Private Tour to Gubei Water Town and Simatai Great Wall with Cable Car and Lunch

The best part of this Beijing day trip is the pairing of Gubei Water Town and Simatai Great Wall. You get canals, old-style streets, shops, and lunch first, then a cable-car ride to a quieter section of the Wall with wide views over the town. It gives you two very different sights without joining a large group.

I like the fully private vehicle and flexible departure time, especially if you want to fit the trip around a Beijing hotel stay. I also like that the cable car, entrance fees, lunch, bottled water, guide, and driver are included, so the price is easier to judge from the start.

The main drawback is the long drive. Gubei is about two hours from Beijing, and the entire outing lasts around nine hours. Gubei Water Town is also a modern replica of a southern Chinese water town, not an untouched historic village, so you should visit it for atmosphere and scenery rather than old buildings alone.

Key points to know before booking

• Two major sights in one private day: Visit Gubei Water Town and Simatai Great Wall without sharing the tour with strangers.
• Cable car access to Simatai: A round-trip cable car is included, saving energy for walking and views on the Wall.
• Guides Lucy and Susan receive special praise: Both are noted for friendly service and useful explanations about Gubei and Chinese history.
• Lunch and admission are covered: The tour includes a local lunch, entrance fees, transport, and bottled water.
• Expect about four hours on the road: The drive from Beijing to Gubei takes roughly two hours each way.
• Best for a quieter Wall experience: Simatai is less developed than Badaling, Juyongguan, and Mutianyu, with more of its original appearance preserved.

Why this pairing works so well

Beijing has no shortage of famous sights, but its central attractions can make for a crowded day. This tour takes you northeast of the city to Gubei Water Town, then up to Simatai, a section of the Great Wall with a more restrained feel.

The contrast is useful. At Gubei, you stroll at street level beside canals and browse shops. At Simatai, you ride upward and spend your time looking across the hills and down over the town. The two stops are close enough to combine, yet different enough that the day does not feel repetitive.

I also appreciate the private format. Your group has its own guide and air-conditioned vehicle, with no strangers to slow down the pace or change the plan. The schedule still has fixed limits, but a private departure time makes it easier to work around your Beijing plans.

The nine-hour duration is realistic for the distance. You will spend about two hours driving to Gubei, then roughly two hours exploring the water town, followed by lunch and about an hour at Simatai. The return drive completes a full day outside the city.

The two-hour ride from Beijing

Pickup takes place in your hotel lobby at a prearranged time. From there, you travel in a private air-conditioned vehicle toward Gubei Water Town.

The drive matters when you assess this tour. You are not simply visiting a nearby city attraction. You are giving up much of a day and spending around four hours in the vehicle. The reward is access to both Gubei and Simatai in one organized outing, without having to arrange separate transport.

Your guide explains stories connected with the Great Wall and points out countryside scenery along the way. That commentary gives the ride a purpose instead of leaving you to watch the road in silence.

If you prefer packed sightseeing with little time in the car, this may feel too slow. If you want a simple way to reach two out-of-town sights, the private transfer is one of the tour’s strongest practical features.

Walking through Gubei Water Town

Gubei Water Town is designed as a replica of Wuzhen Water Town in southern China. That detail is important. The town offers canals, traditional-style streets, shops, restaurants, and distinctive hotels, but it is not the same as wandering through an untouched historic settlement.

You begin with about two hours of walking alongside your guide. The town is divided into several areas, including the Old Barracks Area, Minguo Street Area, Water Street Area, and Wonglong. Each section gives you a slightly different setting, so the walk has more variety than a single canal road.

The canals are the main visual draw. Water, bridges, narrow streets, and traditional-looking buildings create a pleasant change from Beijing’s broad avenues and dense city blocks. You can pause at shops, look at local goods, and take in the way the town has been arranged around its waterways.

I would treat this stop as a scenic and cultural introduction rather than a serious museum visit. The appeal lies in the setting, the layout, and the chance to see a polished recreation of a southern water town. If you enjoy photography, gentle walks, and browsing, two hours gives you a useful first look.

One practical point is that the town may deserve more time than the schedule allows. It has several areas, restaurants, shops, and hotels, and you could easily spend longer wandering at an unhurried pace. The private format may help your guide focus the walk around your interests, but the overall day still has to leave room for Simatai.

Lunch before the Wall

After Gubei Water Town, you eat a local lunch in the village before continuing to Simatai Great Wall. Lunch is included, which keeps the day straightforward and avoids the need to find a restaurant during a tightly timed excursion.

The information supplied for the tour does not specify the exact dishes or restaurant. I would therefore think of lunch as a practical included meal, not a promised food tasting. It breaks up the walking and gives you a chance to rest before the Wall.

Because the schedule covers a great deal in one day, lunch also serves as a transition. You move from the canals and shops of Gubei to the more open setting around Simatai.

Riding the cable car to Simatai

The tour includes a round-trip cable car ride to the top of Simatai Great Wall. This is a major advantage because it reduces the initial climb and lets you save your energy for walking along the Wall and taking in the views.

Once you reach the top, you have free time to hike around. You can look across the surrounding hills, see Gubei Water Town below, and explore the Wall at your own pace. The views from the Wall towers are a key reward, and one account describes the sight from the top as breathtaking.

The cable car does not remove every physical demand. You still need to walk around once you arrive, and the Wall itself is not a flat promenade. The supplied details do not give a precise walking distance or an accessibility rating, so you should not assume the entire Simatai visit is step-free simply because the cable car is included.

When you are ready to leave, you take the cable car back to the main entrance. That return ride makes the visit more manageable than a route requiring a long uphill and downhill walk.

What makes Simatai different

Simatai is presented as less developed than Badaling, Juyongguan, and Mutianyu. Renovation work has focused on essential reinforcement rather than making every section look newly rebuilt. The result is a stronger sense of age and a less polished appearance.

That difference is valuable if you want to see the Wall in a setting that feels less commercial. The old construction, uneven character, and broad views help you picture the Wall as a defensive structure rather than only as a famous photo stop.

The tradeoff is that less development can mean a less uniform walking surface and a more demanding visit. The tour uses a cable car to handle the major access issue, but you should still wear practical shoes and expect some walking.

Simatai is also known for being quieter than the most famous sections. The experience can feel more open, especially when you reach a tower with few people nearby. That quiet is one of the strongest reasons to choose this tour over a standard Badaling outing.

The private guide and driver experience

Your guide accompanies you from hotel pickup through the day, and the driver handles the long transfers in a private vehicle. That arrangement gives you one point of contact for history, timing, and practical questions.

Two guide names connected with this experience are Lucy and Susan. Lucy has been praised for explaining Gubei and Chinese history in a friendly, informative way. Susan is also described positively, though the available comment about her is incomplete. The useful takeaway is that guide quality can make a real difference here, particularly during the drive and the walking tour.

A private guide is most valuable at Gubei, where the layout includes several areas and the town’s replica status benefits from explanation. At Simatai, you get free time to walk and take photographs rather than being kept beside the guide every minute.

The private setup also works well for groups with different walking speeds. You are not tied to a large group’s every pause. Still, the tour cannot provide unlimited time at both stops. The nine-hour plan has to account for the return journey to Beijing.

Is $248 per person good value?

At $248 per person, this is not a budget day trip. The price makes more sense when you count what is included: private transport, a professional guide, entrance fees, round-trip cable car service, lunch, and bottled water.

You are paying for convenience as much as admission. Reaching Gubei and Simatai independently would require arranging long-distance transport, entrance tickets, local transfers, and timing between the two sights. A private vehicle also avoids the uncertainty of sharing public transport for a day outside Beijing.

The value improves for a small group that can share the private experience. Group discounts are offered, though the exact discount is not provided, so you should check the final price for your party before booking.

I would not choose this tour purely to save money. I would choose it if you place a high value on door-to-door transport, a private guide, included tickets, and seeing a quieter Great Wall section in one day. For a first visit to Beijing with limited time, that combination can justify the higher cost.

Who should choose this day trip?

This tour suits you if you want a full day outside central Beijing and prefer a private setting. It is especially useful for couples, families, or friends who want to set their own departure time and avoid a large coach group.

It also fits you if Simatai is more appealing than the busiest Great Wall sections. The less-developed setting, cable-car access, and views over Gubei give the day a clear focus.

You may want a different plan if you prefer to spend a whole day on the Great Wall itself. Two hours at Gubei, lunch, transport, and roughly one hour at Simatai mean the Wall visit is only one part of the day.

I would also pause if you dislike long drives or want a completely historic setting. Gubei is a replica town, and the trip requires around four hours of road time. Those are not flaws, but they should match your expectations.

Simple booking and cancellation details

Confirmation is provided when you book, and a mobile ticket is available. Pickup is offered from your hotel lobby at a prearranged time.

Free cancellation applies if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience starts. Cancellations made less than 24 hours in advance are not refunded, and changes inside that period are not accepted. Cut-off times use local Beijing time.

The tour is described as suitable for most people, but no detailed accessibility information is provided. If anyone in your group has mobility concerns, ask the provider about the walking sections and cable-car access before paying.

Should you book the Gubei and Simatai tour?

I would book this tour if you want a private, efficient way to combine two very different sights outside Beijing. The strongest reasons are the quieter Simatai section, the round-trip cable car, included lunch and admission, and guide support from pickup through the return drive.

I would skip it if you want a low-cost outing, a short transfer, or a full day focused only on the Great Wall. The $248 price and long drive are real considerations.

For many small groups, though, this is a sensible splurge. You get Gubei’s canals and streets, Simatai’s high views, a private vehicle, and less time worrying about tickets or transport. If Lucy or Susan is assigned as your guide, you can also expect the kind of friendly explanation that helps turn a busy sightseeing day into a clearer picture of the places you are seeing.

FAQ

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts approximately nine hours.

How long is the drive from Beijing to Gubei Water Town?

The drive takes about two hours.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Your guide picks you up in your hotel lobby at a prearranged time.

Is the tour private?

Yes. Only your group participates, with private transport and a professional guide.

Are entrance fees included?

Yes. Entrance fees for the attractions are included.

Is the Simatai cable car included?

Yes. A round-trip cable car ride at the Great Wall is included.

Is lunch included?

Yes. The tour includes a local lunch in the village.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours in advance are not accepted for a refund.