Many visitors to Gubei Water Town find themselves wondering whether the extra cost to visit Simatai Great Wall is worth it. Although the entrance ticket includes access to the Wall, the round-trip cable car is not included, and each ticket costs 180 yuan. Should you splurge on the cable car ride, or is it better to explore other attractions? In this review, I’ll share my personal experience and give an honest recommendation based on my time spent visiting the Wall.
My Own Experience
For our visit, we chose to go in the evening just before sunset. The midday sun can be intense, and you can miss the chance to enjoy the water town’s stunning night views if you go too early, so I highly recommend visiting in the late afternoon or evening. There is a shuttle bus from the entrance of Gubei Water Town directly to the cable car ticket area. The shuttle runs on a regular schedule, and if there are a lot of people, you can ask the staff to help you depart earlier. The shuttle ride is only about five minutes, so it’s very convenient. Once we arrived, we scanned the ticket to access the cable car, and due to the limited number of people, we were able to have the whole cable car to ourselves—an unexpected bonus! When it’s crowded, the cable car accommodates six people per ride.
The ride up was quite thrilling, with panoramic views that were nothing short of breathtaking, especially at sunset. We were a few minutes late, so we didn’t catch the full sunset, but what we saw was still incredible. The cable car ride itself takes around six or seven minutes, a journey that would have taken me three to four hours to complete on foot—no chance I could have climbed that steep path myself.
After getting off the cable car, there’s still about a 15-minute walk to the Wall itself. The path is narrow, uneven, and quite steep, so you need to be very careful. The terrain can be physically demanding, especially with the sharp inclines, so make sure you’re prepared. When we reached the Great Wall, we realized that the section open to visitors is quite short, mainly just between two watchtowers. The steps up to the towers are not small, and the surface is uneven and rocky, making it a challenge for anyone without proper footwear.
Most tourists sit on the steps to take photos or simply relax and enjoy the breeze. Despite the relatively short section of the Wall, the feeling of being on top is awe-inspiring. It may not be as grand as the Badaling section, but the sheer magnitude of the Wall and the surrounding landscape made it a memorable experience. The view of the Gubei Water Town below at night is also stunning, though the effect isn’t as striking as it could be because it’s not completely dark, and the distance is quite far.
We spent about 20 minutes on the Wall before deciding to head back. Honestly, there’s not much to explore once you’re up there, and after a short while, we felt it was time to go.
Key Takeaways
- Cost vs. Experience: For 360 yuan for the two of us to take the cable car and spend 20 minutes walking around, I don’t think it was worth the money. If you’ve never seen the Great Wall before, it might be a worthwhile experience, but if you’ve already visited more famous sections like Badaling, Simatai may not offer much additional value.
- Time vs. Reward: The section of the Wall that is open to tourists is very short, and the walk to reach it is steep and uneven. It might not be worth the time and energy, especially considering how short the visit actually is.
- Avoid Overpaying: Don’t feel pressured to take the cable car simply because your entrance ticket includes access to the Great Wall. It’s not necessary, and if you’re trying to save money, you can definitely skip the extra cost.
Recommendations for Different Visitors
- For Hikers: If you’re in good shape and enjoy hiking, you can opt to skip the cable car and walk up to the Wall. However, keep in mind that the descent after sunset can be dangerous, so you might want to purchase a one-way cable car ticket for the return trip if you plan on walking up. The cost for a one-way ticket is 110 yuan, so be sure to factor that into your decision.
- For Casual Tourists: If you’re not up for a strenuous walk or hike, taking the cable car is the best option. However, I would recommend arriving earlier to catch the sunset and enjoy the views. Just remember, the time spent on the Wall is limited, and there isn’t much to do once you get there.
- For Photography Enthusiasts: If you’re a photographer, the sunset views from the cable car are truly incredible. Even though the section of the Wall is short, it provides stunning photo opportunities, especially as the sun sets over the mountains.