Simatai Great Wall and Gubei Water Town 司马台长城·古北水镇Sīmǎtái Chángchéng · Gǔběi Shuǐzhèn

Why go to Simatai Great Wall and Gubei Water Town

About 120 km north-east of central Beijing in Miyun district, the Simatai section of the Great Wall follows a steep ridge above Gubei Water Town, a resort of stone lanes, courtyard inns and waterways built at its foot. Wander the town, ride the cable car or climb to the wall's eastern towers, then stay into the evening for a night walk on a short, lit stretch.

The story

First built under the Northern Qi dynasty in the 6th century and rebuilt under the Ming, Simatai has watchtowers standing on average only about 140 metres apart, according to the site's operator. The section closed in 2010 and reopened in 2014, together with the newly built Gubei Water Town below it.

What to see at Simatai Great Wall and Gubei Water Town

• Eastern ridge watchtowers 东段敌楼: The steep eastern section is the part to climb, with watchtowers set close together along a narrow ridge; visitors are stopped around the 12th tower, and the cliff-edged stretch beyond, including the narrow Sky Bridge, is not open.
• Mandarin Duck Lake 鸳鸯湖: The lake that divides Simatai into its eastern and western halves and sits at the foot of the wall beside Gubei Water Town.
• Yongshun Dye Workshop 永顺染坊: A workshop in the water town that shows traditional dyeing and printing techniques, with hands-on tie-dye.
• Yinghua Academy 英华书院: A Ming-and-Qing-style academy hall in the water town, with a lotus pond behind the lecture hall.

How to visit Simatai Great Wall and Gubei Water Town

Gubei Water Town stands at the foot of the wall, so most visitors walk the town first, then go up to the eastern section on foot or by cable car; only the eastern stretch is open, and sources differ on whether the last open tower is the tenth or the twelfth. The wall is also open in the evening for a lit walk by cable car. A half-day visit means a short climb and the main lanes of the town; a full day or an overnight stay leaves time for the dye workshop, the academy and the night walk.

How to get to Simatai Great Wall and Gubei Water Town

Tourist buses run from the Dongzhimen transport hub to the water town in about 2 hours; by car or taxi allow about 2 hours from central Beijing.

Where to stay

Stay inside Gubei Water Town, which has courtyard-style hotels and guesthouses at the foot of the wall, or in a homestay in the nearby villages of Tanghe and Gubeikou. The wall is at your doorstep for sunrise and the night walk, and the town is a long way from central Beijing.

What to eat

• Miyun reservoir fish 密云水库鱼: Fish from Miyun Reservoir, the district's signature dish and the centre of a fish-feast festival held at Gubei Water Town.
• Simaxiaoshao grain liquor 司马小烧: A local spirit, one of Miyun's famous 'three shao', brewed at a distillery you can visit in the water town.

Tips for visiting Simatai Great Wall and Gubei Water Town

• There is no need to book the wall far ahead: tickets are sold on the day, either combined with water-town entry or as wall-only tickets checked outside the town.
• The night walk is sold only together with water-town entry, includes the cable car both ways and covers just a short lit stretch of wall.
• The wall is built along a sharp, steep ridge, so wear shoes with good grip and allow time for the climb.

Nearby

• Jinshanling Great Wall 金山岭长城 under 10 km
  A Ming ridge-top wall of 67 towers, restored at one end and wild towards Simatai
• Great Wall at Mutianyu 慕田峪长城 60 km
  Restored Ming watchtowers riding a wooded ridge, with a toboggan run back down
• Chengde Mountain Resort 承德避暑山庄 70 km
  The Qing emperors' summer capital, ringed by temples, some modelled on Tibet's
• Ming Tombs 明十三陵 90 km
  Stone guardians on the Sacred Way and an emperor's underground palace to walk through
• 798 Art Zone 798艺术区 100 km
  Contemporary art galleries and cafés in the sawtooth-roofed halls of a 1950s factory
• Universal Beijing Resort 北京环球度假区 100 km
  Harry Potter, Minions, Jurassic World and an all-indoor Kung Fu Panda land in Tongzhou

Also within 30 km: Xianju Valley 仙居谷 (under 10 km), Xinglong Karst Cave 兴隆溶洞 (30 km).

On the map

Open Simatai Great Wall and Gubei Water Town on the illustrated map to see the terrain around it, what else is close, and to add it to a trip and plan the days.

Learn more

• Wikipedia
• Wikipedia (Chinese)