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How Far is Simatai Great Wall from Central Beijing? (Distance & Time Overview)
Simatai Great Wall is located in Miyun District, right on the border between Beijing and Hebei Province. It is roughly 142 km from the Forbidden City.
In real-world driving time, that means roughly 2 to 2.5 hours. If you leave during morning rush hour, expect closer to 3 hours.
The route takes you through the northeastern suburbs and into Miyun District, where the landscape shifts from highway to winding mountain roads.
| Method | Cost | Time | Best For | Return? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shuttle Bus (Tongyou 22) | ¥48 one way | 2-3 hours | Most visitors | Yes, afternoon departure |
| Suburban Train (S5) | ~¥25 | 3-3.5 hours | Budget travelers | Yes, very limited schedule |
| Public Bus via Miyun | ~¥30 | 3-4 hours | Tight budgets only | Yes, requires transfer |
| Taxi / Private Car | ¥250-400 | 2-2.5 hours | Groups, night tour visitors | Must arrange in advance |
Best Way to Travel: From Beijing to Simatai Great Wall by Direct Tourist Bus
For 90% of our travelers, we recommend the Direct Tourist Bus. It is affordable, uses the highway, and takes you directly to the Gubei Water Town entrance (the gateway to Simatai).
Tongyou Line 22: From Wangjing West Hub (Wangjing West Hub) to Gubei Water Town (Gubei Water Town)
The official Tongyou Line 22 (Tongyou Line 22) is the most reliable public "Express" service. It departs from Wangjing West Hub twice a day, at 9:00 AM and 1:00 PM. The fare is ¥48 per person, paid on board. It takes 2-2.5 hours.
How to Get to Wangjing West Hub: Take Subway Line 13, 15, or 17 to Wangjing West Station. Take Exit E and follow the signs to the Wangjing West Hub. Go to the bus mezzanine level and look for the Gubei Water Town platform.
How to pay: You can pay the driver directly using cash, a Beijing Transport Card, or by scanning a QR code (Alipay/WeChat).
| Departure | Morning | Afternoon |
|---|---|---|
| Wangjing West Hub | 09:00 | 13:00 |
| Gubei Water Town | 12:00 | 17:00 |
Tongyou Line 22 Bus has moved its starting point to the Wangjing West Hub. If you go to the old Dongzhimen Bus Hub looking for Tongyou Line 22, you will likely miss your trip. However, a separate private bus (CYTS) still operates near Dongzhimen. We explain below.
CYTS Direct Bus: Departure Points Near Dongzhimen Subway Exit D
If your hotel is near the city center and you don't want to travel to Wangjing, the CYTS (Zhongqinglv) Bus is your best alternative.
- Departure Time: 9:00 AM (Sharp).
- Cost: 48 RMB.
- Location: 5 Nanda Road, Dongzhimen, Dongcheng District. This is right outside Exit D of the Dongzhimen Subway Station, near the CYTS Plaza building.
To book your ticket online, open the WeChat mini-program called "CYTS Study Travel". Look for the "Direct Bus" option.
2 Days
1 PlaceTaking the Suburban Rail: The S5 Train from Beijing North to Gubeikou (Step-by-step)
There are no direct train from Beijing to Simatai Great Wall. If you enjoy train travel, the S5 suburban rail line offers a scenic and affordable ride to Gubeikou Station. From there, a shuttle bus takes you the rest of the way to Gubei Water Town.
Step 1: Take S5 Train from Beijing North/Qinghe to Guibeikou (Gubeikou)
You will take the Huaimi Line (S5) from Beijing North Station(Beijing North) or Qinghe Station(Qinghe). Two trains run this route daily from Beijing North Station. The ride is about 2.5 hours.
There's also a slower train, the 4471, which departs from Changping North at 9:57 AM and takes 3.5 hours. Skip that one unless you have no other choice.
| Trains | Departure | Stop | Duration | Travel Time | Price (RMB) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S501 | Beijing North | Qinghe, Changping North | 2.5h | 06:55 - 09:25 | 14.5 |
| 4471 | Changping North | 6+ stops | 3.5h | 09:57 - 13:19 | 14.5 |
| S503 | Beijing North | Qinghe, Changping North | 2.5h | 14:19 - 16:50 | 14.5 |
S501 is perfect for a full day trip. S503 is ideal if you are staying overnight for the night tour.
Step 2: From Gubeikou Station to the Wall by Shuttle Bus (20-35 Min)
The train stops at Gubeikou Station, which is about 15 km away from the Great Wall. You cannot walk from here. You must take the dedicated shuttle bus.
The shuttle runs on a fixed schedule tied to train arrivals. Current departure times are 9:40 AM and 5:10 PM. It drops you at the Gubei Water Town Parking Lot No. 2. From there, it's a short walk to the ticket office.
Budget Option: Public Bus via Miyun (About 21 RMB)
This is only recommended for adventurous backpackers on a very tight budget. It is slow but runs more frequently than the direct buses.
- Step 1: Go to Dongzhimen Bus Hub and take the 980 Express Bus (980 Express) to Miyun West Bridge (Miyun West Bridge). This takes about 1 hour and costs ~15 RMB.
- Step 2: Cross the street and find the stop for Bus Mi 51 (Mi 51). This bus goes to Simatai Village/Gubei Water Town. This leg takes another hour and costs ~6 RMB.
- Total Time: 3 to 4 hours.
Most Flexible Option: Taxi or Private Car to Simatai (Costs & Booking Tips via Didi)
If you are traveling with a family of three or four, a private car is often the most sensible choice. It offers door-to-door service and total flexibility. A one-way trip via Didi (China's Uber) usually costs between 250 and 400 RMB.
It is very easy to get a Didi to the Wall, but it can be difficult to find a driver willing to accept a 140 km trip back to Beijing at night.
If you take a taxi, try to negotiate a "round trip" price with the driver, or use a travel agency service like Asia Odyssey Travel to pre-book a Beijing & Simatai tour with a reliable private driver and english guide who will wait for you.
Simatai Great Wall Tickets & Cable Car 2026: Day vs. Night Tour
Simatai has a unique ticketing system split into day tickets and night tickets. If you also plan to visit Gubei Water Town at the base of the wall, that requires a separate 50 RMB entrance fee.
For the day tour, the basic admission to the Great Wall is 40 RMB, which covers the full hiking route on foot.
Cable car rides cost extra. The night tour, by contrast, is a fixed package of 200 RMB that includes both the Great Wall admission and a round-trip cable car ride.
| Ticket Type | Price | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Great Wall admission (hiking only) | 40 RMB | 9:00-16:30 (last entry 16:10, cleared by 16:30) |
| Great Wall + one-way cable car (day) | 150 RMB | 9:00-16:30 |
| Great Wall + round-trip cable car (day) | 220 RMB | 9:00-16:30 |
| Great Wall + round-trip cable car (night) | 200 RMB | May-Oct: 18:00-21:40 / Nov-Apr: Sun-Thu 17:30-20:10, Fri-Sat 17:30-20:40 |
If you visit during the day, you must leave the wall by 4:30 PM. The night tour requires a separate ticket and begins after sunset.
Simatai Day Tour (9:00-16:30, 40-220 RMB)
Simatai is divided into eastern and western sections by a reservoir. Currently, only the eastern section - Tower 1 through Tower 10 - is open to the public.
You can hike from the entrance all the way to Tower 10, though the stretch between Tower 2 and Tower 10 is steep and rugged. Expect the full round trip on foot to take about 4 hours.
If you prefer not to hike the entire route, the cable car takes you up to a station near Tower 8. From there, walk down to Tower 5 or Tower 6 for the best views, then return to the cable car station to ride back down. This shorter loop takes about 1.5 to 2 hours.
Simatai Great Wall - Experience the Wall Under Night Sky
Simatai Great Wall Map: Night Tour & Water Town
Simatai Night Tour (Starts 5:30 PM, 200 RMB)
The night tour is the real highlight of Simatai. After dark, the entire wall is lit up in warm golden light, looking like a glowing dragon resting along the mountain ridgeline.
The night tour typically begins around 5:30 or 6:00 PM depending on the season. You take the cable car up and walk the section between Tower 5 and Tower 6.
From the wall, you can look down and see thousands of lanterns twinkling across Gubei Water Town below - a view unlike anything at other Great Wall sections.
Every evening, weather permitting, a drone light show takes place over the Riyue Island Square in the water town, usually at 7:30 PM and 8:50 PM. Watching the drones form shapes against the backdrop of the illuminated Great Wall is an unforgettable experience.
The cable car is mandatory for the night tour - hiking up on your own is not permitted for safety reasons.
Use the "Beijing W Town" WeChat mini-program for official ticket bookings.
Getting Back to Beijing After the Night Tour: Don't Get Stranded!
The Last Direct Bus: If you aren't staying for the night view, the last direct bus back to Beijing usually leaves Gubei Water Town around 4:00 PM or 5:00 PM.
The night tour wraps up around 9:00 to 10:00 PM. At that hour, there are no buses, no trains, and no shuttles heading back to Beijing. The area around Gubei Water Town is quiet and remote. You have three realistic options.
Pre-book a car. Use Didi or arrange a private driver before the night tour starts - not after it ends. Expect ¥350-450 for the two-hour ride back to central Beijing. Expect to pay about 100-150 RMB for a seat in a shared car.
Stay overnight. Gubei Water Town has hotels and guesthouses inside the complex. Prices start around ¥400-600 on weekdays and climb on weekends. Take the morning shuttle back to Beijing the next day.
Book a tour with transport included. Several operators like Asia Odyssey Travel run Beijing & Simatai tours. This removes the logistics entirely and is worth considering if the return trip feels like too much to manage on your own.
Final Expert Thought from Asia Odyssey Travel
It requires a bit more effort to reach, but standing on a 600-year-old watchtower at night, looking at the stars, is a memory that stays with you forever.
If you need help arranging a private expert-led tour or a seamless transfer, our team is always here to make your "Odyssey" through China perfect.
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