Simatai Great Wall · Gubei Water Town
The Simatai Great Wall is the best-preserved original section of the Ming Great Wall, praised by Great Wall scholar Luo Zhewen as "the finest stretch of China's Great Wall": watchtowers such as Wangjinglou (Watching-Beijing Tower) and Xiannülou (Fairy Tower) perch on perilous peaks; its character is summed up in five words — steep, dense, remarkable, ingenious, complete — and it is the only Great Wall section in China open for night visits...
Visitor info
- Opening hours
- Water Town 09:00-22:00 · Great Wall daytime + night sessions
- Ticket
- Great Wall CNY 40 · Water Town CNY 150 (combo ticket priced separately)
Price is indicative — final quote on inquiry.
The Simatai Great Wall is the best-preserved original section of the Ming Great Wall, praised by Great Wall scholar Luo Zhewen as "the finest stretch of China's Great Wall": watchtowers such as Wangjinglou (Watching-Beijing Tower) and Xiannülou (Fairy Tower) perch on perilous peaks; its character is summed up in five words — steep, dense, remarkable, ingenious, complete — and it is the only Great Wall section in China open for night visits, making a night climb under the stars a one-of-a-kind experience. At its foot, Gubei Water Town recreates the look of a northern Chinese water town, with the Tang River flowing through; you can try the Simatai Xiaoshao distillery and the Yongshun dye workshop, and hot-spring hotels combined with Great Wall night views make a classic Beijing-suburb getaway. It is about 2 hours from downtown, reachable by self-drive or tourist shuttle.
Getting there: Tourist shuttle from Dongzhimen / by self-drive
Photos
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