Great Wall of China Location - Badaling, Mutianyu, Jinshanling & Simatai - Part 2

Simatai Great Wall

Simatai Great Wall of China location is about 120km from Beijing, near a small town called GuBeiKou in Miyun district. It spans across 5.4km from east to west with 35 enemy towers. In such distance, Simatai Great Wall has gather all 5 features - dangerous, dense, unique, precise and throughout" in ancient Chinese Architecture design. All the 35 enemy towers are different in design, hence shows the uniqueness of Simatai Great Wall over others. In 1987, it has included into UNESCO World Of Heritage record. Until today, it is the only untouched (no rebuild) Great Wall from Ming Dynasty, so be prepared for no hand-rails support you all the way up to the peak, it is a very tough climb.

Things To Do and See:

  • YuYang Lake - Simatai Great Wall is separated by YuYang Lake into east and west part, a two section wall. YuYang Lake is special because of throughout the year, there are 2 different spring water streams flow into this lake, one site is 37 degree hot spring and the other is freezing spring water mixing together.  Whenever Winter reaches, the lake is full of action and steams coming up. Tourist can have water activities like boating, fishing or swimming in the lake.
  • Staircase to Heaven & Fairy Tower - There is a 85 degree slope, 100 meters long with one person only width Staircase to Heaven, lead to the Fairy Tower. The tower is design with many lotus patterns around the walls and arches.
  • WangJingLou Tower - Situated at the highest peak on Simatai Great Wall about 1000 meters above sea level. There is a Heaven Bridge connects the Fairy Tower and WangJingLou Tower, both sides are the steep cliff and one able to view Beijing City from far.

How To Get There:

1. At DongZhiMen in Beijing city, board a long distance bus to ChengDe, this bus will pass by Simatai Great Wall, just tell the ticket seller or driver to stop for you.

2. At Beijing Tourist Gathering Center near South West TianAnMen Square

Admission Fee: RMB 40

Cable Car: RMB 50 (round trip), RMB 30 (one way)

Express Train: RMB 30 (round trip), RMB 20 (one way)

Opening Hours: 0800-1700 (every day)

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Jingshanlin Great Wall

Jingshanlin Great Wall of China location is at about 10km east from GuBeiKou, a place between Beijing and ChengDe, serve as the northern pass or gate. It stretches 10.5km from west LongLingKou to the east WangJinLou, total of 67 watch towers, 2 fire towers, 5 various size gates along the great wall.  It also shows us the advancement architecture technology as finer and smaller bricks is used to build Jinshanling Great Wall. A slow walk the Great Wall of China is the best to take place here as Jinshanlin Great Wall is remained the same as it is since 400 year ago.

Things To Do and See:

  • Walking to the pass - Walking from Jinshanling Great Wall walk to Simatai Great Wall, it is a 10 km journey that needs about 4 hours. Hire a tour guide or companion walker at a charge about RMB 50. At the end of the walk, you can ride a bus at Simatai and back to Beijing. So this is a major different great wall experience as you no need to walk back where you begins which you have to do for other great wall hiking. It is worth wide doing this hiking trip as it is the most preserved and original part of Great Wall in China that you cannot experience in other great wall places.
  • Camping experience - Jingshanling Great Wall is one of the few great wall that allow tourist to camp over night here. The broad sky view and glimmering stars at night is so impressive and touching as you will definitely admire the great wonder of universal.

How To Get There:

  1. By Train. At Beijing Bei Zhan (North Railway Station) situated at XiZhi Men metro exit A. Get on a special tourist train L671 (April - October only, 2 hours plus) to GuBeiKou station, then take a minivan at the station to Jinshanling Great Wall. Normal period you can get on normal train L815 which takes about 4 hours to GuBeiKou.
  2. By Bus. At XiZhi Men bus station, get direct buses to ChengDe and stop at Jingshanling station, then hike on a minivan to get to the Jinshanlling Great Wall entrance.

Admission Fee: RMB 50 entrance; hike to Simatai add another RMB 5.

Operation Hours: 0800-1750 daily

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