The Simatai Great Wall Scenic Area is located in the north of Simatai Village, Gubeikou Town, Miyun District, Beijing. It is a national 4A-level tourist attraction and the only section of the Great Wall in China that retains its original appearance from the Ming Dynasty. It has been designated as the "Primitive Great Wall" by UNESCO. It is characterized by the unique architectural style of its walls and watchtowers, preserving a large number of original features, and is known for being dangerous, dense, strange, clever, and complete. The Great Wall within the scenic area is 5.7 kilometers long and has 35 watchtowers, with a density that is extremely rare in the Great Wall. The total area of the scenic area is approximately 3.68 square kilometers, with the core area being about 1.2 square kilometers. It integrates natural scenery and human history, and is a highly representative section of the Great Wall landscape.
Historical Culture
The Simatai Great Wall was first built in the early years of the Hongwu period of the Ming Dynasty (1373), presided over by the famous general Xu Da, and has a history of more than 600 years. During the Longqing period of the Ming Dynasty, Qi Jiguang, a famous anti-Japanese general who served as the commander-in-chief of Jizhen, further repaired and reinforced the Simatai Great Wall, making it an important barrier for defending the capital.
As an essence section of the Ming Dynasty Great Wall, the Simatai Great Wall has always been a strategic point contested by military forces in history due to its special geographical location and architectural layout. It connects Gubeikou Town and is an important pass in the northeast direction of Beijing, playing an important role in resisting invasions by northern nomadic peoples. Its unique architectural style reflects the military defense ideas of the Ming Dynasty Great Wall. The design of the watchtowers not only has combat functions but also takes into account the living needs of soldiers, making it an important material for studying Ming Dynasty military architecture.
Main Attractions
Wangjing Tower
Wangjing Tower is the highest point of the Simatai Great Wall, at an altitude of 986 meters. On a clear day, you can overlook Beijing City from here, hence the name. The watchtower is a brick and stone structure, divided into upper and lower floors. The lower floor can accommodate dozens of soldiers, and the upper floor is equipped with observation ports and embrasures, which are convenient for observing enemy situations and fighting. Its architectural design is ingenious, making full use of the topographical advantages, and it is one of the most iconic watchtowers in the Simatai Great Wall.
Xiannv Tower (Fairy Tower)
Xiannv Tower got its name because of the legend that a fairy once stayed here. It is located in the eastern section of the Simatai Great Wall, at an altitude of 841 meters. The watchtower has a beautiful architectural style, with walls built of huge stone slabs. The internal structure is complex, with passages, rooms, etc., which are both beautiful and practical. The location of Xiannv Tower is steep, and the surrounding scenery is magnificent, making it a popular spot for tourists to take photos.
Tiantai (Heavenly Ladder)
Tiantai is the most dangerous section of the Simatai Great Wall, with a slope of up to 85 degrees, a length of about 100 meters, and a width of only about 40 centimeters. This section of the Great Wall is almost perpendicular to the ground, with narrow and steep stone steps that can only accommodate one person to pass, making it extremely difficult to climb and a test of tourists' physical strength and courage. On both sides of Tiantai are steep cliffs, and there is an abyss below. Walking on it is thrilling.
Tianqiao (Heavenly Bridge)
Tianqiao is a section of the Great Wall connecting Wangjing Tower and Xiannv Tower, about 100 meters long and only about 2 meters wide, with cliffs dozens of meters deep on both sides. This section of the Great Wall is like a natural bridge spanning between two mountains, with extremely dangerous terrain, which can be called "unique". The walls of Tianqiao are built of bricks and stones. Although narrow, they are very solid. Walking on it, you feel as if you are in the air, with a panoramic view of the surrounding scenery.
Food
Miyun Braised Pork
Miyun Braised Pork is a traditional famous dish in the local area. It is made of fresh pork belly through multiple processes such as marinating, stewing, and frying. The finished product is bright red in color, fat but not greasy, with a tender and rotten taste and a rich aroma. In the restaurants around the Simatai Great Wall Scenic Area, this dish is one of the must-order delicacies and is deeply loved by tourists.
Tiebingzi (Stuck Pancake)
Tiebingzi is a traditional pasta in northern China, which is more common in farm restaurants around the Simatai Great Wall. It uses cornmeal as the main raw material, adds an appropriate amount of water and seasonings, kneads into dough, sticks it on the edge of the pot, and stews it together with the dishes in the pot. The bottom of Tiebingzi is crispy, the upper part is soft, with a corn fragrance, and it tastes very authentic when eaten with local stews.
Miyun Reservoir Fish
Miyun Reservoir is an important water source in Beijing, rich in various fish such as carp, crucian carp, and bighead carp. Restaurants around the scenic area use fresh reservoir fish to make various delicious dishes, among which Kuadun Yu (braised fish in a rustic way) is the most famous. Kuadun Yu adopts traditional farm cooking methods, with a rich soup, tender fish meat, and rich nutrition, making it a good choice for tourists to taste local characteristic food.
Tickets
The ticket is 40 yuan per person. The cable car ticket is charged separately or you can buy a combined ticket.
You can search for the official WeChat public account "古北水镇旅游" on WeChat to get the latest updates or purchase tickets online.
Opening Hours
The opening hours will be adjusted according to the season. In the peak season (April 1 to October 31), the opening hours are 8:00-17:30, and admission stops at 17:00; in the off-season (November 1 to March 31 of the next year), the opening hours are 8:30-17:00, and admission stops at 16:30. In addition, the scenic area will adjust its opening hours on some holidays. Tourists can check the official information for confirmation before traveling.
Tour Route
After entering the scenic area, visitors can first take the cable car up the mountain. The cable car terminal is close to the Fairy Tower. After getting off the cable car, they can first visit the Fairy Tower to admire its beautiful architecture and the surrounding scenery. Then, proceed west along the Great Wall, pass through the Sky Bridge, and experience its precipitous terrain. Continuing forward, they can reach the Wangjing Tower and overlook the magnificent scenery around from this vantage point. After visiting the Wangjing Tower, visitors can choose to return to the cable car station along the original route and take the cable car down the mountain; alternatively, they can walk down the mountain, passing by attractions such as the Heavenly Ladder along the way to enjoy the fun of climbing. The total visiting time is approximately 4-5 hours, and visitors can adjust the route according to their physical strength.
Transportation
- Bus: Take bus 980 from Dongzhimen Bus Hub in Beijing to Miyun Bus Station, then transfer to the special bus from Miyun to Simatai Great Wall. The journey is about 2 hours, and the fare is about 20 yuan.
- Self-driving: Starting from downtown Beijing, drive along the Jingcheng Expressway to the Simatai exit. After exiting the expressway, drive about 10 kilometers according to the road signs to reach the scenic area parking lot. The total distance is about 120 kilometers, the driving time is about 2 hours, and the parking lot fee is 5 yuan per hour.
- Tourist spcial line: In the peak tourist season, some travel agencies in Beijing have opened special tourist buses to the Simatai Great Wall. Tourists can sign up to take them at the travel agencies. The specific time and fare can be consulted with the travel agencies.
Must-visit Attractions
- Wangjing Tower: The highest point of the Simatai Great Wall, at an altitude of 986 meters, where you can overlook Beijing City. The watchtower has an ingenious architectural design and is a landmark attraction.
- Tiantai: With a slope of 85 degrees, a length of about 100 meters, and a width of only 40 centimeters, it is the most dangerous section and highly challenging.
- Tianqiao: Connecting Wangjing Tower and Xiannv Tower, it is about 100 meters long and only 2 meters wide, with cliffs on both sides, featuring dangerous terrain and unique scenery.
- Xiannv Tower: At an altitude of 841 meters, it has beautiful architecture, a beautiful legend, and magnificent surrounding scenery, suitable for taking photos.
Travel Suggestions
- It is recommended to wear comfortable sports shoes and sportswear, as the Great Wall sections are relatively steep, which is convenient for climbing.
- There are few catering facilities in the scenic area, so it is recommended to carry an appropriate amount of water and dry food to replenish energy.
- There are many tourists in the peak season, so it is recommended to arrive at the scenic area as early as possible to avoid the peak flow of people, and make an appointment for tickets on the official platform in advance.
- It is recommended to arrange 4-5 hours for the tour, and reasonably distribute physical strength to avoid excessive fatigue.
- If you are a photography enthusiast, it is recommended to bring a camera. You can take magnificent photos of the Great Wall at places such as Wangjing Tower and Xiannv Tower.
Matters needing attention
- The sections of Tiantai and Tianqiao are extremely dangerous. When climbing, you must pay attention to safety, hold the handrails on both sides, and do not stay or take photos in dangerous areas.
- Smoking and littering are prohibited in the scenic area. Please take good care of cultural relics and the environment and abide by the scenic area regulations.
- When the weather changes greatly, it is recommended to bring rain gear and warm clothes to prevent sudden weather changes.
- Tourists with diseases such as heart disease and hypertension are not recommended to climb dangerous sections such as Tiantai to avoid accidents.
- The scenic area is managed in a closed manner. Tourists must leave the scenic area within the specified time and are not allowed to stay overnight in the scenic area.