Jennifer
Senior Travel Consultant
Vivian
Travel Consultant
Chanson
Travel Consualtant
Embark on a fulfilling private full-day tour departing downtown Beijing to explore two iconic scenic gems: the primitive precipitous Simatai Great Wall and lantern-lit Gubei Water Town, known as "Wuzhen of Northern China". Accompanied by an experienced local English-speaking guide and dedicated private driver, you will hike the only Great Wall segment open for night viewing, admire authentic northern water town canals, folk crafts and immersive evening light performances. This well-rounded journey blends rugged Ming frontier relics, tranquil waterside ancient streets and dreamy night light landscapes for a perfect one-day Beijing getaway.
- Private full-day tour covering Simatai Great Wall and adjacent Gubei Water Town, one-stop combination of mountain grandeur and waterside tenderness
- Exclusive evening signature shows: music water dance, iron flower firework display and drone lantern light show
- Hearty local northern farmhouse lunch included to replenish energy after morning wall hiking
- Private round-trip air-conditioned vehicle, professional guide, full entrance tickets and cable car fees covered
- Zero forced shopping, flexible free time for photography and casual sightseeing; suitable for families, photographers and culture lovers
FROM $128 per person
Prices vary depending on group size, hotel standards, and how you'd like to tailor your itinerary.
Accommodation: 
Meal: Customized Morning Pickup & Departure from Beijing
We arrange hotel pickup starting at 7:30 AM from your downtown hotel, Beijing railway station or airport with flexible boarding locations matching your schedule. Your exclusive guide and driver will greet you on time, brief you on the full-day schedule, hiking safety reminders and performance viewing tips. The smooth highway drive from central Beijing to Gubei Water Town takes roughly 2.5 hours. Along the journey, the guide narrates Simatai's unique Ming military history, steep precipitous terrain and the design concept of Gubei Water Town that integrates southern water town aesthetics with northern frontier culture.
In-depth Hiking of Primitive Simatai Great Wall
Upon arrival at the scenic compound, skip tedious on-site queuing with pre-booked combined tickets and head straight to Simatai Great Wall, hailed as the most original and dangerous intact Ming Great Wall section. Retaining unpolished grey brick masonry, steep sky ladders and single-sided narrow ramparts, the wall snakes along jagged Yanshan mountain ridges with ten well-preserved hollow watchtowers of varied structures.
Your guide elaborates ancient military defense systems, beacon signal transmission rules and unique architectural details of each watchtower, helping you fully grasp the vicissitudes of frontier garrison history. Sufficient free time is reserved for landscape photography before descending the wall around noon.
Leisurely Daytime Exploration of Gubei Water Town
After lunch, spend relaxed hours wandering the canals and ancient lanes of Gubei Water Town, a well-built northern waterside ancient town tucked at the foot of Simatai Great Wall. Modeled after classic Jiangnan water towns, it features bluestone alleys, arched stone bridges, flowing canals and grey tile wooden courtyard buildings, forming a striking contrast against the rugged mountain Great Wall backdrop.
Follow your guide to visit core cultural spots:
Yongshun Dyehouse: Watch traditional indigo tie-dye craft demonstrations and optional handmade silk scarf experience
Simatai Distillery: Learn ancient rice wine brewing techniques and sample mild local rice wine
Zhenyuan Escort Agency: Discover the vanished ancient escort industry culture of northern frontier towns
Tangshi Ancient Street: Browse folk craft stalls, taste assorted northern snacks and browse Great Wall-themed souvenirs
You can also take a slow wooden canal boat cruise, drifting along rippling waterways to view ancient houses reflected on the water surface, capturing soft daytime waterside scenery.
Evening Signature Light Shows & Simatai Night Great Wall Viewing
As dusk falls, thousands of red lanterns light up the entire water town, turning canals into glowing golden ribbons. Don't miss three exclusive evening grand performances:
1. Musical water dance fountain show with dynamic light projection themed on Ming border defense stories
2. Intangible heritage iron flower fire show, splashing molten iron into dazzling silver flower sparks above the water square
3. Drone Kongming lantern aerial light show, presenting romantic floating lantern patterns over the valley
After enjoying the shows, head back to Simatai Great Wall for the iconic night viewing experience. The wall is outlined by soft warm lighting without harsh floodlights, retaining its primitive ancient texture. Standing on the illuminated ramparts, you overlook the whole glowing lantern water town nestled in mountain valleys, witnessing the stunning layered scenery of lit Great Wall, starry sky and lantern-lit water town integrated in one frame. The guide will lead you to quiet exclusive photo spots away from tourist crowds for perfect night landscape shots.
Back to Downtown Beijing
Wrap up your full-day dual-scenic journey around 21:00 and board your private vehicle for the 2.5-hour return drive to central Beijing. Admire quiet mountain twilight views along the highway. Our guide and driver will drop you off at your pre-selected location including hotel, railway station or airport, bringing this unforgettable day trip blending wild Great Wall grandeur and poetic water town night charm to a pleasant end.
* Leave Yours Questions & Answers or Review
A peaceful escape from Hangzhou
Thank you, Elara! We're glad we could make your journey to Putuo Mountain smooth and relaxing. The ferry transfer can be confusing for first-time visitors, so we're happy that our team could take care of the details and let you focus on enjoying the temples, forests, and coastal scenery.
Questions about Putuo Island
Hi Caelan,
Thank you for your questions! We really appreciate that you are interested in experiencing the deeper cultural side of Putuo Island. It is not only a Buddhist destination but also a beautiful island with forests, beaches, and coastal scenery.
1. The main temples, especially Puji Temple, can become busy during weekends and holiday periods. To provide a better experience, our guide will usually arrange the sightseeing order according to crowd levels and opening times, allowing you to enjoy quieter moments whenever possible.
2. There are no strict requirements for visitors, but we recommend dressing respectfully and keeping a quieter atmosphere inside the temples. Our guide will also explain some local customs and interesting stories behind the temples, making the visit more meaningful.
3. Absolutely. Besides temples, Putuo Island is famous for its beautiful coastline and natural landscapes. We will include time for seaside walks, scenic viewpoints, and relaxed moments by the ocean, so the experience is not only cultural but also enjoyable.
We would be happy to help you discover a more authentic side of Putuo Island!
One of the best nature trips we have taken in China
Thank you, Soren! We're so happy that Xiaoqikong became one of your favorite memories. Guizhou's natural beauty is truly unique, and we always hope our guests can enjoy it in a comfortable and worry-free way. Thank you for trusting our team to organize your journey.
A wonderful journey
Thank you, Callum! We're delighted that your family enjoyed the journey. We always try to design our Guizhou routes with a comfortable rhythm, combining iconic sights with meaningful cultural experiences. We hope your family keeps wonderful memories of the mountain villages and local hospitality.
Why Choose Buer China Travel
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Jennifer
Senior Travel Consultant
Vivian
Travel Consultant
Chanson
Travel Consualtant
Before creating your itinerary, our travel specialists take the time to understand your interests, preferences, travel style, and expectations. We carefully plan every part of your journey, from route design and daily schedules to sightseeing experiences and local activities, making sure the pace, destinations, and experiences are perfectly matched to your needs.
We personally select and work with trusted hotels, transportation providers, professional guides, and local partners who meet our standards for quality, comfort, cleanliness, and reliability. From comfortable accommodations and well-maintained vehicles to knowledgeable local experts, every service is carefully chosen to ensure a smooth and enjoyable travel experience.
About 1–2 weeks before your departure, our team will contact you to go over the final details of your trip. We'll reconfirm your itinerary, hotels, transportation, and special requests, answer any last-minute questions, and provide all essential travel information, including contact details, arrival instructions, and helpful travel tips, so you can arrive in China fully prepared and travel with confidence.
Our support does not end after your trip begins. Throughout your journey, our team stays connected and ready to assist with any questions, schedule adjustments, transportation coordination, or unexpected situations. With local support available when you need it, you can relax and focus on enjoying your China experience with confidence.
Share your travel goals and preferences with us. From logistics to local experiences, we will craft a comprehensive, tailor-made plan and detailed cost breakdown to ensure a seamless trip.
Phone/WhatsApp
+86-190-1697-6605
buerchinatravel/+86-190-1697-6605
>12 years old
2~11 years old
>12 years old
2~11 years old
