Simatai Great Wall
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Located 120 kilometers northeast of Beijing, the Simatai Section of The Great Wall guards access to Gubeikou Pass. This section of The Great Wall was originally built during the Northern Qi Dynasty (550-577) and rebuilt during the Ming Dyansty (1368-1644). It maintains its original Ming Dynasty appearance and is in a remarkable state of preservation.
The Simatai Section is 5.4 kilometers long and has 35 beacon towers, 20 watchtowers, and is famous as being the best section of The Great Wall. This section is split into east and west sections by the Mandarin Duck Lake. The eastern part has 15 watchtowers and is extremely steep. The western section is much more level.
Two of the many notable features of the Simatai Section is the Fairy Tower, and the Watching Beijing Tower. The Fairy Tower is reached by climbing the 85 degree slope, called The Stairway To Heaven. It is very narrow, allowing one person to pass. The tower has a sculptural carving of twin lotus flowers above its arched marble doors. It is considered the most beautiful watchtower on The Great Wall. It got its name because, according to legend, the lotus flower fairy lived there. The Watching Beijing Tower is located at an elevation of 986 meters and is the highest cultural relic in Beijing. It got its name because you can see the lights of Bejing on a clear night. The bricks used on this tower are stamped with their date of manufacture and army groups that made them.
