The Simatai section of the Great Wall offers one of the most dramatic and challenging hikes so far on the Drone and Phone journey. Starting from the reconstructed Gubei Water Town, DJ and Andy faced an immediate obstacle when a villager warned them the Wall was closed for fire season, but with some luck they were able to press on. The route began with a grueling 500-meter ascent through dry, exposed hills before finally reaching the Wall itself. Once on top, the hike quickly revealed why this section is known as “wild Wall.” Steep climbs, crumbling stones, and dangerous cliffs meant progress was slow and technical, with detours needed where the Wall itself was too unsafe to follow.

Despite the physical demands, the scenery was breathtaking, with panoramic ridge lines and untouched fortifications that felt far more authentic than the restored tourist sites. The pair covered about 10 kilometers in total, spending several hours negotiating just 4 km along the Wall before descending into a valley that led them back into Gubei Water Town at sunset. Exhausted but exhilarated, they described the trek as one of the toughest yet, warning that this route is only suitable for experienced hikers or those with a guide. For all its dangers, the wild beauty of Simatai made the effort unforgettable, setting the tone for more epic challenges still to come.