Private Sunset&Night Tour: Simatai Great Wall & Gubei Water Town

Escape the crowded tourist areas of Beijing and experience the authenticity of the Gubei Water Town and Simatai Great Wall. Enjoy a private tour with a knowledgeable guide and witness the stunning sunset over the original and picturesque Simatai section of the Great Wall.

Duration: 9 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Gubei Water Town - Be picked up by the English speaking tour guide with private vehicle at the hotel lobby at 12:30pm and drive to the Gubei water town which is situated in the north of Beijing, about 2-hour drive from the center, which surrounds the beautiful Mandarin Duck Lake Reservoir and leans against the Simatai Great Wall, the most dangerous and majestic section of the entire Great Wall. 

It was a historic military border village and now changes to a replica of Wuzhen Water Town in the Southern China, composed of picturesque canals, bridges, courtyard houses, has developed into a large-scale sightseeing and holiday destination.

At the beginning of the experience, you will be picked up at your hotel, and head to the Gubei Water Town by a comfortable private vehicle.

On the way, the tour guide will share with you the history about the Great Wall, and also you will have the chance to see the beautiful mountain view through the window.

Once get into the water town, you will totally forget about the city life and immerse in the unique scenery.

You will wander on the main street of flagstones, there are many food spots and stores alongside, such as: Kite workshop, Lantern shop­, cloisonne crafts shop, etc., also, we are going to visit old safeguard agency, temple, academy, and eight banners guild hall. Walking in the water town, you can pass several bridges where you can take very beautiful pictures.

Once go back to the town, there is an amazing “Kongming lantern”show waiting for us­, you will see hundreds of lantern flying to the night sky.

When the night falls, the water town transforms into a special atmosphere. You will see a part of the Great Wall from the village and it lights up at night.

You can end the tour in the town with delicious street food there and bring you back to the hotel by car.

What's Included
  • Hotel pick up & drop off
  • Round Trip cable car fees
  • Entrance Tickets to the Sights
  • Gas, toll & parking lot fees
  • English-speaking tour guide service fee
  • Air-conditioned vehicle with a private driver
What's Not Included
  • Accommodations
  • Meals (Lunch & Dinner)
  • Gratuity to the guide and driver
Additional Information

Stay away Beijing crowed tourists Great Wall Pass and bad air pollution, find your own private world of Great Wall in Simatai with seasonal romantic scenery: blooming mountain flowers are dancing with spring breeze; summer sunset sinks in Cloud Sea, autumn maples dressed the mountain as oil painting; winter snow brings Great Wall a kind of quiet gentleness.

Simatai section Great Wall is one of the few sections to retain the original appearance of the Great Wall, known as the ‘dangerous, extraordinary and special”. If we take it as a boy, Gubei water town is like a girl, gentle and soft,used to be a historic military border village. Accompanied by your private guide, you will start the tour at noon; take the return cable car to see the impressive parapets and defensive watch towers with the beautiful sunset.

Guide service, entrance fees, return cable car, round-trip transportation are all included.

  • Dress code is smart casual
  • Children must be accompanied by an adult
  • Infant (1-3 years old) are free providing they do not occupy a seat
  • Extra fee is requested after 9 hours tour
  • Sun block is necessary in Summer
Location
Gubei Water Town
Simatai villege, Gubeikou town
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(19 Ratings)
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Tania_k
Jul 9, 2024
Very Nice break from Beijing - Gubai is a beautiful city and a Nice break from Beijing. The Wall at Simatai is beautiful at nigth but you need to be in good shape since there is quite lot of walking We did not have guide and did not need one since we had the most amazing and helpful driverr Lu Xia Long
Review provided by Viator
Rhiannone125
Jun 2, 2024
Relaxing afternoon and evening at Gubei water town and Simatai Great Wall - We had May Wang as our guide for the Gubei Water town and Simatai Great Wall night tour. We had a really great afternoon and evening out with May. We stated from Beijing at 2pm. May made some adjustment to the time we booked beforehand in order to get the best timing on top the wall which was much appreciated. On our drive out to the wall and during the afternoon May shared some history about the great wall and the town. First we took a walk through the water town, it was very peaceful with many nice spots for taking photos. We also looked in some displays in the town for things including baijiu making, cloth dying, paper making. We brought some tasty street snacks along the walk through the town. Then caught the cable car up to the wall. The real highlight was watching the sunset from atop the wall, it was really worth the trip and it wasn’t too busy either. During the night entry you can walk between watch towers 5 and 6 as well as a little on either side. After sunset the lights come on the wall which is also really nice to look at. On our walk back through the water town to the car we also caught the drone light show in the square which was a nice surprise. The water town was much more lively at night. The drive there and back was also very comfortable.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Joeym189
May 22, 2024
Adventure for our Family! - Mr Lu was our always smiling driver and Justin was our guide. When we found out the Simatai Great Wall cable cars were closed for repairs, Justin recommended we visit the less touristy Panshalong Great Wall instead. It was a 15 min walk vs the 1 hour climb at Simatai. Our family ended up with an unplanned hike up the Panshalong Wall which became a huge adventure for us, it was almost a dangerous trek because this section was the most unrestored and it was bare, but we managed it. In the evening, we went to the Gubei Water Town and had great evening photos including the Simatai Great Wall lit up behind us. It was a good detour from the original plan.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
826athirar
Apr 18, 2024
Best relaxed day trip! - This was an amazing and relaxed day trip for our family trip to Beijing. We have visited Gubei in the evening and late night along with the Simatai great wall. The evening view of the simatai was awesome. Most relaxing part was that we got a really nice tour guide, Ms. Jenny very professional, friendly and a really nice person. She suggested us great shops for souvenirs, food and explained the details very clearly.A perfect tour guide.Such people really makes us feel comfortable and safe while travelling to distant places. A real gem. a special mention to our driver Mr. Wang, with him our trip was so comfortable. We didn't feel the journey was 2.5 hours long with his driving skills. Definitely recommend Catherine Lu travels with a 5 star rating!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Athira_r
Apr 16, 2024
Best relaxed day trip - This was an amazing and relaxed day trip for our family trip to Beijing. We have visited Gubei in the evening and late night along with the Simatai great wall. The evening view of the simatai was awesome. Most relaxing part was that we got a really nice tour guide, Ms. Jenny very professional, friendly and a really nice person. She suggested us great shops for sovenuirs, food and explained the details very clearly.A perfect tour guide.Such people really makes us feel comfortable and safe while travelling to distant places. A real gem. And a special mention to our driver Mr. Wang, with him our trip was so comfortable. We didn't feel the journey was 2.5 hours long with his driving skills. Definitely recommend Catherine Lu travels with a 5 star rating!
Review provided by Viator
Urmil1307
Apr 6, 2024
Not to miss this amazing evening combo tour… Very professional operator Catherine Lu Tours with super tour guide Wendy!👌 - It is one of the best tours I have done and I highly recommend to do this combo of Simatai Great Wall and Gubei Water Town especially the evening tour. The wall looks amazing at sunset and totally different in dark with lighting! Gubei water town is also not to miss in night. Opera showing Chinese traditions was amazing and Drone art in dark showing stunning arts in sky together with enlightened Great Wall was a superb surprise! In nut shell if you go Beijing not miss this to do with Catherine Lu Tours especially with very knowledgable and energetic my tour guide “ Wendy “! You are simply amazing. Also thanks for great car with safe driving by very good driver!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Merlmerl
Mar 25, 2024
Charming water town outside Beijing - We love Gubei Water Town, it is very charming and quaint, and it is such a nice town to walk around. The town is situated about 2.5hr drive from Beijing, as we didn’t want to stay overnight in Gubei, we decided to do day trip instead, which we think it is good enough if you are lazy traveller like us, who didn’t want to check in/out from hotel in Beijing. We engaged a private day tour with Catherine Lu Tour, our assigned guide, Sonia, was really wonderful, fun, and informative. She is very friendly and engaging, you feel like you are travelling with a friend instead! It was really enjoyable experience. We ate in local Chinese restaurant, the food was really good, and now it is March so weather is really nice cool and crisp. The walk around the town is really relaxing, and since we came on Monday, it was really quiet. If you want a little bit of liveliness, then you may opt to go weekend instead. We definitely recommend Gubei water town if you want to experience out of Beijing town scenery.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Dreamer28930915714
Sep 30, 2023
I loved - An incredible experience, my husband and I enjoyed the whole day on this tour, it was really worth it. We consider that we were very lucky to be able to find this tour since it is a different way to enjoy the Chinese wall
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Dreamer28930915714
Sep 20, 2023
Incredible - An amazing experience, my husband and I enjoyed the whole day on this tour, it was really worth it
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Z3929okmichelv
Sep 15, 2023
A great trip with driver Kevin - Only booked a driver. Kevin picked us up and showed to be wonderful. Great to talk with about his country, it's future and so forth. 5 star, pal!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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