2 Days Mutianyu & Simatai Great Wall Tour from Beijing

Get up early and look forward to the excitements of our 2 days Mutianyu and Simatai Great Wall tour! Meet your guide at the lobby of the hotel you booked on your own around 8:30. After your guide’s welcome, we will set off on a 1.5-hour private transfer to Mutianyu Great Wall. Perhaps pack some fast food and fruits to refuel energy during your hiking on the Great Wall.

The Great Wall, a series of fortifications constructed 2,000 years ago, stands as a monumental testament to human ingenuity. Among many sections, few has been as well-preserved as the Mutianyu part we are going to visit today. With unprecedented brick and stone architecture, it not only exemplifies the Ming Dynasty’s (1368 - 1644) commitment to safeguarding the northern frontier, but also takes on an impenetrable serene beauty which is unparalleled. We will take a cable car up the Wall. The lift up saves your energy for the hiking ahead and is a wonderful experience in itself - picture yourself gliding over the lush mountains with the expectations to approach and witness the stone dragon! We will land at the No.14 Tower. Maybe leave your name on a signature wall here to mark this moment before we continue westwards. Linger longer at No.18 and No.20 towers for greater photographs. On No.18, look to the downtown area to discover a spectacular skyline. No.20 rests on the highest point of the west line so it offers a great panorama. Come the same way back and take another cable car down. Then, we will transfer to Gubei Water Town. Arrive in 2 hours and check in at the top-rated hotel that is conveniently located in the heart of the town. You may have some time to wind down or spend at leisure.

As twilight comes, go on a guided evening tour of Simatai Great Wall. We will ascend to and descend from the Wall via cable car. Normally we will take an electrical car from the town to the cable car station. While atop the Wall, admire a dreamlike sunset and the ensuing night view. If the Mutianyu section stands for the beautiful side of the Great Wall, then Simatai almost without parapet walls is the steep and majestic, and tonight you will have a glimpse of it. To ensure visitors’ safety, only the section between No.5 - No.6 Towers opens for night visit. Amble with your guide in the tranquil air to see the day transitioning to the darkness, when the lights will be on to illuminate the path. Be ready to enjoy a fancy view of the lit-up Gubei Water Town at the base and a light show by countless drones in it. After the tour, get down also by cable car and the guide will accompany you back to your hotel for a good rest.

Accommodation: Beijing Wtown Resort (5 stars)

► Recommended Activities for Tonight (Self-Financed):
Hey, don’t miss out on the dazzling night life of the town! You may want to get out to experience what the town offers and make the most of your limited time. The famous food street is located right beneath your hotel, so be sure to try the local specialties like Shredded Turnip Pancake, Fired Tofu, and Gubei Roasted Pear - 20 to 30 yuan (3 to 4 dollars) will get anyone full. Don’t forget to ask hotel staff where to find hot springs and take time to refresh yourself. Notice that the hot springs here are sourced from over 3,000 meters (3,280 yards) beneath Simatai Great Wall!

In daylight, Simatai Great Wall in all its ancient glory awaits you to conquer! Unlike Mutianyu that is tourist-friendly with decades of restoration efforts, Simatai is left nearly wild on purpose in order for visitors to witness the authentic appeal of Ming heritage. To save energy for you to focus more on appreciating the Wall and the natural beauties around, a cable car will take us up and down. We will mainly hike on the trail between No.4 Tower and No.10, where you will take in the finest vistas of Simatai featuring densely-positioned towers and rugged majesty. Put the archway of the towers and the cliffs outside in one frame to get breathtaking photos for Instagram. Of course, if you are more of a serious trekker, we have longer and more challenging routes for you to pick: there will be steep climbs and crumbling steps that require you to use both hands and feet; some are flat but with only ramparts on one side.

Down from the Great Wall, continue with a guided walking tour in Gubei Water Town. The Town is not some ancient town in itself, but was built on the sites of several outposts that might be traced far back as the Great Wall, occupying a part of strategic area that links Beijing and Northeast China. It was designed so as to immerse visitors in a world of ancient charms, local flavors and folk arts. There are workshops carrying forward the traditions like paper-cutting and tie-dying, a Ming-era school, old temples and even a church, former guild halls, commercial establishments, opera stages… you name it! As we walk, you will also encounter cultural performances like kung fu, acrobatics and Peking Opera.

Later, we will drive you back to downtown Beijing. En route, to top it off, we will stop by the Olympic venues Bird's Nest and Water Cube for some wonderful shots of their award-winning designs. We will be at your hotel or a location you specify around 18:00. Stay safe, bye!

Meals: Breakfast