Plan your Great Wall Tour? Simatai Great Wall is situated in Gubeikou Town, Miyun County, about 120 kilometers northeast of Beijing. Simatai Great Wall is an exceptional destination for those seeking a unique Great Wall experience. Known for its breathtaking scenery, challenging hikes, and historical significance, Simatai stands out among Great Wall sections near Beijing. Whether you want to marvel at the architectural genius, test your stamina on steep paths, or simply soak in the stunning views, this “How to Visit Simatai Great Wall” guide will help you navigate every step of your visit.
How to Buy Tickets for Simatai Great Wall
Knowing how to buy tickets for Simatai Great Wall is essential for planning your visit. There are two main ticketing options: combined tickets for Gubei Water Town and Simatai Great Wall, or Simatai-only tickets.
Combined Ticket for Gubei Water Town and Simatai Great Wall
If you plan to explore both Gubei Water Town and Simatai Great Wall, you can purchase a combo ticket at the Gubei Water Town Tourist Center. With this ticket, you can enjoy the historical charm of the water town before beginning your Great Wall adventure. No advance booking is necessary for the combo ticket, so you can buy it on the day of your visit.
Simatai Great Wall Only
For those interested only in Simatai, you must reserve a ticket at least one day in advance. This is due to the restricted access policy at Simatai, which limits visitor numbers to protect the Wall. You can book tickets for up to 10 days in advance. Once booked, collect your ticket at the Gubei Water Town Tourist Center. After ticket collection, you can either hike or take a short golf cart ride to the Simatai entrance.
Entry Times for Simatai Great Wall Only
Simatai-only ticket holders have four entry time slots each day: 09:00, 10:00, 13:00, and 14:00. This schedule helps manage crowds and keeps the experience more serene.
Ticket Prices
Daytime Ticket (Excludes Cable Car): RMB 40 per person
Ticket + One-Way Cable Car: RMB 110 per person
Ticket + Round-Trip Cable Car: RMB 180 per person
Opening Hours:
Daytime: Open from 09:00 to 17:00 (ticket sales end at 15:00, last entry at 15:00)
Nighttime: Open from 18:00 to 22:40 (last entry at 20:40
Simatai Great Wall Night Tour
The ticket price for the Simatai Great Wall Night Tour is RMB 280, which includes a round-trip cable car ride and entry to Gubei Water Town.
Ticket Price and Inclusions
Ticket Price: RMB 280, including a round-trip cable car ride and Gubei Water Town admission.
Cable Car Cost: One-way RMB 90, round-trip RMB 160.
Opening Hours: The Simatai Great Wall night tour typically begins at dusk, though exact times may vary, so it’s recommended to check in advance.
Activities: During the night tour, visitors can enjoy drone and sky lantern shows at 19:30 and 20:40, with each show lasting about 10 minutes.
Booking Method and Ticket Purchase Channels
Visitors can make reservations and purchase tickets through online ticketing platforms. The specific steps are as follows:
1）Booking through Gubei Water Town’s official website: Tickets Booking
2) Visit a ticketing platform (such as Qunar or Ctrip, trip.com).
3) Select the Simatai Great Wall ticket and choose a suitable date and time slot.
4) After completing the payment, the system will generate an electronic ticket. Visitors should save this electronic ticket for use when entering the park
5) For ticket reservations, you can also call the hotline at +86 10 8100 9999 (open 09:00–17:00).
How to Get to Simatai Great Wall
When planning how to visit Simatai Great Wall, one of the most common questions is about transportation. Fortunately, there are convenient options for reaching this area, located roughly 140 km northeast of Beijing’s city center.
Self-Driving
If you prefer driving, you can reach Simatai in about two hours from Beijing, depending on traffic. Simply take the Jingcheng Expressway (G45) and exit at Simatai (Exit 24). From there, follow the roadside signs to Gubei Water Town, which is only a short drive further. This option offers flexibility, as you can explore at your own pace. Parking is available at Gubei Water Town.
Public Transportation
For travelers relying on public transportation, taking the bus from Beijing is a popular option. Start by taking Bus No. 980 from Dongzhimen Transport Hub in central Beijing. Get off at Gulou (Drum Tower) Station in Miyun County, then transfer to Local Bus No. 51 or 38, which heads to Simatai Village. From Simatai Village, Gubei Water Town is approximately 1.5 km away and can be reached on foot. Although public transit can take longer, it is affordable and gives you a taste of local life.
5 Options for Direct Shuttles from Beijing
1) Beijing Dongzhimen Wai — Gubei Water Town Direct Bus
Departure Location: Outside Dongzhimen
Departure Times: 09:00, 13:00
Return Location: Gubei Water Town
Return Times: 12:00, 17:00
Distance: 134 kilometers
Duration: Approximately 120 minutes
Ticket Price: RMB 48 per person
Ticket Purchase Methods:
Download one of the following apps: “Beijing Transportation Card,” “Yitongxing,” or “Beijing Bus” (only these apps work; mini-programs and WeChat/Alipay cannot be used for scanning).
Use a physical Beijing Transportation Card.
Use the Beijing Transportation Card on a smartphone with NFC.
Pay in cash (exact change only, no change provided).
Boarding Locations:
Dongzhimen Boarding Point: Dongzhimen Outer Bus Station (inside the bus terminal at the intersection of Dongzhimen Xiejie and Xiangheyuan South Street). 东直门乘车地点：东直门外公交站（东直门斜街和香河园南街交界处的公交场内）
Gubei Water Town: Parking Lot No. 2 of the scenic area.
Note: Routes may change due to temporary situations or weather conditions. Please refer to official announcements from relevant departments for any updates.
2） CYTS Building to Gubei Water Town Tourist Line
Departure Times:
CYTS Building to Gubei Water Town: 10:00
Gubei Water Town to CYTS Building: 14:00
Distance: 135 kilometers
Duration: Approximately 120 minutes
Ticket Price: RMB 48 per person
Boarding Locations:
CYTS Building: Near the southwest exit of Dongzhimen Subway Station, on the north side of the west entrance of the CYTS Building. 乘车地点：中青旅大厦：东直门地铁站西南口，中青旅大厦西门北侧
Gubei Water Town: Parking Lot No. 2 of the scenic area.
Note: This route may change due to temporary conditions or weather. Please check official announcements for any updates.
3) Bird’s Nest Parking Lot – Gubei Water Town Direct Bus
Operating Schedule: Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays
Departure Points and Times:
Bird’s Nest Parking Lot: Departs at 9:00
Gubei Water Town: Departs at 13:00
Distance: 130 kilometers
Duration: Approximately 120 minutes
Ticket Price: RMB 48 per person
Boarding Locations:
Bird’s Nest Parking Lot: South No. 1 Road in the Olympic Park Central Area (Parking Lot P1)
乘车地点：
鸟巢停车场：奥林匹克公园中心区南一路（P1）停车场
Gubei Water Town: Parking Lot No. 2 in the scenic area
Ticket Purchase:
Search for the “Lüfu Youxuan” mini-program on WeChat for convenient ticket booking.
Note: This premium suburban route is operated by CYTS Travel Service Company. Delays, route adjustments, or suspensions may occur due to weather or other special circumstances. Thank you for your understanding.
4 ) Dongjiao Minxiang Hotel – Gubei Water Town Direct Bus
Operating Schedule: Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays
Departure Points and Times:
Dongjiao Minxiang Hotel: Departs at 9:20
Gubei Water Town: Departs at 14:00
Distance: 130 kilometers
Duration: Approximately 120 minutes
Ticket Price: RMB 48 per person
Boarding Locations:
Dongjiao Minxiang Hotel: No. A23, Dongjiao Minxiang, Dongcheng District, Beijing (Dongjiao Minxiang Hotel Parking Lot)
车地点：
东交民巷饭店：北京市东城区东交民巷甲23号（东交民巷饭店停车场）
Gubei Water Town: Scenic Area Parking Lot No. 2
Ticket Purchase:
Search for the “Lüfu Youxuan” mini-program on WeChat for easy ticket booking.
Note: This is a premium suburban route operated by CYTS Travel Service Company. Delays, route adjustments, or cancellations may occur due to weather or other special circumstances. Thank you for your understanding.
5) Route 5: China Travel Service (CTS) Bus Direct Line
Beijing Beitucheng – Gubei Water Town Scenic Area
(Operates from September 29 onwards, with regular service on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays)
Departure Points and Times:
Beijing Beitucheng (Subway Exit F Northwest): Departs at 8:00
Gubei Water Town Scenic Area: Departs at 16:30
Distance: 133 kilometers
Duration: Approximately 100 minutes
Ticket Price: RMB 48 per person per trip
Boarding Locations:
Beitucheng: Subway Exit F Northwest
北土城乘车地点:地铁F西北口
Gubei Water Town: Scenic Area Parking Lot No. 2
Ticket Purchase:
Search the “Rainbow Bus H20” WeChat public account or download the Rainbow Bus app to reserve and purchase tickets.
Note: In cases of extreme weather, notifications will be sent in advance, and ticket sales for the day will be closed. For refunds, please contact customer service at least 2 hours before departure to avoid cancellation fees. For specific refund policies, check the “Rainbow Bus H20” public account under “More – Rider Information.”
Beijing Suburban Railway Line S5
Depart from Beijing North Railway Station and take Line S5 to Gubeikou Station, where a shuttle bus will bring you directly to the entrance of Gubei Water Town. There are two trips per day. On Saturdays and Sundays, the train arrives at the entrance of Gubei Water Town around 10:10 a.m., and the return bus departs at 3:00 p.m., providing about six hours to explore Simatai Great Wall.
Kind reminder: S5 Temporarily closed for the time being
Here is the train timetable in a table format for the Beijing North Station to Gubeikou Station route on the Huairou-Miyun suburban railway line (S5 Line):
| Route | Train | Departure Time | Arrival Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beijing North Station → Gubeikou Station | S501 | 06:55 | 09:23 |
| Gubeikou Station → Beijing North Station | S502 | 10:00 | 11:28 |
How to Hike Simatai Great Wall
Simatai Great Wall is located between Miyun District in Beijing and Luanping County in Hebei Province. It stretches from Wangjing Tower in the east to Houchuankou in the west, spanning a total length of 5.7 kilometers.
The Great Wall is divided by Yuanyang Lake into two sections: the eastern section has 16 watchtowers （3.7km）, and the western section has 19 (2km), totaling 35 watchtowers (including one that was destroyed and is now submerged).
Simatai Great Wall, part of the Great Wall of China, was originally built in the early Ming Hongwu period, and the existing structures date back to the Ming Dynasty. Due to its strategic terrain and well-preserved historical features, Simatai Great Wall was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987 and is recognized as a national key cultural heritage protection site.
Accessible Section
Currently, only the East Section (from Tower 1 to Tower 10) of Simatai Great Wall is open to the public. The West Section remains closed.
Jinshanling to Simatai Cross-Hike
The popular cross-hike from Jinshanling to Simatai is currently unavailable due to the closure of Simatai’s West Section.
Hiking Options
Option for Strong Hikers: Walk from the tourist center to the first tower (about 30 minutes) and then hike up to Tower 10. For the descent, you can hike back down or take the cable car (RMB 80 one-way).
Option for Moderate Hikers: Take the cable car up to Tower 8 (RMB 80 one-way) and then hike down. Note that certain sections are steep and require caution.
Sightseeing-Only Option: For those who just want a scenic view, take the cable car up and down (RMB 160 round-trip). The upper cable station is located between Towers 5 and 8.
Dining and Accommodation Near Simatai Great Wall
After your hike, you have several dining and lodging options in the area:
Dining: There are various restaurants in the public areas of Gubei Water Town, especially along Minguo Street (open to non-ticketed visitors). Alternatively, you can visit Simatai Village (1.5 km west of Gubei) for local home-cooked meals.
Accommodation: Gubei Water Town offers upscale lodging with two 5-star hotels, six boutique hotels, and several guesthouses. For budget-friendly options, you can stay with local families in Simatai Village, which offers simple guesthouse accommodations.
Seasonal Hiking Tips
April, October, and Early November: Dress in layers with long pants and a light jacket.
May to August: Wear light, breathable clothing, including T-shirts and shorts, due to warmer temperatures.
December to Early February: Bundle up with winter hats, gloves, scarves, and a heavy jacket, as it can get very cold.
Nearby Attractions in Miyun County
Simatai Great Wall is situated in Miyun County, approximately 140 km northeast of Beijing. While in the area, you might also consider visiting:
Changyu Chateau Beijing: A scenic vineyard and chateau offering wine tours.
Yumenshan Great Wall: Another historical section of the Wall, less visited but with beautiful views.
Gubeikou Great Wall and Jinshanling Great Wall: These sections offer different scenery and hiking experiences.
This guide provides all the essential information for planning a memorable visit to Simatai Great Wall, including transportation, ticketing, and hiking tips. Enjoy your adventure on this historic section of the Great Wall!
