Simatai Great Wall

Why visit Simatai

• Some of the steepest gradients open to visitors, including the narrow climb known as the 'stairway to heaven.'
• The one section with timed evening and night visiting, when the towers are lit after dark.
• Set beside Gubei Water Town, which pairs the wall with riverside lanes and easy lodging.
• More original, rugged character than the polished Beijing sections, on a steep mountain ridge.

Getting there from Beijing

Simatai sits beside Gubei Water Town in far northeastern Beijing, so most visitors take a guided coach tour or a direct tourist bus from central Beijing that serves the resort, often staying overnight. A private car or chartered transfer is the most flexible option. Access to the wall is by timed entry and the climb starts after a transfer from the resort, so check the current entry system and plan your return before you go.

Best time to visit

Spring and autumn give the most comfortable conditions for a demanding climb and the clearest views; summer is hot on the exposed steps and winter is cold and can be icy. The timed evening visit is a distinctive option when the towers are lit, but bring warm layers after dark. Avoid the first week of October, the busiest holiday period.

On the wall

Simatai is genuinely steep, with narrow, uneven steps on the upper towers and the very exposed 'stairway to heaven'; it is more strenuous than Badaling or Mutianyu and demands sure footing, proper shoes, and water. Some of the most dangerous stretches may be closed to visitors, so follow the marked limits. A cable car serves part of the lower climb.

Nearby heritage records

• Badaling Great WallMing
• Mutianyu Great WallMing
• Juyongguan PassMing
• Simatai Great WallMing

Frequently asked

How does Simatai compare with Badaling?

Simatai is steeper, rougher, and far more demanding than the heavily restored Badaling, and it is the only section with timed night visiting. Badaling is the easiest section to reach and to walk; Simatai is for visitors who want the most dramatic, vertiginous wall rather than the most convenient one.

How do I get to Simatai from Beijing?

Most visitors reach Simatai by a guided coach tour or a direct tourist bus to Gubei Water Town from central Beijing, often staying overnight; a private car is the most flexible alternative. Allow roughly two to three hours each way, and check the timed-entry system before you go.

Can you visit Simatai at night?

Yes. Simatai is the one section that offers timed evening and night visiting, when the towers are lit after dark. The night visit uses limited timed entry, so confirm the current schedule in advance and bring warm layers, as it is colder and the steps are dark.

Is Simatai too steep or dangerous for casual visitors?

Simatai is one of the most strenuous open sections, with very steep, narrow steps on the upper towers, so it suits confident walkers rather than casual visitors. The most dangerous stretches may be closed, so stay within the marked limits, wear proper shoes, and carry water.

What is the 'stairway to heaven' at Simatai?

The 'stairway to heaven' is the nickname for an extremely steep, narrow run of steps on the upper part of Simatai that climbs almost vertically along a sharp ridge. It is the section's signature challenge and can be closed or restricted for safety, so follow the posted limits.

Sources

• Great Wall Archive — Data sources & methodology
• China's 2012 national Great Wall resource survey