[2025 Beijing Attraction] Travel Guide for Simatai Great Wall (Updated May)

The entrance to Simatai Great Wall is at Gubei Water Town. So, when you travel here, you get 2 places for 1 trip. To climb, you can start from the 1st tower by going through a wooden pathway then walk around 10 minutes to arrive at the 1st tower from the wall entrance. Or, you can choose to take the rail and directly go up to a point where you can choose to go to Tower 5 or to tower 8 (See map on the pictures). Don't worry, whichever pathway you choose, all are equally not easy. #china #greatwall #greatwallofchina #china #chinatrip

Family booked a tour to Beijing W Town (古北水镇), located at the border of Beijing Province and approximately 2 hours away by bus, on a whim. Since we went during the low tourist season (mid-March), the place was practically deserted, save for a few tourists and mostly empty places. Weather was hotter than typical winter day though, peaking at 15+ degrees celsius. Funny that there’s 2 Lawson convenience stores in very close proximity of each other though. There’s a small clinic there as well just in case. There are some activities that may interest families (not me though haha), such as cloth dyeing amongst others. If you plan on climbing the Si Ma Tai Great Wall (司马台长城), do take note of the following: 1) Wear shoes with good grip - so that you do not accidentally slip and fall. The path straight up to the 8th Tower consists of rough, steep and narrow stairs. I was afraid of climbing up to the 9th Tower because the soles of my normal shoes were quite worn, and I was carrying my camera gear (around 7kg+). 2) Be careful - as this section is roughly only 10% restored (according to my tour guide at least), this means that the walls have little to no barrier to prevent you from literally falling off the wall itself. 3) There’s 2 sessions for visiting the wall, one from morning till afternoon and another in the evening (where there will be lights). Apparently the visitor limitations per day is around 1.2k (asked a staff at the 8th Tower). Is it worth it? Yes. Most definitely, especially if it isn’t crowded. The view is amazing, you can see the Great Wall snaking into the far distance. Tags: #travel #thingstodo #familytravel #china #beijing

Simatai Great Wall is the most authentic Great Wall where you can see collapsed sidewalls and bumpy ground. It is situated at the same place as Gubei Water Town, so by going to Simatai Great Wall, you can enjoy Gubei Water town as well; can kill two birds with one stone 😀 If you are going to Gubei W town, can get the entrance ticket to Gubei W-town + Simatai Great Wall entrance ticket. Best of all, it has an optional cable car ride with an additional RMB200 for two ways, free for kids below 1.2 meters. With cable car ride, can reach tower 5 or tower 8 of Simatai Great Wall. We visited Mutianyu Great Wall first hence coming to Simatai Great Wall after that is really an eye-opener. #DiscoverChina #greatwallofchina #simatai #gubeiwatertown #beijing

Are you planning to visit Beijing? If yes, then you must visit 2 of my favourite places 👇🏼 1- Simatai Great Wall of China. One of the seven wonders of the world and one of my favourite places. This part of the wall is the less crowded and the views are just stunning. 2- Gubei Water Town. Highly recommend to spend a full day there so you can also see the light show in the evening 🫰🏻 How to get there: It’s easy- you can plan ahead and book a taxi( it’s a 2 hours drive from the city centre). Ask the driver to take you to the Gubei Water Town and then you’ll walk to the entrance (around 10-20 mins walk). You can enjoy the views and the food in the meantime. If you want a cheaper option- take the public bus at Dongzhimen Station in the centre of Beijing. ☺️ Also there are entrance fees applicable once you get there- check below 👇🏼 📍Address: Gubeikou Town, Miyun District, Beijing, China 北京市密云区古北口镇司马台长城 💰Average Price per Person:170 yuan ( water town and Great Wall ticket) #chinatrip #china #greatwall #gubeiwatertown

#travelinginchina Visiting Simatai, the most authentic and rugged section of the Great Wall, is an unforgettable experience. Unlike crowded areas like Badaling, Simatai offers stunning views, steep climbs, and a glimpse into history. Start early to avoid crowds and wear sturdy shoes for the uneven steps. A cable car can take you halfway up, but hiking rewards you with breathtaking scenery. Bring water and snacks, as amenities are limited. For a magical experience, visit at night when the wall is beautifully illuminated. Staying at Gubei Water Town nearby adds charm to your trip!

The Simatai Great Wall is great and amazing. If you have a chance, I will go back this place and have a trekking.

I didn’t lose my breath once .. I lost it many times while hiking up this part of the Great Wall. Not just because it was epically beautiful but also unexpectedly challenging, even in the reconstructed parts. Giving away the details: Simatai Great Wall, Beijing W.Town (about 2km both ways), about 170km from Beijing This Wall part is limited by distance, both right and left of it are closed and inaccessible. But this 2km require enough effort if you want to climb from Tower 1 to Tower 10, all the way up the hill. For average tourists it takes about 1.5-2h to climb it up and 1h to go down. Not so crowded as other parts of the Wall, and it gives tons opportunity to regret you didn’t take enough liquid (I gave my water to a family who totally dehydrated and suffered under the strong sun). How to get there: Beijing to Gubeikou village by train (12¥) Gubeikou to Beijing Water Town by taxi (30¥) Get an entrance ticket in Water Town, shuttle included (40¥) Repeat the way back or take a direct tourists bus to Beijing #china #chinatravel #greatwall

After visiting the end of the quaint Gubei Water Town, you will reach the entrance to climb the majestic Simatai Great Wall. There are two ways to climb the Great Wall, one is walking and the other is taking the cable car. Next to the Simatai Cableway Station, there is the entrance to the Great Wall walking trail. A long, slightly sloping and easy-to-walk mountain road leads directly to the No. 2 Peak Fire Tower. I bought a combined ticket for Simatai Great Wall and cable car (including a one-way cable car). Since we are here to climb the Great Wall, we must find a way to climb the entire Great Wall. It takes about 20 to 30 minutes to walk from the entrance of the scenic area to the place where we climb the Great Wall, which is the East 2 Peak Fire Tower. You can save time by taking the cable car. But this section of the hiking trail is from the foot of the mountain to the hillside. In fact, the trail is relatively flat and not very strenuous. Moreover, it walks along the shore of Yuanyang Lake. The surrounding lake and mountain scenery is very beautiful and you can overlook the entire Gubei Water Town. It is very comfortable to walk along the Great Wall on the trail and you can also challenge your endurance and physical fitness. #Beijing Attractions #World Cultural Heritage #The Great Wall #Night Tour of Simatai Great Wall #Hiking Scenery