Wangjinglou

Chinese: 望京樓
Pinyin: Wàng jīng lóu
English: View capital tower
Coordinates: 40°39'28.20"N 117°18'8.23"E

At the east end of Tianqiao is tower 16, the highest tower at Simatai, called Wangjinglou, Wangjing Tower, the Capital-in-sight tower, or the Tower for Viewing the Capital. Its elevation is 986 meters (3235 feet). It's said that from here one can see the lights of Beijing on a clean night, and maybe that was once true for the view from here is very impressive indeed.

Wangjing tower and Juxian tower

Wangjinglou

Distant view of Simatai ridge

Entrance to Bagezhuang from S312 road (40°38'7.14"N 117°17'49.27"E)

View of Wangjinglou from start of trail from Tangjiazhai (40°39'0.12"N 117°18'22.74"E)

Wangjinglou

Wangjinglou

Wangjinglou

Looking almost straight up at Wangjinglou…

... and Xiannulou

Wangjinglou viewed from the steep climb up the mountain

Juxianlou viewed from the steep climb up the mountain

Wangjinglou

Reaching the Great Wall just east of Juxianlou

Wangjinglou and Juxianlou

Wangjinglou

Wangjinglou

Wangjinglou

Wangjinglou

Climbing around the south side of Wangjinglou is precarious and critical!

Fairy Maiden tower (Xiannulou)

Start of the Sky Bridge (Tianqiao)

Sky Bridge

Sky Bridge

Distant view of Jinshanling and Gubeikou Great Wall

Another angle of the Sky Bridge and Xiannulou

Wangjinglou

South side of the Great Wall east of Juxianlou

Wangjinglou and Juxianlou

Xiannulou, Wangjinglou, and Juxianlou

Elevation profile for the hike / climb from Tangjiazhai to Wangjinglou