Beijing Simatai Greatwall

take a minibus to Huairou from Dongzhimen Station, and change there for a tourist minibus (ï¿¥20). Returning to the city isn’t a hassle provided you don’t leave it too late, as plenty ofmirfibuses wait in the car park to take people to Beijing. If you can’t find a minibus back to Beijing, get one to Huairou, from where you can get regular bus #918 back to the capital - the last bus leaves at 6.30pm. Simatai and Jinshanling Simatai (daily 8am 4pm; ï¿¥20), ll0km northeast of

tile city, is tile most unspoilt section of the GreatWall around Beijing, though it seems about to gear
up for mass tourism, with a cable car and toboggan ride. But, with the wall
snaking across purple hills that resemble crumpled velvet fi’om afar, and blue
mountains in the distance, it still beautiful. Peaceful and selni-ruined, it fulfils
the expectations of most visitors more than the other sections, though it gets a
little crowded at weekends. Be aware that it’s pretty steep with some vertiginous
drops. Most of this section is unrenovated, dating back to tine Ming dynasty, and
sporting a few late innovations such as spaces for cannon, with its inner walls at _
right angles to the outer wall to thwart invaders who have already breached the
first defence. From the car park, a winding path takes you up to tine wall, where
most visitors turn right. B. egularly spaced watchtowers allow you to measure
your progress uphill along the ridge. The less energetic can take the new cable
car to the eighth tower (ï¿¥20).The walk over the ruins is not an easy one, and
gets increasingly precipitous after about the tenth watchtower, with sheer drops
and steep angles. The views are sublime, though. After about the fourteenth
tower (2hr), the wall peters out and the clilnb becomes quite dangerous, and
there’s no point going any farther. Ifyou turn left onto the wall, you come to a
chain bridge where you’re charged an annoying ~30 toll. Walk three hours in
this direction and you come to Jinshanling, though most people who do this
start froln Jinshanling as it’s easier to get a lift back to Beijing fi:om Simatai.
Practicalities
Thejourney ont from tile capital to Simatai takes about three hours. Tours runs
from all the backpacker hotels and hostels for around ~80, generally once a
week in the of}’ season, daily in the summer. Most other hotels can arrange
transport too, though expect to pay more. To travel here independently, catch a
direct bus from Dongzhimen ï¿¥20) or take a bus to Miyun and then start nego-
tiating for a minibus or taxi to take you thc rest of the way (don’t pay more than
ï¿¥20).The last bus back to Beijing fi’om Miyun is at 4pm. Between April 15 and
October 15 tourist bus #l 2 leaves for Simatai from the #42 bus station south
of Domgsishidao subway stop between 6 and 8am (ï¿¥50); buses return between
4 and 6pm. A rented taxi will cost about~300 there and back, including a wait.
There’s a small guesthouse just inside the ticket gate (010/69931095).
Jinshanling
Jinshanling (ï¿¥25), J0kln west of Silnatai, is one of the least-visited and best-pre-
served parts of the wall, with jutting obstacle walls and oval watchtowers, some
with octagonal or sloping roofs, lt’s presendy being reconstructed so expect
tourist buses out here some time soon, but fbr the moment it’s not easy to reach
without your own transport. Take a bus to Miyun (see above), from where a taxi
to the wall will cost around ï¿¥100. It’s a three-hour walk from here to Simatai,
where you’ll have to pay a toll and they’ll try and charge you a second entrance
fee (refnse). A popular day-trip from the backpacker haunts (rS0 excluding the
entrance fee and bridge toll) takes you here and picks you up at Simatai.

Too see more Tourist Attractions in Beijing, Please click here.

Too see more information about China, Please click here.