Private Sunset&Night Tour: Simatai Great Wall & Gubei Water Town
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September 2026
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Adults
Age 13 and over
Children
Age 12 and under
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Free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Same price on Viator, Outty earns a commission.
Traveler rating
4.9/5
Based on 50 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Private Sunset&Night Tour: Simatai Great Wall & Gubei Water Town worth booking?
Private Sunset&Night Tour: Simatai Great Wall & Gubei Water Town is a 9-hour experience in Beijing, China, from $100 per person. It scores 76 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Strongly Recommended”, based on a 4.9/5 rating across 50 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 76 / 100
- Rating
- 4.9/5 (50)
- Duration
- 9 hours
- From
- $100 per person
Skip Beijing’s crowds and poor air. Discover peaceful Simatai Great Wall, beautiful in all four seasons: spring blooms, summer sunsets over clouds, vivid autumn maples and quiet winter snow. Retaining its original look,
What you get
About this experience
Skip Beijing’s crowds and poor air. Discover peaceful Simatai Great Wall, beautiful in all four seasons: spring blooms, summer sunsets over clouds, vivid autumn maples and quiet winter snow. Retaining its original look, Simatai features striking wild scenery. Adjacent Gubei Water Town is a historic military village with gentle charm. Tour departs at noon. Enjoy ramparts and watchtowers on the return cable car while watching the sunset. Guide service, entrance fees, return cable car, round-trip transportation are all included. SG = Simatai Great Wall + Gubei Water Town MSG = Mutianyu Great Wall + Simatai Great Wall + Gubei Water Town JSG = Jinshanling Great Wall + Simatai Great Wall + Gubei Water Town
What's included
Included
- Hotel pick up & drop off
- Round Trip cable car fees
- Air-conditioned vehicle with a private Chinese speaking driver with translator App
- Gas, toll & parking lot fees
- Entrance Tickets to the Sights
- English-speaking tour guide service fee (with All Inclusive option only)
Not included
- Accommodations
- Meals (Lunch & Dinner)
- Gratuity to the guide and driver
- Private English Speaking Tour Guide (With Transportation option )
What you'll see and do
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.
120 minutes here · Admission included
Simatai Great Wall
After the water village you will reach the Simatai, the one of the few section to retain the original appearance of the Great Wall in Beijing, which was built in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), know as the “dangerous, extraordinary and special” section. Simatai is the only part of the UNESCO-listed structure open to visitors at night, and beautifully illuminated from dusk onward. Towards the sunset time, you are heading to the Great Wall: Simatai Section, from where you can see the sunset and take overlook at the whole Gubei water town. To make the experience more relax and comfortable, you will take the cable car up and down the wall when it’s illuminated, and also give you a special view to see the whole wall section under night sky.
120 minutes here · Admission included
Where it starts and ends
Hotel pickup
Pickup is included for all travelers. Pickup begins about 60 minutes before departure.
Options you can book
MSG Transfer & Tickets
Mutianyu Great Wall + Simatai Great Wall + Gubei Water Town. Tickets & private transport only, no guide. Pickup included
JSG Transfer & Tickets
Jinshanling Great Wall + Simatai Great Wall+ Gubei Water Town. Tickets & transport only, no guide. Pickup included
SG Transfer & Tickets
Including entrance tickets to Simatai Great Wall & Gubei , round trip cable car fees, private transfer WITHOUT guide service. Pickup included
All-Inclusive JSG Tour
Jinshanling Great Wall+ Simatai Great Wall+ Gubei Water Town. Guide, tickets & transport included. Pickup included
All Inclusive SG Private Tour
Including entrance tickets to water town and Simatai , round trip cable car fees, private transfer and private guide. Pickup included
All-Inclusive MSG Tour
Mutianyu Great Wall+ Simatai Great Wall+ Gubei Water Town. Guide, tickets & private transport included. Pickup included
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 10 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Catherine Lu Tours
Know before you go
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- 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
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 50 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
8 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Knowledge and storytelling
3 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Photo opportunities
3 mentionsThe views and photo stops come up again and again.
Value for money
2 mentionsTravelers feel they got more than they paid for.
Organization
2 mentionsPickup, timing, and logistics are described as running smoothly.
Traveler reviews
50 verified traveler reviews for Private Sunset&Night Tour: Simatai Great Wall & Gubei Water Town. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Amazing time at Simatai Great Wall
We had an awesome experience at the Simatai Great Wall! The views were spectacular and the town is very cute. Our driver Lu Xiaolong was so timely, helpful, and most of all friendly! Highly recommend him and this experience.
via Tripadvisor
Justin the gem & wonderful experience
This was a great tour - everything was well organised. Justin was a great tour guide with good English. Aways happy to offer good information & suggestion of the best spots for photos. Was great to have him assist navigating buying things. Well worth the experience
via Tripadvisor
Watching the sun set from Simatai Great Wall was a surreal, once in a lifetime experience
Highly recommend this tour to Gubei Water Town and Simatai Great Wall. The water town is beautiful both during the day and at night once the lanterns come on. Watching the sun set while sitting on an original, untouched section of the Great Wall was truly a surreal, once in a lifetime experience. My guide, Justin, was lovely and knowledgeable, and he recommended an excellent restaurant for dinner and was super tasty and a great end to the day.
via Tripadvisor
Driver arrived on time in...
Driver arrived on time in a new vehicle to take us smoothly and safely to Gubei. Town was amazing and worth seeing. The Great Wall when lit up at night was a special sight and well worth the experience. Highly recommended.
via Viator
Worth a visit
We had good rxperience going to China water town. Roy (Yong) was our guide. He's friendly and helpful. Samatai and water town are really beautiful after sunset.
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 9 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Price range
- $100 to $528
- Hotel pickup
- Included for all travelers
- Booked in 30 days
- 18
- Verdict
- Strongly Recommended
Why this scores 76
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Private Sunset&Night Tour: Simatai Great Wall & Gubei Water Town: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Beijing.
How much does Private Sunset&Night Tour: Simatai Great Wall & Gubei Water Town cost?
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Prices start at $100 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Beijing usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Private Sunset&Night Tour: Simatai Great Wall & Gubei Water Town take?
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Plan for about 9 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Beijing is not rushed.
Is Private Sunset&Night Tour: Simatai Great Wall & Gubei Water Town worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 76 out of 100, which we label "Strongly Recommended". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.9/5 across 50 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Beijing, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Private Sunset&Night Tour: Simatai Great Wall & Gubei Water Town?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Private Sunset&Night Tour: Simatai Great Wall & Gubei Water Town suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 9-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Private Sunset&Night Tour: Simatai Great Wall & Gubei Water Town?
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Around 18 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Beijing can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Beijing and add a light layer if any part of the 9-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Private Sunset&Night Tour: Simatai Great Wall & Gubei Water Town start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Beijing within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Beijing?
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On Outty we rank every Beijing experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Mubus: Mutianyu Great Wall Bus Tour with Summer Palace Options, Beijing: Top 6 Highlights All Inclusive 2-Day Private Tour, Private Mutianyu Great Wall Trip With English-Speaking Driver. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Beijing?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Beijing?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
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