Beijing Travel Forum

I have a few questions about the "Heavenly Ladder" that is on the Great Wall, I think in the Simatai section.

(1) If I do the walk from Jingshanling to Simatai on the Wall, do I have to go oup the Heavenly Ladder, or is there some way around it ?
(2) Is it dangerous ? Do people fall to their deaths on it ?
(3) Are there chains to hold on to ?
(4) Is it scarier going up it, or down it ?

Hi Glen. I stayed in Beijing for 11 months few years ago. A handful of friends went to Simatai instead of Badaling. I wasn't able to join them at that time but they told me it was a 'true' Great Wall expriecnce due to the ruins and the unrestoed section of Simatai. Based from my friends stories, it was very scenic and it was quite an adventure(meaning poses danger because of the lack of railings). I've only been to Badaling section and i was not very impessed.

I walked the Simatai section in Sep 03 ( but never Badalang). The section of the wall you refer to, and my recollection may be incorrect, is a very steep section of pathway ( approximately 70 Deg from the horizontal. It is not unsafe. Back then , I was in a party of 7, and we were tagged most of the way by a party of water, postcard and guide book sellers. One of these people showed me a way to get out of climbing the " ladder", by coming down from the wall and skirting around the side of the hill. The ladder certainly looks steep, and I was getting fairly tired by the time we reached this point. It got me an extra 15 mins. of rest and I finished the days hiking fairly comfortably. If you get the chance to avoid it like me, it may be a good move.

That part is quite steep but I never felt any danger considering I was hangover when I did it. This is quite at the top of Simatai though so if coming from Jinshaling you might not even reach that far and decide to descend. I remember no railings at this portion or something to hold on to (unless you crawl) but the steps are wide enough. You can stay in the middle if you feel unsafe. Also you have the option to walk around it like someone else mentioned.

The Jinshaling-Simatai wall is awesome especially off season. I did it with my mate and it was just the two of us out there (the touts/sellers gave up on us way down below).

All your worries about Heavenly Ladder are unnecessary because Heavenly Laddar at Simatai section are not open to the tourists any longer for the safty sake of the tourists.

After such a long hike from Jinshanling section, most people choose to get off the great wall right at the East No.2 Watch Tower of Simatai section. Only few people choose to continue the hike to the East No.12 Watch Tower, and then back to the East No.2 to get off the Wall. The last 4 watch towers (East No.13-No.16), where Heavenly Laddar belongs, are not open to the public anymore. See the map of Simatai section of Great Wall from this address:
http://www.ho-u.com/zh-hans/node/989?size=preview
(click "original" to enlarge the picture) you will then understand what I said.

Excellent info!