Simatai Great Wall

Simatai Great Wall, located in Gubeikou town to the north-east of Miyun County, Beijing, about 120 Kilometers from the city center, is celebrated for its five characters of “steepness, compactness, queerness, wonderfulness and comprehensiveness”. It was built during Ming Dynasty under the direction of General Qi Jiguang. It is about 5.5 km in length and fortified by about 35 watchtowers, connecting with Jinshanling Great Wall to the west. The main attractions include: the Stairway to Heaven, the Fairy Tower, the Heaven Bridge and the Wangjinglou Tower.

It was of utmost significant to the defense of Beijing and still remains intact despite its great age. Regarded as an excellent example of the Great Wall, Simatai has many unique characteristics. Its beautiful natural scenery and dramatic landscape makes Simatai a fantastic tourist destination. A famous Great Wall specialist said: "The Great Wall is the best of Chinese architecture, and Simatai is the best of the Great Wall".