Gubei Water Town Travel Guide

Gubei Water Town is located in Gubeikou Town, Miyun District, Beijing. It is a tourist resort integrating natural scenery and cultural landscape. • Location and Transportation: • Self-driving: Depart from downtown Beijing, take the Jingcheng Expressway and Dagang Expressway for about 125.6 km, exit from the Simatai Great Wall exit, and follow the navigation to reach Gubei Water Town. The whole journey takes about 2 hours. • Public transportation: Take the Beijing-Gubei Water Town special direct bus from Dongzhimen Outer Bus Station. The ticket price is CNY 48/person/one way, and the journey takes about 2 hours. You can also take the suburban railway Huaimi Line S5, get on the train from Qinghe Subway Station or Beijing North Station, get off at Gubeikou Station, and then transfer to the bus directly to Gubei Water Town. • Ticket and Opening Hours: The adult ticket for the scenic spot is CNY 140–150, the ticket for children/students/seniors is CNY 70–75, and the opening hours are 08:00–22:00. The performance schedule will be adjusted according to the season, so it is recommended to check in advance. • Travel route: • Morning: Enter the ancient town from Tangquan, and visit the Yinghua Academy, Baqi Square, Sima Xiaoshao Distillery, Yongshun Dyeing Workshop and other attractions in turn to feel the cultural heritage and traditional craftsmanship of the ancient town. • Noon: Taste local delicacies in the ancient town, such as Gubei grilled fish, roasted meat, clay oven rolls, Gubei Water Town snacks, etc. • Afternoon: Continue to visit Gubei Water Town, visit the Shadow Play Museum, Yang Wudi Ancestral Hall, Yuantong Temple and other attractions to learn about the history, culture and folk customs of the ancient town. • Evening: Enjoy the night view of Gubei Water Town, watch the musical fountain and drone show, and experience the romance and dream of the ancient town. • The next day: Get up early to climb the Simatai Great Wall and feel the steepness and magnificence of the "most beautiful Great Wall in China". Afterwards, you can go to Bibo Island for a relaxing moment, and then leave the town from Zhenfanmen to end the trip. • Photography Tips: The Jiangnan-style scenes of small bridges, flowing water and houses in the ancient town, the brilliant lights in the night scene, and the magnificent Great Wall are all excellent shooting subjects. It is recommended to bring a wide-angle lens and a telephoto lens to capture the panoramic view and details of the ancient town. • Food Recommendations: • Main dishes: Gubei grilled fish, roasted meat, clay oven rolls, Water Town meat pies, Gubei Water Town snacks, etc. • Snacks: Preserved vegetable pancakes, mutton skewers, teppanyaki squid, Luosifen, etc. • Restaurant recommendation: Wolongbao Inn, Laolongtou Restaurant, Gubei Water Town Hotel Restaurant, etc., with a rich variety of dishes and good taste. • Accommodation recommendation: • Hotels in the scenic area: Qingye Inn, Yanmen Inn, etc., which are convenient for sightseeing and can enjoy various facilities and services in the scenic area. • Theme Inn: Baqi Inn, Bayou Inn, etc., with unique cultural themes and styles, allowing tourists to better experience the cultural atmosphere of the ancient town. • Featured homestays: Homestays on Bibo Island have a beautiful environment and are suitable for leisure vacations. • Precautions: • The roads in the ancient town are mostly stone roads, so wear comfortable shoes for walking. • The temperature difference in the scenic area is large, so it is recommended to bring appropriate clothing according to the weather conditions. • The Great Wall hiking route is steep, so it is recommended to wear comfortable sports shoes and be prepared physically and mentally in advance. • The commercial atmosphere in the scenic area is strong, and the prices of some commodities are high, so tourists can consume rationally according to their own needs. Personal opinion • Advantages: • Perfect integration of Jiangnan charm and northern style: Gubei Water Town has both the small bridges and flowing water of Jiangnan water towns, and the majestic atmosphere of northern ancient towns. Its unique architectural style and natural landscape make it a beautiful landscape around Beijing. • Rich cultural connotation: There are many historical and cultural relics and traditional handicraft displays in the scenic area, such as Sima Xiaoshao Distillery, Yongshun Dyeing Workshop, Shadow Play Museum, etc., which allow tourists to deeply understand Chinese traditional culture and handicraft skills. • Wonderful performances: Dragon and lion dances, acrobatics performances, musical fountains, drone shows and other programs are wonderful, bringing tourists a double enjoyment of visual and auditory senses. • Charming night view: The night view of Gubei Water Town is a major feature. When the lights are on, the entire ancient town is decorated with lights like a picturesque and magnificent scene. • Disadvantages: • Strong commercial atmosphere: There are many shops in the scenic area, and the prices of some commodities are high, so tourists need to carefully identify them. • Many tourists: Especially during holidays and peak tourist seasons, there are a large number of tourists, which may have a certain impact on the tour experience. • Some attractions are more commercialized: Some attractions may have been over-commercialized, and the integration with the natural landscape is not high enough. Gubei Water Town is a tourist resort integrating natural scenery, historical culture, folk customs and modern entertainment. It is suitable for families, couples, friends and other groups to come and play. Whether it is appreciating the natural beauty, feeling the cultural heritage, or tasting food and experiencing folk customs, tourists can spend an unforgettable holiday here.