Why squeeze with the crowd? Go to Simatai to see the Great Wall
After visiting the Simatai Great Wall, I really have to exclaim: Why go to crowded places when you can enjoy the Simatai Great Wall so much!
Having lived in Beijing for many years, I used to accompany others to the Great Wall, and without exception, it was always the Badaling Great Wall. Initially, I would climb with them, but gradually, I just waited in the parking lot because there were simply too many people! This time, I chose to go to Simatai, intuitively thinking there would be fewer people.
🚗 The Simatai Great Wall is located in the Gubei Water Town scenic area. I have visited Gubei Water Town many times but never climbed the Great Wall there, so this time I headed straight for the Great Wall.
🌄 I really didn't expect so few people walking up the Great Wall. You can walk slowly and quietly enjoy the scenery. I wonder if this is the norm for Simatai? It might be because it's a weekday, and many tourists don't know about this place, or it's too far from the city center, so they don't choose it easily.
🏔️ Thinking about it, it seems the only two times I actively wanted to climb the Great Wall were both in Miyun. The first time was many years ago when that section of the Great Wall was just broken bricks and foundations. Standing on the uneven remnants of the Great Wall, there was a real sense of desolate grandeur.
If you're not in a hurry and have good physical strength, you can choose to walk. It takes about half an hour from the entrance of the Great Wall scenic area to the foot of the Great Wall, all on winding stone paths that are relatively gentle, and most sections have shade. As the terrain gradually rises, you can see the full view of Yuanyang Lake below and the Yuan Tong Temple Pagoda in Gubei Water Town. The scenery from high up is really beautiful. There are several sections of the Great Wall with beacon towers, and the steps are somewhat steep, but each time you climb a section, the cool mountain breeze makes it all worth it.
🌆 You can also visit the Great Wall at night, but only by cable car. We didn't go up at night, but from the ancient town, the lit-up Great Wall looked like a winding dragon, offering another beautiful view.
I really recommend staying overnight in Gubei Water Town. After climbing the Great Wall, you can rest and stroll around at night. I come here once or twice a year, no matter what others say. The place is big enough, well-managed, clean overall, with many performances to keep you entertained, and the food is not bad. With all these conditions, what more could you ask for? A two-hour drive is much more convenient than traveling out of town.
Best package in beijing. Gubei water town is not crowded. Full of scenic spots. Great Wall at evening is spectacular with the 2 way cable rides. Must visit ! Watch out for drones performance while taking cable rides.
The Great Wall remains the greatest engineering project in the history of the world – one that has not been and may never be surpassed. It took two centuries to build this 4000-mile monument to the Chinese people, the symbol of China and stands at the top of every visitor’s bucket list. It certainly was for me on my first trip to China in 1982.
absolutely enjoyed my trip, shiv I had in winter, such beautiful and stunning views I enjoyed . it took me 3 hours to get on the top and come back.
The Simatai Great Wall is very high, you can take the cable car to and from, you can buy a two-way cableway if you are not physically strong, 130 one-way, 200 two-way, we didn't think so much at the time, thinking that it was the same as Badaling to buy a one-way, if you take the cable car again, you can make up the difference in the two-way, Simatai Great Wall can not, So we spent an extra 60 yuan each, but the scenery is really beautiful!
There are not many parts of the Great Wall that can be seen during the night tour, but the overall experience is still good. The whole view of the Great Wall can be seen clearly during the day. It is recommended to go see it in the morning and evening.
The whole family went out together. The first time I climbed, it was very exciting. The children were only 4 years old under the 35-degree sun. But we climbed to the 5th floor with our adults. We walked up and then took the cableway down the mountain, the whole process was great. The scenery on the mountain is great.
The Simatai Great Wall is worth a separate visit, very distinctive. Some of the wall of the Great Wall has fallen, but the city towers still stand. Walking on the winding city road, there is a heavy feeling of vicissitudes, surrounded by mountains, tree-lined, and a panoramic view of the rivers and mountains!
Better than popular ones like Badaling