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
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
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
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
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.
Options
Private Tour
Your English speaking guide will meet you in your hotel's lobby by holding your name sign
Pickup included
Reviews
65 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
best tourguide ANSON
927taylory,
Nov 4, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Anson who is a very helpful person with excellent English. He knows every scenic spot and takes pictures for us. Besides, he is rich in historical knowledge. This is a very meaningful trip.
Highlight of my trip to China and one of the most impressive of my life!
Marina F,
Oct 30, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was such an amazing tour! The driver ZHANG bo and guide Miko were stellar! Driver drove safely and I had a relaxing time while in the car, very comfortable and luxurious. The guide was amazing! So knowledgeable and kind, also spoke great English and took great pictures. The itinerary was perfect and I would highly recommend the tour to anyone who is looking for an amazing experience in Beijing. Xie Xie ❤️
Simply recommended!!! N
Jorsi2013,
Oct 27, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Miko, thank you for this wonderful tour. Although our English is not the best, you have understood how to make this day an experience. We can only recommend everyone to book this trip. The walk on the wall, the water city of Gubai and then once again, now on the illuminated largest structure on earth was so very impressive that it often left us speechless. Miko, all the best and the next guests can look forward to you. Also thanks for the very nice driver.👍👍👍🙂🙂🙂🙂
Great Wall without Other Tourists
Gloria F,
Oct 12, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00What a fabulous experience! I had seen the Great Wall at Badaling, but I wanted a less touristy visit. This was it! We were the only people besides our guide on this section of the Great Wall. Andy, our guide, was perfect! He was very concerned that we would stay safe on the uneven steps and that we would enjoy every second on the wall. On the drive there, he gave us interesting information about the history of China and modern life without overdoing the history. Quick with a laugh, he entertained us throughout our excursion. Of course, the Great Wall was the highlight, but the included dinner was absolutely delicious. The second part of the wall we visited was a bit rougher for walking but beautifully illuminated. Again, Andy took great care of us. The illuminated water city was made for tourists which I was a bit hesitant about, but it was quite nice in a Disneyland sort of way. In the evening we saw a pretty drone show and a colorful water show. We are so happy to have had the great fortune of having Andy as our guide. We also must give our thanks to Mr. Jen (no idea how to spell it) who was our driver for our transfer from the airport and again on our day trip. He was great!
WOW - What an amazing tour!!! Bravo to Anson, our tour guide!!!
Clownfish88,
Oct 6, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Wow -- what an amazing tour! Anson was a fantastic tour guide - extremely knowledgeable and professional, well organized, great storyteller and photographer, excellent English skills. All 3 locations were absolutely beautiful. Jinshanling was perfect - no crowds which made the hiking very enjoyable. Simatai at night was magical -- the hiking trails were well lit and again, there were no crowds. We were able to take lots of photographs. Lastly, Gubei Water town ... it was so beautiful. This is not a real ancient town, only built recently; however, it was very well designed and charming. Lots of restaurants and shops available and lots of photo spots. Although, it was a 2 hour drive from Beijing to Jinshanling/Simatai/Gubei Water town area, it was a very pleasant drive. The highways were modern and smooth; the assigned car was brand new, luxurious and spacious, and the driver was excellent - very safe and smooth driving skills.
A Wonderful Trip
shoudu z,
Oct 3, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00It was a wonderful experience. The tour guide was very knowledgeable about both the local areas and the tour destinations. We were able to avoid the majority of the hassle thanks to their advice and see all the destinations without having to be to worry too much about the crowd. The food was also great they provided dishes that were fit our taste.
Great undisturbed views of the Great Wall
Rhys D,
Oct 1, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Absolutely amazing day starting with a visit to a local tea house in Beijing before heading to the first part of the Great Wall, Jinshangling. This area of the wall was perfect to visit as it was fairly quiet even on their national holiday! The view was definitely worth the drive out of the city. We then had an amazing meal at a home stay at the bottom of the wall and headed to the second part of the wall, Simatai. Here we got the cable car up and saw the great view of the water town, which we walked through on the way back. I would definitely recommend. The guide was very friendly, knowledgeable and spoke very good English (so could answer all of our questions).
Fantastic tour with Anson
WINNIE T,
Sep 30, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00We had an amazing time with our guide, Anson. He was extremely organized, professional and friendly. It was like spending a day with a friend. Our first stop was Jinshanling at the Great wall, and it was a fantastic stop. There were not a lot of people and the hike was moderate to challenging. Anson showed us the best spot to enjoy the views and to take photos. Our 2nd stop was dinner at a local homestay, and the food was wonderful and the facilities were clean. Our 3rd stop was Simatai at the Great Wall - the night hike was spectacular. There was almost no one on the trails and the illuminations were magical. Last stop was Gubei Watertown - I loved it, it was so charming and beautiful. This was an excellent tour ... the 2 hour ride to and from Beijing was very comfortable in their luxury EV vehicle, we had loads of room in the car. The driver was super safe and professional. It was definitely a memorable trip.
A demanding, inspiring and spectacular way to see China, both old and new. "The best of the Wall" without doubt.
Paolo S,
Sep 22, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our day with guide Zhang Fang Xuan and driver Mr. Liu was an absolute highlight of our trip. Zhang's knowledge and passion brought the history of the Great Wall to life, while Mr. Liu ensured a smooth and comfortable journey in his Mercedes, expertly navigating the countryside roads. Their professionalism set the stage for an unforgettable experience. The timing of our Jinshanling visit was perfect. In the late afternoon, the sun peeked through the clouds, bathing the ancient watchtowers in a breathtaking golden light—a truly spectacular sight. Afterwards, we enjoyed a meal at a local Gubei folk restaurant where the food was a revelation. Simple, fresh ingredients like chicken, rice, and vegetables were prepared to perfection, creating a dish that was both familiar and exceptional. It was a meal we could feel good about, knowing we were supporting local farmers. The day culminated with a visit to the Gubei Water Town, a truly romantic setting painstakingly crafted by hand down to the finest detail, offering an irresistible photo opportunity around every corner. The ultimate moment was viewing the entire town illuminated from our vantage point on the daunting, lit-up cliffs of Simatai. It was the perfect way to end a rich day that beautifully encapsulated both the ancient and modern facets of Chinese culture. But be prepared to walk. This is for the intrepid explorer. 😉
Trip of a Life time!!
Departure369104,
Sep 17, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience !!! We were so lucky to have Andy as our guide. He was pleasant, knowledgeable and patient. We could not have asked for anyone better ( we are sure we had the best!!) We wanted to see the Great Wall on our trip to China and Andy promptly picked us up at our hotel and took us to the first part of our tour, the Jinshanling section of the Great Wall. He guided us to the Great Wall and safely back down. We then had a marvelous dinner locally and proceded to our next segment of the tour - the Sumatran section of the Great Wall. It was stunning along with sunset and the lights of Gubei Water Town. On the way out we were treated to a stunning drone and fountain show and even saw a fire-show in Gubei. All we can say is this was an amazing tour with an amazing guide and driver! We would highly recommend this tour without hesitation- it was even better than advertised!! Thank you Andy for a fabulous tour and memories of this trip that will last a lifetime! Andy and this tour exceeded our expectations.
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Operated by Discover Beijing Tours