Mutianyu & Simatai

 Mutianyu Great Wall

Located in Huairou County some 70 kilometers (44 miles) northeast of the city, the wall section in Mutianyu is the second most popular destination in Beijing.

The construction of this section began in the early Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644) and was supervised by the famous General Xu Da. Unlike the Badaling, this section has crenellated battlements on both sides of the wall, preventing enemies' attacks from either side. It proves the strategic importance of the location of this section in wartime. Various sized towers were built onto the wall serving as beacon towers, watch towers, guard posts and shelters that protected the guards.

The steep gradient of the wall is another feature of this section. This part of the wall was built in a rugged region and at several points the wall ascends sharply about 100 meters (328 feet) with a flight of flying steps and then descends gradually. Therefore, the elderly and children are not suggested to travel to this section.

The Pass Gate in Mutianyu is a three-tower structure with three watch kiosks offering a distant view of the surroundings. Covered with dense plants and trees, the wall in the area is very picturesque.

Because of its further distance, this section is less crowded than the heavily visited Badaling section and it is a good alternative during peak seasons for photographers.

 Simatai Great Wall

Further to the east of Jinshanling Great Wall is the Simatai section. A flight of steep steps starting from the 14th tower leading to the 15th tower, Fairy Tower, is called Stairway to Heaven for its sharp ascent. It was said that the top of the wall in this part was only thirty-centimeter-wide (12 inches). This section has not been restored as much as Badaling and much of the section is in a state of ruin with exposed bricks and incomplete structures. Therefore, it is a good choice for the adventurous to see the original structure. However, this section is not yet open to the public as a tourist attraction. Therefore, we do not suggest any travelers to climb this part of the wall. Also a climb of this section would be a more risky undertaking and travelers would be suggested to take security into consideration.

 Recommended China Tour with Great Wall
4 Days Beijing Tour with Badaling: Luxury tour to visit Beijing Tian'anmen Square, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Badaling Great Wall, Summer Palace and more
5 Days Beijing Tour: Small group tour to Tian'anmen Square, Forbidden City, Badaling, Bird's Nest and more as well as enjoying Beijing Duck Dinner and Chinese Kungfu Show

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