Go for a hiking to mysterious Simatai Great Wall? If you are planning a Beijing Tours, you should go to this place. The ruinous state of this part of the Wall gives it an air of authenticity that has earned it the reputation of being the most beautiful section of the Great Wall. Unlike the sections to be seen at Badaling or Mutianyu that have undergone extensive restoration, the wall at Simatai has received very little attention. Here, the wall really looks as one would expect it to look some 500 years after it was built during the Ming Dynasty.
Simatai section of Great wall is far away from Beijing. But it is really wild with no tourists and every thing is left in its original like half damaged and no alteration has been done and left as it is for people to experience the real world Great Wall. Lot of the sections are damaged and hence out of reach. But still more area is open to public. Rope car ferry tourists near the top so that one can walk either way from that point and descend down or ascend up to cover two different sections way up or down with few towers here and there. But be prepared to walk lot of stairs and foot steps. Easily one can spend a day here to completely walk from one to the other end. It should be a much better place during summer or spring season with much greener views around. It will be quite different from a touristy section of Great Wall plus the renovated ancient water town down below which could be interesting during the summer months.
Transportation:
You should take subway line 2 or line 13 to Dongzhimen Station first, and then take bus 980 at Dongzhimen Transit Hub. Get off at Miyun Bus Station and transfer to bus Mi 37, Mi 50, or Mi 51 to Simatai Village Station. Then walk to the entrance of Gubei Water Town to find the visitor center to buy the ticket of the wall.
Opening Hours:
April to October
8:00 – 19:00 (Site-clearing at 20:00)
18:00 – 21:00 (Weekdays)
18:00 – 21:30 (Weekends)
November to next March
8:00 – 17:00 (Site-clearing at 18:00)
17:30 – 20:00 (Weekdays)
17:30 – 20:30 (Weekends)
Admission Fee:
Adult: CNY 40
Children: CNY 20 (children between 3.9 and 4.9 feet in height)
Free for children less than 3.9 feet in height.
