SiMaTai holds the access to GuBeiKou, a strategic pass in the eastern part of the Great Wall.

Originally built during the Northern Qi dynasty and rebuilt in the HongWu years of the Ming dynasty by Qi JiGuang, this section of the Great Wall is the only part of the wall that retains all the original features of the Ming Dynasty wall. The bricks used to build the walls here were stamped with the date on which they were made and the code numbers of the armies that made them.

Ingeniously conceived and uniquely designed, this section of Great Wall, inimitable and diversified, has incorporated the different characteristics of other sections of the Great Wall.

Built on precipitous mountain ridges, there are many places that are unmatched among other sections of Great Wall. The 'Heavenly Ladder' and the 'Sky Bridge' are particularly dangerous - they can make even the most intrepid tremble with fear.

SiMaTai is densely dotted with watchtowers; the nearest two are only 44m apart. The walls are in single, double and trapeze forms and the watchtowers are sometimes round in shape and composed of 2 or 3 floors. Even the roofs of the towers are diverse: some are flat, some cymbi form and some domical shapes.

There are two springs called the 'Mandarin Duck Springs' at the foot of SiMaTai Great Wall. The east one is cold, while the west is warm. The 2 springs join into one lake so half the lake is cold and the other half is warm. In winter, hot steam rises from the lake, forming a marvelous spectacle.

SiMaTai Great Wall is separated into two parts (east and west) by a valley. The west part is relatively gentle with 20 well-preserved watchtowers. The east part is steep and precipitous with 15 watchtowers on the 1000 m high peaks, making a journey you will never forget.

In the east part, the main attractions include Watching Beijing Tower, Fairy Tower, Heavenly Ladder and Sky Bridge.

Different sections of Great Wall
Badaling Great Wall    Mutianyu Great Wall    Huangyaguan Great Wall    Jinshanling Great Wall    Simatai Great Wall    Juyongguan Great Wall    Jiayuguan Great Wall    Overhanging Great Wall

The Great Wall was built with dirt, stone and bricks. At the top of the Great wall, a roadway paved with three layers of brick connected the watchtowers. The roadways are wide enough to hold ten soldiers side by side.  Trekking on Great Wall offers an interesting climb and great views, it can be quite exhausting to reach the top. Nevertheless, if possible, try to avoid going on a national holiday or at the weekend.

 3 D virtural tour of Great Wall      Blog articles of trekking on Great Wall