Private Tour
Jinshanling Private Tour with Night View of Simatai and Gubei Water Town from Beijing
Overview
Available languages
Mobile ticket
First trip to Beijing? This private tour is a must for Great Wall exploration—and it’s a rare crowd-free gem! Spend your daytime wandering Jinshanling Great Wall, known for its well-preserved ancient watchtowers and unobstructed mountain vistas—no pushing through crowds, just peaceful immersion in history and scenery. As night falls, head to Simatai Great Wall (one of the few sections open after dark) and nearby Gubei Water Town: watch the town’s lantern-lit lanes glow, then take a cable car to marvel at Simatai’s twinkling night views—romantic, quiet, and utterly breathtaking. Pick your preferred departure time for a worry-free experience: exclusive tour guide, entrance tickets, Simatai cable car ride, local-style lunch, private vehicle, plus hotel pickup and drop-off—we’ve got your perfect day fully covered!
Additional Info
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Children must be accompanied by an adult
Please wear comfortable walking shoes
Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required
The whole-day tour will take approximately 10 to 12 hours. Please ensure you are in good physical condition, or have a good rest in advance to keep up with the schedule.
This tour departs in the afternoon/early noon, specially arranged for you to enjoy the stunning night view of Gubei Water Town and the breathtaking sunset at Simatai Great Wall. We provide either a lunch or a dinner for the tour, and you can choose one of the two meal options as you like.
Jinshanling Great Wall features two classic hiking trails for exploration. A certain level of physical stamina is required for the hiking part.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Jinshanling Great Wall
Your friendly tour guide will meet you right in your hotel lobby at your prearranged time, then whisk you directly to Jinshanling Great Wall—no hassle, just a smooth start. The roughly 2-hour drive flies by: your guide will share fascinating Great Wall history and stories along the way, while you soak in the idyllic countryside views outside the window. Once you arrive, you’ll step into Jinshanling Great Wall—a crowd-free treasure&one of the best-preserved Great Wall sections, always captivating hikers. Stretching east to Simatai and west to Gubeikou, this section dates back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1389) and was later rebuilt under General Qi Jiguang—a living piece of history. With over 100 ancient enemy towers dotting its length, every step tells a story: your guide will hike with you, share these tales, help snap photos, or even keep an eye on the kids. You’ll have 2-3 hours to savor this peaceful, scenic spot—no pushing through crowds, just you and the Great Wall’s timeless charm
Gubei Water Town
After a satisfying dinner, you’ll head straight to Gubei Water Town—just a 30-minute drive away, so the relaxation keeps flowing. Accompanied by your guide, you’ll start a leisurely walking tour to uncover the town’s unique charms: modeled after the iconic Wuzhen Water Town of southern China, Gubei Water Town is divided into 6 distinct areas, including the Old Barracks Area, Minguo Street Area, and Water Street Area. As you wander, you’ll stumble upon charming boutiques, mouthwatering local eateries, and distinctive hotels—each corner holding a little surprise to make your evening unforgettable.
What‘s Included
Bottled water
Chinese lunch or dinner you can choose one of them
Cable car round trip at Simatai Great Wall
English Speaking tour guide
Private air conditioned vehicle
Transport by private vehicle
Entrance Fee
Cable car on the Jinshanling Great Wall
Gratuities
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Options
Private Tour
Your English speaking guide will meet you in your hotel's lobby by holding your name sign
Pickup included
Reviews
88 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
We had an absolutely...
Regine L,Apr 5, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00We had an absolutely incredible tour with Tony! He truly goes above and beyond to ensure his clients have the best possible experience. Tony is exceptionally knowledgeable, providing deep insights and explanations that brought every site to life. What impressed us most was his patience and his 'client first' attitude; he never rushed us and tailored the pace to our needs. His English is excellent, making communication seamless and enjoyable. If you’re looking for a top tier guide, we cannot recommend Tony highly enough!
Amazing tour and great driver!
371jimh,Apr 1, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had an absolutely amazing tour! The great wall at Jinshanling is stunning and Gubei water town was really lovely. Our driver, Dong Xuefei, was brilliant - he really looked after us very well, was very kind, and make sure we had the perfect day. Thanks!
Absolutely Amazing!
juliadF6553NL,Mar 30, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This tour seriously could not have went any better. Jimmy was an amazing tour guide. He was knowledgeable about China and World History and I loved learning from him. He made the drive to the wall go by quickly with good conversations. His English was fluent and he was always there to translate whenever needed. He knew exactly where to take good photos and offered several times to take some of me, which I appreciated since I was a solo traveler. I am very happy I got to tour with Jimmy and see the Great Wall. He was truly amazing! The Great Wall sections we went to were not crowded at all. The first sections we were the only people there for a majority of the time. The second, slightly more people but still not crowded. The views were beautiful. The water town was so cute and had many little cats which made it even better. I loved every second! Best day in China ever!
Great Wall tour
699jeanbaptisted,Mar 26, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had an absolutely wonderful experience with our guide Andy during our visit to the Great Wall of China and the charming village of Gubei. From start to finish, Andy was professional, knowledgeable, and incredibly friendly. At the Great Wall, he shared fascinating historical insights and made sure we had plenty of time to enjoy the breathtaking views at our own pace. His explanations really brought the history to life and made the visit much more meaningful. Our trip to Gubei Village was equally memorable. Andy showed us around the picturesque streets, pointed out hidden gems, and gave us great recommendations for local food and spots to explore. His enthusiasm and attention to detail made the whole day feel relaxed and special. Andy went above and beyond to ensure we were comfortable and enjoying every moment. We highly recommend him to anyone looking for a knowledgeable and personable guide in China!
Great Day
Thomas M,Mar 12, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Amazing Trip, impressive Views and a great Guide Leo. This part of great wall with less tourists is the most beautiful segment
Great experience with Andy!
848katieq,Mar 9, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a lovely time — Andy was so knowledgeable and patient. They adapted the tour to stop at a tea house for a tea ceremony, a great bonus addition. The transportation was smooth and dinner was excellent. A unique experience
Unique experience
solangegalan,Mar 9, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00If you want to know the great wall, you can not miss this trip. First we went to know the part of Jinshanling, which is one of the oldest parts. Then we went to lunch at a traditional place, where the food was excellent and we felt very comfortable. Finally, we toured Simatai at night. It's a unique experience. I recommend doing the tour with Miko and Jian. Both were very attentive to what we needed. Miko is a great guide: he gave us a history and geography class before we reached the wall so we arrived with the fresh information. Undoubtedly, both made this day a unique experience.
An unmissable excursion
Mauro G,Mar 9, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Miko, our guide, and our driver, Jian, were excellent and provided spectacular service, with detailed information on each section of the wall and taking us to a beautiful family restaurant to eat, with delicious and authentic food. A 10/10 excursion, our guide and driver.
Tony and Zai Great Wall and Gubei Water Town Tour
Jesse T,Feb 17, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Tony and Zai were amazing guides for this trip. Tony had so much history to share during the tour and it was an amazing tour. The Great Wall was somehow even more incredible than we thought it was going to be, and it took all our breaths away. The journey to Gubei Water Town was an awesome experience too and having Tony there with us to get our tickets, then our cable car tickets etc was reallly handy and took the stress out of things as foreigners. Zai was also a fantastic driver and the rides were always smooth and calm
Best tour!!!
Nicole A,Feb 15, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Our private tour to Jinshanling Great Wall with the night view of Simatai Great Wall and Gubei Water Town was absolutely unforgettable. Seeing the Great Wall illuminated at night was simply AMAZING — such a surreal and breathtaking experience. Our guide was fantastic. He took us to the best sections for views and photos and made the entire evening smooth and enjoyable. Everything felt perfectly planned, and the nighttime atmosphere made it all even more magical. Highly recommend this tour for a truly special Great Wall experience!
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Operated by Discover Beijing Tours