Great Wall - Simatai. Please help with a question about the heavenly ladder.
 

I’ll be in Beijing next month and will be going to the Great Wall. I think I’ve decided to try the hike from Jinshanling to Simatai (DH & I are in our mid 30s and in relatively good shape). Here’s my question – I’ve been reading about the heavenly ladder and would like to include that section of the wall on my trip, but I’m not quite sure exactly where it is. I know it’s at Simatai, but if I am doing the hike from Jinshanling, do I have to go further than one normally would if they were just doing the regular hike? Is the ladder even open anymore? I’ve read some things that indicate the area is closed due to its dangerous conditions, but perhaps they were referring to the point past the ladder.

Being that the hike itself is a good distance, would I be better off just going straight to Simatai and walk to the ladder from there (if it's open to the public)?

Thanks in advance for any help you can offer!

Check website http://www.kinabaloo.com/simatai_great _wall.html
where it says "SiMaTai Great Wall is separated into two parts (east and west) by a valley. In the east part, the main attractions include Watching Beijing Tower, Fairy Tower, Heavenly Ladder and Sky Bridge." Some great pictures there too.

I'm hoping you get some good answers to your question because I am planning the same hike around April 20. If you would make a post about your experience after you return, I'm sure many on this site would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks so much. I'll check out that link.

I'll definitely post a report when I return!

I checked out that link. Apparently one direction from Simatai is the section with the ladder; the other direction heads toward Jinshanling.

I guess the best plan would be to have a driver take us directly to Simatai and from there we can hike in both directions from the starting point.

Does anyone have any other thoughts to offer?

If you choose hike from jinshanling to simatai, you will not face the "heavenly ladder".

"I guess the best plan would be to have a driver take us directly to Simatai and from there we can hike in both directions from the starting point."
Seems you physical condition is very good:)

asprilalee -

Thank you for the clarification. I don't necessary mean that I will hike the entire way from Simatai to Jinshanling AND the other direction to the Heavenly Ladder. (I realize that my post made it look like that was my intention!) That would be way too much for me! I just meant that by starting in Simatai, we would have the option of going in either direction.

Do you know approximately how long of a hike it is from Simatai to the heavenly ladder?

I believe they try to stop people from going up through to the Heavenly Ladder. When I was there 2 years ago there was a sign and a guard (just a young guy saying you weren't allowed to go further) This was just before the wall really begins to narrow. I have done both Jinshanling to Simatai and just the Simatai portion on different trips. I think I spent about 3 hours just going up and down Simatai, this was a fairly relaxed pace. Jinshanling to Simatai takes about 3 hours. A good idea would be to go to Jinshanling to Simatai, spend the night, then go up the other side early in the morning. If you are early enough you could beat the guard and go on further. Although the guard is probably a good idea as I could imagine a few people getting into trouble on that portion of the wall if they had free for all access.

sherhatfield:

Harju is right, but considering different people have different physical condition, 3-4 hour is ok for Simatai.

But if you have one full day, what not take a hike from jinshanling to simatai? the scenery of jinshanling is different to that of simatai. Or if you have more time, sleeping on the wall is also fantastic.

Cheers

Thanks so much for your helpful responses! I'll write a report when I get back to let you know how it went.