerary based on extra 25 USD per person:
Xingang Beijing Tour
BX-1. Xingang Beijing 2 days (no hotel)
BX-2. Xingang Beijing 2 days tour
BX-3. Xingang Beijing 4 days tour
BD-11. Xingang Beijing 1 day tour
Seat in Coach Beijing Tour
BST-1. Great Wall tour bus tour
Beijing Xian Tour
BJXA-3. Beijing Xian 4 days tour
BJXA-4. Beijing Xian 7 days tour
BJXA-5. Beijing Xian 9 days tour
Beijing Chengde Tour
BJCD-2. Beijing Chengde 6 days tour
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