Gubei Water Town in Beijing

Gubei Water Town is a small water town in the northeast of Beijing. This area is Miyun. It surrounds the Yuanyang Lake Reservoir in the area, similar to Wuzhen, a water town in southern China. It surrounds the beautiful Mandarin Duck Lake Reservoir and leans against the Simatai Great Wall, the most dangerous and majestic section of the entire Great Wall.

English Name: Gubei Water Town in Beijing
Chinese Name: 北京古北水镇
Attraction Type: Beijing Attraction, Water Town, Great Wall
Best Time to Visit: Whole year
Recommended Visiting Time: about 2-3 days
Admission Fee: CNY 40-170
Address in English: Miyun District, Beijing
Address in Chinese:北京市密云区

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Why is the Gubei Water Town in Beijing so Special?

Where is the Gubei Water Town in Beijing?

It situated in Gubeikou Town of the Miyun District in Beijing.

How to Get There

Take the tourist bus bound for Gubei Water Town from Dongzhimen Outside at 9:00, 12:00, or 15:30. On Saturday and Sunday, there is an extra bus departing at 14:00. It takes about two hours and the ticket price is CNY 48 per person.
Take Subway Line 2 or Line 13 to Dongzhimen Station. Then take bus 980 or 980 Express from Dongzhimen Transit Hub to Miyun Bus Station and then transfer to bus Mi 37, Mi 50, or Mi 51 to Simatai Village. Then walk for about ten minutes to the entrance.

What to See

The Simatai Great Wall

The Simatai Great Wall is situated at Gubeikou Town, Miyun County, 120 km (75 mi) northeast of Beijing. It stretches 5.4 km from Wangjinglou (Tower for Viewing the Capital) in the east and connects Jinshanling Great Wall in the west. Originally built in the North Qi Dynasty (550-577), it was reconstructed by General Qi Jiguang in the reign of Emperor Wanli from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). It still retains the original architectural feature of the Ming Dynasty. This section was restored again by the Chinese government in 1987 and opened to the public in 1990. Simatai Great Wall was listed as World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO in 1987.

Local Customs

The town is simple and elegant. Rows of houses, ancient quartzite streets and long alleys show the ancient city. The river courses are scattered among the streets; the houses by the river are bathed in the sun. At night, the ancient north water town presents a quiet and warm atmosphere. Some scenic spots are open to the public, such as the Blocks of the Republic of China, the Old Camp Site, the Water Streets Region, the Wolongbao Folk Culture Region, the Old Village at Tang River Region, and the Local Accommodation Region.

Things to Do

In addition to sightseeing, visitors can also experience unique local customs and participate in local activities. If you like Chinese liquor, Xima distillery may be a good choice. Before you get there, you can smell the spirits from afar. You can also witness the process of creation.

In Yongshun dyehouse, red, green, yellow and blue fabrics are displayed in the breeze on some old looms and spinning machines. You can learn to dye ecological cloth, or even make it by yourself with the help of craftsmen.

In addition, you can also spend your spare time in Yinghua academy, where many Confucian classics, historical records, philosophical works and essays are collected. You can read and enjoy some afternoon tea to relax and refresh yourself.

There is also a temple of emperor Yang Wu, built to commemorate the soldiers who died in various wars. Yang family has been devoted to protecting the motherland for generations.

Zhenyuan Security Bureau will show you the real-life of ancient armed defense. The Eight Banners tower lets you know the traditions and customs of ancient Beiguan.

Useful Travel Tips

Admission Fee:
Water Town: CNY 140
Simatai Great Wall: CNY 40
Combo Ticket: CNY 170
Electric Car Fare: CNY 10 (single trip); Children below 4.9 feet (1.5m) enjoy half price.
Opening Hours: 09:00 to 21:00 (Visitors lodging in the town can enter can exit at any time of a day)