What makes Simatai different from the other Great Wall sections
Most visitors to the Great Wall near Beijing end up at Badaling or Mutianyu because the transport is easy and the restoration is thorough. Simatai sits about 120 kilometers northeast of the city center in Miyun District, and it keeps a rougher, more authentic feel. The section stretches roughly 5.4 kilometers across 35 watchtowers, and it is the only part of the Wall that opens to visitors after dark. That single fact is why many photographers and repeat travelers pick it over the busier sections.
The name comes from the two peaks it sits between: the similar-shaped (“si”) ridge and the platform-shaped (“ma”) ridge. What you notice first is the gradient. Some stretches climb at angles close to 70 degrees, and the wall narrows to little more than a meter wide in places, with empty space on both sides. If you have read about the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall, think of Simatai as its wilder cousin: fewer crowds, more scrambling, and views that open across the reservoir below.
Tickets, opening hours, and the cable car
Simatai sells two kinds of access. A daytime ticket covers the eastern section and the walk along the ridge. A separate night ticket is required if you want to be on the wall after the daytime close, and that is the experience most people travel for. Prices shift year to year, so confirm the current figure on the official Gubei Water Town ticket site before you go. As a planning reference, daytime entry has run in the range of 40 to 80 RMB depending on the season, with the cable car costing extra each way.
The cable car saves a long uphill walk and is worth it in summer heat or winter cold. It drops you near the upper towers, which is also where the lit night route begins. If you want to walk the whole eastern ridge on foot, budget two to three hours and wear proper shoes; the steps are steep and uneven.
| Option | What it covers | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Daytime ticket | Eastern section, walkable ridge, watchtowers | Photography, hiking, fewer people |
| Night ticket | Lit wall after dark, cable car up | Photos, couples, unique experience |
| Cable car (one way) | Ride from base to upper towers | Avoiding the steep climb |
| Combined Gubei Water Town pass | Wall plus the town at the base | An overnight stay |
The night tour: walking the wall after dark
After sunset the upper towers are strung with warm lights, and the reflection in the reservoir makes the wall look like it is floating. The night route is contained and guarded, so you are not left alone in the dark on a cliff. Most visitors ride the cable car up, walk a short lit stretch, take pictures, and ride back down. The whole thing can take under an hour if you rush, but two hours lets you actually enjoy it.
Dress for the cold even if the day was mild. Wind exposure on the ridge drops the temperature fast after dark, and there is little shelter. A pair of gloves and a hat turns a shivering visit into a pleasant one.
Hiking from Simatai to Jinshanling
Simatai connects to the Jinshanling section along one of the most rewarding half-day hikes in the Beijing area. The path is partly restored and partly wild, with original Ming bricks underfoot in sections that have not been rebuilt. The full connection runs about 10 kilometers and takes three to five hours depending on pace and how often you stop for photos.
You should know two practical things. First, the through-hike between the two sections has at times been restricted, with guards asking for a guide or a return ticket. Second, the far end drops you at Jinshanling, which has its own ticket gate and its own way back to the city. Plan the return before you start, not after. If you only want a taste, walk a kilometer or two out from Simatai and turn back; you still get the drama without committing to the full traverse.
How to get to Simatai from Beijing
The easy way is a direct tourist bus or a prebooked shuttle from a Beijing transit hub to Gubei Water Town, the developed base area below the wall. The drive is roughly two hours without traffic. Ride-hailing the whole way is possible but expensive and slow at peak times. Trains reach nearby Miyun, but the last leg still needs a local taxi, so the direct bus is usually simpler for a first visit.
If you are building a longer trip, pair this with a few days in the capital first. Our Forbidden City guide and notes on the Beijing hutongs cover the obvious city stops, and the wall makes a strong contrast to palace halls and alleyways.
Where to stay
Gubei Water Town at the base has hotels styled after a northern water town, with rooms a short walk from the cable car. Staying overnight is the only way to do both the night wall and a relaxed morning hike without a packed day trip. Prices rise on weekends and holidays, so book ahead if you travel in summer or during the October holiday. Budget travelers can sleep in Miyun and taxi in, but they lose the night-wall convenience.
Best time to visit
Late spring and early autumn give the clearest air and the most comfortable walking. Summer is green and busy; winter is cold but strikingly empty, and the snow on the wall photographs well if you can handle the wind. Our overview of the best time to visit China lays out the regional weather pattern, and Simatai follows the northern schedule: dry springs, hot summers, crisp falls, hard winters.
Quick facts
- Location: Miyun District, about 120 km northeast of central Beijing.
- Length: roughly 5.4 km across 35 watchtowers.
- Claim to fame: the only Great Wall section open at night.
- Nearest major link: connects on foot to Jinshanling.
- Base area: Gubei Water Town, with hotels and dining.
- Time needed: half a day for the wall, a full day with the town.
FAQ
Is Simatai safe for someone afraid of heights?
The narrow upper ridge is exposed, and if heights bother you, stick to the lower eastern towers and skip the cable car’s edge views. The night route is contained and feels secure, but the steep open sections are not for anyone who panics on ledges.
Can I visit Simatai and the Forbidden City on the same day?
Not well. The wall is two hours from the city each way. Do the city sights one day and the wall another, or stay overnight at Gubei Water Town.
Do I need a guide for the hike to Jinshanling?
Not strictly, but rules about through-hiking change. Check at the gate the day you go, and carry water, a charged phone, and cash in case signal drops.
Is the night ticket separate from the day ticket?
Yes. Daytime access and after-dark access are sold differently, and the night route is its own experience with limited hours.
What should I wear in winter?
Layers, a windproof jacket, gloves, and solid shoes with grip. The ridge is colder and windier than the town below, and ice can form on the steps.
How does this compare with Mutianyu?
Mutianyu is easier, more restored, and better for families. Simatai is wilder, quieter, and unique for the night opening. Pick Mutianyu for a relaxed first wall visit and Simatai when you want something different.
A bit of history behind the wall here
Simatai was rebuilt under the Ming general Qi Jiguang in the late 16th century, and unlike some sections that were heavily reconstructed for tourism, parts of Simatai still show original Ming brickwork. The watchtowers vary in shape, some square, some round, a few with the rare double-eave roofs that mark an important signal post. If you have already walked the Mutianyu section, you will notice the stone here is rougher and the restoration lighter, which is exactly what draws visitors who want the wall to feel old rather than new.
Photography tips for the ridge
The light is best in the first two hours after sunrise and again in the last hour before the walls are lit. A wide lens handles the narrow ridge and the drop-offs, while a telephoto compresses the towers into a line. For the night tour, a small tripod helps, but many visitors manage with a phone propped on a railing. Keep spare batteries warm in a pocket; cold drains them fast, and you do not want a dead phone at the top of a dark hill.
Food and drink near the base
Gubei Water Town below the wall has restaurants serving northern dishes, dumplings, and hot pots that taste good after a cold ridge walk. Prices inside the tourist town run higher than in the city, so treat it as a convenience rather than a bargain. If you want a proper meal before the drive back, eat in Miyun town instead of inside the gate, where the same bowl costs less and the portions are larger. For a wider look at regional cooking, our Chinese hot pot guide explains the styles you will find on menus across the north.
Plan your route
Simatai rewards a little planning more than almost any other Wall section near Beijing. If you want help stitching the night walk, a Jinshanling hike, and the capital together into one trip, write to us through the contact page and we will sketch a food-and-travel route that fits your dates.
Written by the ChinaTravelFood editorial team.
