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Ultimate Guide to Visiting Simatai Great Wall at Night

Among the various sections of the Great Wall of China, the Simatai Great Wall stands out as the pioneer in opening for night tours and offers the most enchanting nightscape. Adjacent to it lies Gubei Water Town, a meticulously crafted replica of a traditional northern Chinese water town. As night descends and the lights illuminate the area, one can gaze upward to behold the expansive starry sky, a rare sight in urban areas, and downward to take in the brilliantly lit Gubei Water Town. This captivating scenery is truly not to be missed.
So, how to plan a perfect night tour to the Simatai Great Wall? The following information will be helpful to you.

Time Plan: Best Time to Visit the Simatai Great Wall at Night

The best time to visit Simatai at night is to arrive at the top of the Great Wall before sunset and take the cable car half an hour to an hour in advance. Thus, you can enjoy the beautiful sunset on the Great Wall, the rosy sky, and the meandering Simatai Great Wall and the Gubei Water Town at its foot illuminated by colorful lights in one single trip.
From November to next January in winter, the sun sets before the scenic area opens for night tours, so that you are advised to visit in the other seasons if wishing to enjoy the sunset during the night tour.
It is best to check the weather forecast in advance and plan your visit on a clear day. This way, you significantly enhance your prospects of gazing upon a magnificent, star-studded sky.

Simatai Great Wall at Night

Sunset Time of Beijing for Reference:

January: 16:59 - 17:32	February: 17:33 - 18:05	March: 18:06 - 18:37
April: 18:38 - 19:08	May: 19:09 - 19:37	June: 19:37 - 19:47
July: 19:30 - 19:47	August: 18:49 - 19:29	September: 18:00 - 18:47
October: 17:15 -17:58	November: 16:50 - 17:13	December: 16:50 - 16:59

Sunset Over Simatai Great Wall

Opening Hours for Night Tour:

May - October	18:30 - 21:40
November - April	Sunday - Thursday	17:30 - 20:10
November - April	Friday - Saturday	17:30 - 20:40

Route for Visiting Simatai Great Wall at Night

During the night tour, only the section stretching from the East 5th Tower to the East 6th Tower is accessible. Once you've disembarked at the upper station of the cable car, it will take you approximately 15 minutes on foot to reach the East 5th Tower, where you can fully immerse yourself in the captivating night view. After savoring the experience, retrace your steps back to the cable car's upper station and take the cable car for the descent.

Note: Due to the steep terrain and poor light conditions at night, all visitors are required to take a cable car to ascend and descend the Great Wall for safety concerns.

Night tour open area

Simatai Great Wall Cable Car

Where to Stay after Visiting Simatai Great Wall at Night

The best place is the Gubei Water Town at its foot. Usually, tourists who visit the Simatai Great Wall at night will stay in the ancient town of Gubei for one night, exploring the ancient and charming town, tasting local specialties, watching unique performances, and soaking in hot springs.

There are over 20 hotels and inns in the town for your choice, with prices ranging from CNY 500 to 5,000 per night. If you plan to stay overnight, it is best to book a room in advance.

Gubei Water Town at Night

Gubei Water Town

Guide to Watching Sunrise over Simatai Great Wall the Next Morning

In the next morning, you can get up early and hike to the church on the nearby mountain top. It’s an excellent place for watching sunrise over the Simatai Great Wall.

Reference Sunrise Time of Beijing:

January: 07:25 - 07:36	February: 06:49 - 07:22	March: 06:00 - 06:48
April: 05:16 - 05:59	May: 04:48 - 05:15	June: 04:45 - 04:49
July: 04:49 - 05:12	August: 05:12 - 05:41	September: 05:42 - 06:09
October: 06:10 - 06:41	November: 06:42 - 07:15	December: 07:16 - 07:36

Sunrise at the Simatai Great Wall

Ticket Booking:

Simatai Great Wall Tickets

You need to book your tickets at least one day in advance through the Gubei Water Town WeChat official account or a third-party travel agency. Tickets for the Simatai Great Wall night tour are not sold separately; you need to buy a package of Gubei Water Town + Simatai Great Wall + round-trip cable car:

Adult	CNY 280
Children under 1.2 meters (3.9 feet)	Free
Children between 1.2 and 1.5 meters (3.9-4.9 feet)	CNY 160
People over 60 or under 16	CNY 200

Notes:
1. If you stay at a hotel in Gubei Water Town, you can get free tickets to Gubei Water Town and enjoy a special price of CNY 120 for the Great Wall, which includes the entrance fee to the Great Wall and the round-trip cable car fee.
2. Upon arriving at the entrance of Gubei Water Town, present the room reservation text message to board the free shuttle bus bound for the Tourist Service Center. There, you can complete the check-in process and obtain your free Gubei Water Town admission tickets.

How to Get to Simatai Great Wall & Gubei Water Town

1. Take a tourist bus to Gubei Water Town from Dongzhimenwai Bus Station at 09:00 or 13:00, or from CYTS Building at 10:00.

2. Take Bus 980/980 Express from Dongzhimen to Miyun Xidaqiao Station and then change to Miyun Bus 51 to Gubei Water Town.

3. Take the S5 train from Beijing North Railway Station or Qinghe Railway Station to Gubeikou Railway Station, and then take the shuttle bus to Gubei Water Town.

4. Simatai Great Wall is located at the easternmost end of the ancient town. You can reach the entrance of the Great Wall after visiting the ancient town.

Detailed in How to Get to the Simatai Great Wall from Beijing Downtown

Photographic Skills for Shooting the Night Scenes

The night scenes around the Simatai Great Wall are so charming that you may want to shoot some stunning photos of the Great Wall, the starry sky and the Gubei Water Town. Here are some tips for your reference.

1. Best Time for Shooting

The best seasons to take the night scenes are summer and autumn. Generally speaking, the best time in one day is at dusk after the sun goes down but there is still light in the sky. At this time, the light effect is ideal and your pictures will give a feeling of peace and harmony.

However, if you want to shoot the starry sky, you should plan more carefully on the travel date, as you need to get rid of the influence of moonlight. The weeks before and after the 15th day on the lunar calendar should be avoided. Plus, keep an eye on the weather forecast to choose a sunny day.

2. Best Spot for Photography

You can shoot the Simatai Great Wall at close range on the wall itself, take a low-angle shot at Gubei Water Town, or take a high-angle shot at the church on the nearby mountain top, which is the highest point in the neighborhood. The church is also an ideal place to shoot the night scenes of the Gubei Water Town and the starry sky.

Tips for Visiting Simatai Great Wall at Night

1. Before the scenic area is lit up, the light condition is not that ideal, especially in winter. Therefore, you’d better take a flashlight.
2. The steps of the Simatai Great Wall are quite steep, so please wear non-slip sneakers and watch your step when visiting.
3. Generally speaking, the temperature on the Simatai Great Wall is lower than the downtown area. In summer, the average temperature can be 5℃ (9℉) lower than downtown, and the temperature difference is even bigger at night between the Wall and the downtown area. Therefore, you need to wear more clothes than in downtown. It’s advised to wear a sweater or wind jacket in spring and autumn; a thin jacket in summer; and a down jacket, hat, scarf, and gloves in winter.

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- Last updated on Jan. 13, 2025 by Gabby Li -