Simatai Great Wall

The Simatai section of the Great Wall (司马台长城) is located in the northeast of Miyun County, about 140 kilometers from downtown Beijing. It was first built in the early Hongwu years (1368-1398) of the Ming Dynasty. The Simatai Great Wall is cut into two parts by the Simatai Reservoir, over which there is a chain bridge running through east to west.

The Simatai Great Wall is 5 km long with all together 28 watchtowers ( East 16 and West 12 ). Constructed by the Ming Dynasty general Qi Ji Guang, it is one of the few stretches of the Wall that still preserve the original look of that period. It not only features unique points from other Great Wall sections, but also shows some features found nowhere. To the west there 12 watchtowers snaking on the sloping hills. To the east there are 16 watchtowers atop peaks up to 1,000 meters high.

The views are amazing. The wall at Simatai has received very little renovation. So Simatai Great Wall still retains all its original look. It is well beyond the reach of the great crowds of visitors who come to the more popular and easily accessible parts of the Wall.

The Simatai Great Wall, with densely-positioned watchtowers running along the mountain ridges, looks amazing and grandeur! On the mountains with mild slopes in the west, 12 watchtowers are well preserved.

The watchtowers on the Simatai Great Wall show an elegant design and different structures, among which the most famous are the Wangjinglou (Watching Beijing Tower), where you can have a birds' eye view of the lights of Beijing at night in the distance.

Simatai Great Wall is a fantastic site for sightseeing, hiking and exploration. It has been listed by the UNESCO as one of the World Cultural Heritages. Unfortunately, the stretch from Jinshanling to Simatai is still closed. When the cross hike will be open is still unknown .

Most tourists would choose to hike up the east section of Simatai Great Wall since it is more photogenic and treacherous. After you climb up to the 12th tower ( you are not allowed to go further to other 4 towers due to safety reason), you may either hike down or take a cable car down ( from 5th tower or 8th tower ).