Simatai Great Wall

Simatai Great Wall

Simatai Great Wall Aerial view of Great Wall 航拍居庸关、箭扣、司马台长城 Simatai Great Wall Tourist Area, Sishui Road, Miyun, Beijing, China/Simatai Great Wall boasts various construction patterns. Here, you can not only view the conventional appearance of the Great Wall with battlement on two sides of the track, but also have a look at the half-wall style on steep cliffs, with battlement only built on the outer side. The slope and width also change a lot according to different terrains. Some segments along the gentle slopes are so wide and mild that even horses can walk on them. In other narrow points, only one person is allowed to get through at a time.Another feature of Simatai is the diverse architectural style of the beacon tower, such as two-storey or three-storey towers, and towers of square shape, oval shape, or hexagon. The number of arrow holes on each tower also varies, including two, three, four, and even 24 holes. Of these, the most distinctive towers are the Fairy Maiden Tower (No. 15 East Tower) and Wangjing Tower (No. 16 East Tower). The former is the thinnest tower of this section while the latter the highest point of the whole scenic area. There is a seemingly vertical stairway with large steps leading to the Fairy Maiden Tower. Built over the sharp cliff, it makes the tower very hard to reach.  www.travelchinaguide.com