Simatai Great Wall Information and Tips

The Great Wall at Simatai is famous for its “wildness”. It's a 5.4 km long wall built on cragged mountain ridges. The tour takes about 4-5 hours' hike with some steep steps. The wall here is partially covered with overgrown brambles and pointed stones that look so deserted. It's a classic and exciting, yet wild route!

120km away from the capital, the Great Wall at Simatai is located in Miyun County, northeast of Beijing.  It was built in the North Qi Dynasty (550-557), maintained in Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), and again refurbished by the Chinese government in 1987 before re-opening to the public in 1990. The Great Wall at Simatai section boasts the best among all Chinese Great Walls.

Real hikers like Simatai.

Divided by the Mandarin Duck Lake, watchtowers are equally separated on both sides of the Simatai Great Wall, linked by a hanging bridge.

Decorated with marble arches and lotus, the Fairy Tower is one of the most gorgeous watchtowers. In close proximity is the “Heaven Bridge” with only one brick narrow," bridge" standing along the abyssal cliffs leading to the peak where you're able to enjoy the view of Beijing.

Simatai has been reconstructed since 2011; until now, only ten towers in the east part of Simatai are opened to the public; also, renowned attractions like Fairy Tower and Sky Bridge are closed due to safety reasons.

However, this trivia can't stop enthusiastic travelers from visiting Simatai, since most of them know Simatai provides a more “authentic” wall experience than the Great Wall at Badaling or Mutianyu. Climbing along the uphill path, patchy walls and ruined paths built among the deep valleys assure that you're already standing on one of the wonders on earth.

Vigorous and forceful, Simatai Great Wall easily gives an illusion of a wounded dragon creeping along the mountains

What to Do:

1.  The famous Simatai to Jinshanling hiking route is blocked for construction purposes until further notice. As an alternative, you could hike from Jinshanling to Gubeikou.

2.  Now only the 1st to the 10th watchtowers at the east side of the Mandarin Duck Lake are opened to visitors.

3.  Photo shooting.

4.  To accelerate your climbing, you can use the two cable cars located at the 5th watchtower and the 8th watch tower respectively. 

Tips:

1.  It's recommended that you bring 3 to 4 bottles of water in summer.

2.  Bring comfortable footwear for hiking is necessary.

3.  In winter (after November) and spring (March and April), don't forget to bring a jacket to keep warm from chilly winds.

4.  As you may bushwhack through the journey, a trekking pole and a pair of hiking gloves could protect you from the brambles.

5.  Be alert that local hawkers may tail you, and offer assistance along the way in order to sell their food, souvenirs…You have to say no to them at the very beginning when encountering this.

6.  The section installed with zipping line/ flying fox is under restoration and was closed until further notice.

Note: Fishing, swimming in the lake, or camping on the wall is forbidden.

Know More: Mutianyu, Jiankou, Gubeikou, Jinshanling, Huanghuacheng, Badaling Great Wall & Badaling Remnant Great Wall

To know more details and tips about the Great Wall, you can reach us via trip@odynovotours.com