[2025 Beijing Attraction] Travel Guide for Great Wall At Simatai (Updated Jul)

So far‼️My favorite "Misty Jiangnan" in Beijing has emerged||When I sat by the door overlooking the entire town, it was like seeing an ink painting, nestled at the foot of the Great Wall, with small bridges, flowing water, and ancient architecture complementing each other, blending the soft beauty of water towns with the grandeur of mountain cities～ 🔴This town is surrounded by rivers, 🛶with multiple boat-passable waterways within 🔴Could this be the place described by Bai Juyi as "In spring, the river water is as green as indigo"? So beautiful!!! ✅Recommended to visit for 2 days and 1 night. I explored the entire town and compiled many photo spots and itinerary sequences for your reference. 🟣Transportation 🚄High-speed train Gubeikou Station, depart from Beijing North, Qinghe, or Changping North. First train at 6:57, last train at 15:03, return last train at 17:20 🚗Self-drive Navigate to Gubei Water Town Parking Lot, 🅿️25/day, charging available at Parking Lots 5 and 6 🚌Bus Direct bus from Dongzhimenwai Bus Station, 2h direct ride 🟣Itinerary Day1: Sima Xiao Distillery➡Yongshun Dyehouse➡Matchmaker Temple➡Yinghua Academy➡Yuantong Pagoda➡Mountain Top Church➡Zhenyuan Escort Agency➡Eight Banners Guildhall Day2: Simatai Great Wall, Mountain Slide Car 🔥Photo Spots Pic 4,5,13: Mountain Top Church Pic 8,16,17: South Heaven Gate Pic 18: Qianshan Tea House Pic 1,6,7: Chaohe River Bridge Pic 2: Pier Inn Pic 11,12: Yongshun Dyehouse Pic 10: Yuantong Pagoda Pic 3: Yinghua Bridge Pic 9,14: Kite Shop, Tangshi Street ‼Key Info ✅Visit Mountain Top Church and Yuantong Pagoda for panoramic views of the town. Around 8 PM, you can watch the drone show, then head to Wangjing Street for the Great Wall Music Water Dance Show, followed by hot springs on the wall ✅Yangui Pier, Riyuedao Pier, and Yuanyang Lake Pier all offer paddle boat rides ✅During Qingming Festival, enjoy the "Flower God Ballad" folk music performance at the old stage on Riyuedao, and encounter "Folk Music Among Flowers" performances themed around flowers throughout the town ✅Free river lanterns are available during Qingming Festival

First visit to Gubei Water Town, located in the outskirts of Beijing, near the Simatai Great Wall. The ancient town is built along the water, with many Ming and Qing dynasty, as well as Republic of China style mountain courtyards preserved on the streets. It exudes the grandeur of a northern ancient town while also featuring the charm of a southern water town, creating a simple and elegant environment. The park is car-free, making it perfect for walking tours. Along the way, you can see ancient houses, archways, pagodas, bridges, and more, as if stepping into a time tunnel back to ancient times. You can also take sightseeing cars and boats. The town has many unique shops, making eating, staying, and shopping very convenient. The western end of the ancient town is connected to the Simatai Great Wall scenic area, where you can climb the Great Wall after touring the ancient town and experience the steep and beautiful Simatai. The entrance fee to the scenic area is 150 RMB, and the Simatai package ticket is 170 RMB, which is more cost-effective.

#GetDiscountsWithoutLuck Let's take the cable car to the Great Wall of China, Shimatai Pass. This is one of the most famous sections of the Great Wall of China and is the only Great Wall of China that has been completely preserved from the Ming Dynasty and has been registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. When you get up there, the view is beautiful. I must say that you should come here at least once! When you arrive in Beijing, you can see a panoramic view of the surrounding area. It is another beautiful viewpoint of the Great Wall of China. After getting off the Great Wall, take a walk around the village. If you want to rent ancient Chinese clothes to take beautiful photos, there are plenty of them here. Plus, at night, the lights are just as beautiful as during the day. #TravelChina #TravelBeijing #GreatWallofChina

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🎫This time I bought a package of Gubei Water Town and Simatai Great Wall, which includes a round-trip bus from Beijing's "Guomao" subway station in the morning, lunch, tickets to Gubei Water Town and the Great Wall, and a round-trip ticket for the ropeway (cable car). If you search for "Gubei Water Town" on trip.com, you will find many package combinations. I think the lazy package is the same as mine but without lunch. 💰 Average consumption per person: 2000-3000NTD (including package tickets and self-provided meals) Personal suggestion: There are many things to eat in Gubei Water Town, so there is no need to include lunch. Just buy whatever is delicious when you go there. 🏠Gubei Water Town: A very beautiful town (but really not small), every corner is good for taking pictures. It’s not too cold to go there in October, and the leaves are turning red, which is very beautiful. I really recommend that you prepare enough space for taking photos because it is so beautiful. The feeling during the day and at night is very different. The day is very suitable for family trips, while the night is a must for dates. The partner will instantly become very charming at night, I don’t know why. 🏰Simatai Great Wall: Be sure to buy a ticket for the cable car! ! ! Just walking to the entrance here probably means I have less than half of my strength left. If I climb up the mountain, I might cry before I even reach the Great Wall. The cable car ride takes a very long time, and if I walk, I might not get there before dark (I'll really cry). 🌟This is the third of the three most famous Great Wall attractions in China because it is the most tiring and the most shaky. But I must say, it is really beautiful. When you finally reach the top of the Great Wall, you will temporarily forget how tired you were from climbing just now. No wonder everyone says that you must visit the Great Wall once in your life to realize how beautiful it is. I think it’s a pity that no matter how hard I try to take pictures, I can’t capture its grandeur, so please come and see it when you have the chance! ❤️ #Beijing Attractions #Gubei Water Town #Simatai Great Wall #Beijing Tourism #Beijing #2024 Travel Review

Wow! It's so beautiful here!😲It's exactly what I imagined Mid-Autumn Festival to be like. The Jiangnan water town, full of greenery in summer, will be covered by leaves of various colors this month. It looks like an overturned palette🎨, with colorful forests and beautiful scenery everywhere!😍 🍁About the viewing period: This is one of the earliest places in Beijing to see red leaves, and there are many different types of trees. The combination of red, yellow, and green leaves is perfect for taking photos!📅Shooting date: 2023.10.14, estimated viewing period: mid-October to late October. 📷Come and see some of the best autumn photo spots: 🍁Washing Dust Bridge: The waterfall and stream in front of the bridge, with the mountains in the background, reflect the colorful leaves on both sides of the river. The Simatai Great Wall is clearly visible, and the blue sky makes it look like an oil painting!🖼️ 🍁Cloud Cafe: This is the perfect place to take a panoramic view of the town, and you can see the autumn town from different angles!☕ 🍁Zhenyuan Escort Bureau: The red leaf waterfall and moon gate at the entrance are stunning!🤩 🍁BBQ Restaurant: The large red leaf waterfall is amazing!🥩 🍁Eight Banners Inn: The deep alley itself has a strong sense of depth.🏮 🍁Red Makeup Bridge: The winding river and the red-leafed wooden corridor, the swaying willow branches and the gently gliding rowing boat, form a beautiful picture of a small bridge flowing water and people's homes in autumn.🌸 🍁Chaohechuan Bridge: The pier where the rowing boats are concentrated, with flocks of white geese passing by from time to time, is super cute!🦢 🍁Longdao Bridge: A must-pass for rowing boats, with a background of pillow-water houses surrounded by mountains.🛶 🍁General Yang Noodle Restaurant: The alleyway photo spot is really cool!🍜 🔺Here are some other recommended activities: ✔️Climb the Simatai Great Wall: It is recommended to take the cable car round trip, and the night tour is highly recommended!🏞️ ✔️Mountaintop Church + Cloud Cafe: The perfect place to overlook the entire town, with stunning night views!✨ ✔️Night drone show: With the Great Wall as the background, the drone changes various patterns and shapes in the sky according to the music. There are two shows every night, so don't miss it!🚁 ✔️Great Wall Music and Water Dance Show: Fountains and laser projections combine to create an audio-visual feast.💃

The legendary spot with 1 of the 7 wonders of the world that is closest to the ancient village is ‘Simatai Great Wall’, the Simatai Great Wall, the most amazing point of the Great Wall of China because it is the only one that is still in its original condition since the Ming Dynasty. It is 5.6 kilometers long on the steep mountain range. Even though you are walking on the stone wall, it is recommended to wear comfortable sneakers because some parts are steep and rough. But I must say that both sides of the road are beautiful and grand. If anyone is staying overnight in Gubeishuizhen Village, I recommend trying to walk at night. They will turn on orange lights along the way, giving it another kind of romantic vibe. #Chinese architecture

After visiting the Simatai Great Wall, I really have to exclaim: Why go to crowded places when you can enjoy the Simatai Great Wall so much! Having lived in Beijing for many years, I used to accompany others to the Great Wall, and without exception, it was always the Badaling Great Wall. Initially, I would climb with them, but gradually, I just waited in the parking lot because there were simply too many people! This time, I chose to go to Simatai, intuitively thinking there would be fewer people. 🚗 The Simatai Great Wall is located in the Gubei Water Town scenic area. I have visited Gubei Water Town many times but never climbed the Great Wall there, so this time I headed straight for the Great Wall. 🌄 I really didn't expect so few people walking up the Great Wall. You can walk slowly and quietly enjoy the scenery. I wonder if this is the norm for Simatai? It might be because it's a weekday, and many tourists don't know about this place, or it's too far from the city center, so they don't choose it easily. 🏔️ Thinking about it, it seems the only two times I actively wanted to climb the Great Wall were both in Miyun. The first time was many years ago when that section of the Great Wall was just broken bricks and foundations. Standing on the uneven remnants of the Great Wall, there was a real sense of desolate grandeur. If you're not in a hurry and have good physical strength, you can choose to walk. It takes about half an hour from the entrance of the Great Wall scenic area to the foot of the Great Wall, all on winding stone paths that are relatively gentle, and most sections have shade. As the terrain gradually rises, you can see the full view of Yuanyang Lake below and the Yuan Tong Temple Pagoda in Gubei Water Town. The scenery from high up is really beautiful. There are several sections of the Great Wall with beacon towers, and the steps are somewhat steep, but each time you climb a section, the cool mountain breeze makes it all worth it. 🌆 You can also visit the Great Wall at night, but only by cable car. We didn't go up at night, but from the ancient town, the lit-up Great Wall looked like a winding dragon, offering another beautiful view. I really recommend staying overnight in Gubei Water Town. After climbing the Great Wall, you can rest and stroll around at night. I come here once or twice a year, no matter what others say. The place is big enough, well-managed, clean overall, with many performances to keep you entertained, and the food is not bad. With all these conditions, what more could you ask for? A two-hour drive is much more convenient than traveling out of town.

Finally checked in at the solo Great Wall. I always thought the hardest part would be walking on the wall, but it turned out to be various stone climbing and unexpected wild road conditions that got me. Right off the bus, under the watch of local villagers, I crazily rushed up the mountain, running a long stretch. Coupled with the muggy weather, my legs lost most of their strength. Just climbing a slope, after a few steps, my legs felt extremely tired, and my thighs were sore. I gritted my teeth and persevered, step by step. Along the way, crossing large slopes, leaf-covered dirt roads, I slipped and fell 3 times, thankfully without injury. Besides the exceptionally difficult sandy roads, what followed were large stones that required hands and feet. Up and down, it felt like a roller coaster ride. Every time I climbed a big stone, I thought it was the last one, but reaching the top, I saw another one behind it. Walking on the wall was the easiest part, the path wasn't as narrow as I imagined. The difficulty was descending the stone steps over a meter high. Just support your body with both hands and slowly lower to the ground. Once your feet are stable and you're brave, you can walk very fast. Overall, the last section of the Great Wall had better scenery, mostly a mix of huge rocks and watchtowers. It felt lonely. I'm planning to come back in a better season with good weather.

Gubei Water Town is a gorgeous fairy-tale town situated below the Great Wall. The Simatai Great wall looms so high above the water town, it gives the impression that it may be floating in the clouds, as the lights of wall switch on at dusk and are just barely visible through a thin layer of mist that gently veils the mountain. I suggest a walk up to the Great Wall, the scenery is incredible, and then to take the cable car down. The water town is best explored in the evening/night, it really comes to life and there are many types of delicious foods and beautiful trinkets to be bought. Enjoy your Fairy-tale escape☺️ #beijingtrip #thegreatwall #watertown #fairytale

#bucketlistreboot Simatai, a section of the Great Wall of China located in the North of Miyun County, 120 kilometers northeast of Beijing, holds the access to Gubeikou, a strategic pass in the Eastern part of the Great Wall. Take the cable car from which you can walk to East Tower 5 or East Tower 8( about 30 minutes) to have a great look down on Gubei Ancient Town. The cable car may stop operating when there are high winds. The simplest way to come here, is to take part the day tour organise at Beijing, you also can chose to go up the Great Wall at night. Simatai Great Wall is the only one that opens to tourists at night.

This attraction is located in Beijing, but in the most remote area - Miyun. This is a small village that resembles ancient China. But all this is new, built a few years ago. You can go there and visit the beautiful section of the Great Wall of China - Simatai. It is especially beautiful in the evening at sunset, when the lights are turned on. There are hotels with hot springs. This excursion is for 1-2 days. Lots of restaurants, street cafes. When you walk around the village, you feel like you are in an Ancient China drama. #themepark

Great hiking beautiful walk all the way the only problem is to come down after you climb the stairs. I felt like my legs were shaking and shivering body. the climbing was fun than coming back down. later I got to use the cable cars to climb up in the night which gave me a very beautiful view on top to see the whole gold city. there’s lots of entertainment down. The place is surrounded by water, great hotels with beautiful views, on weekends it’s kinda full of Chinese cause they like to visit their own country so it’s better you do it on weekdays to get nice views at the wall and in the evening you can chill and relax in so many hotels around. #gooutside

The Great Wall of China is a representative tourist destination that always appears when traveling to China, and is a tremendous cultural heritage left by mankind.. The Great Wall of China is one of the famous and representative tourist destinations that needs no explanation or other modifiers. When I first set foot on this wall, which was built over centuries to guard against invasions by northern peoples, it was not as high as I thought, and there were many narrow sections, so I was a little disappointed, but as I encountered the endless persistence on the incredibly steep hills, and the sections that made me wonder how humans could have built structures in such a place at that time, I could see why this place was listed as a World Cultural Heritage site. That's a bonus for many people, lol. Personally, the Great Wall that has been developed into a tourist attraction is worth seeing, but the sections that have almost completely collapsed were even more impressive. #Must-see historic site #China #Beijing #China travel #Great Wall

Simatai is perhaps the most exciting section of the Great Wall accessible to visitors. It is nothing short of awesome to see the Great Wall snaking over the tops of the mountains. Simatai is less crowded than other Wall sites. It hasn’t been fully restored yet, so it’s a good opportunity to see parts of the original wall. Simatai is 5.5 km (3.4 miles) long with 34 towers, though only 10 are officially open to the public. Steps are steep in the restored section, and you should be careful if you hike beyond this area as drop-offs are steep. If you want to avoid the hassle of getting there yourself, a guided hiking tour of the Great Wall might be easier. This full-day tour takes you to one of the most beautiful stretches to hike along. Over the course of the day, you’ll walk from Simatai West to Jinshanling Pass. With stunning views wherever you look, hiking along this historic and impressive human-made monument promises to be an unforgettable experience. #beijingtrip #urbanexplorer #ancientlandmark

On the way up to Simatai Wall through this nice Brook of Rivers and Flowers. The relaxing sound of the water in a green lush mountain foot is a perfect introduction. Don't forget to get ice cream on your way back down. #scenicspotguide

#triplocal #triplocal

The Simatai Great Wall, located in Gubei Water Town, is the only Great Wall in China that preserves the original appearance of the Ming Dynasty. The entire Great Wall is built on the precipitous mountain. It is known as the odd, special and dangerous, and has 20 complete enemy buildings. In particular, the Wangjing Building is built on a steep peak at an altitude of 1,000 meters. The scenery is excellent and you can see the city of Beijing. Simatai Great Wall was identified by UNESCO as the Original Great Wall. In 2012, the Times of the United Kingdom translated the Great Wall of Simatai into "the top of the 25 landscapes that should not be missed globally." Under the blue sky and white clouds, the ancient Great Wall is quaint and quaint, and the old walls silently tell the story of the wolf. The Jinge Iron Horse has become a past, and now the Great Wall has long been transformed into a tourist attraction that the Chinese have to visit once in their lifetime. It is a symbol of the Chinese nation, a testimony to history, and a legend of the blue bricks.

The Simatai Great Wall is adjacent to the Gubei Water Town. The wall of the Great Wall is built on the precipitous mountain and is known as the strange, special and dangerous. Chinas famous ancient architect Luo Zhewen once commented that Chinas Great Wall is the best in the world.

This time, we’re taking you to one of Beijing’s top attractions—the Simatai section of the Great Wall of China. Renowned for its stunning beauty and challenging terrain, this section is perfect for history and nature enthusiasts. Located on steep mountain ridges, it offers breathtaking views and is the only section of the Great Wall open for nighttime visits. Visitors can choose to hike up and down or take a cable car for convenience. The Simatai section is quite steep, especially the stairs in certain areas, and some parts require climbing. It may not be suitable for those afraid of heights, elderly individuals, or people with health issues.

#Get a discount without relying on luck The Great Wall of China is open for viewing and climbing at night. The Great Wall of China, Sima Tai Pass, is considered the most dangerous part of the Great Wall. Because in some parts of the area there is no edge on the side of the city wall, making walking very scary. You can also walk from the top of the wall down through the forts to get to the base. In addition, if anyone has time, you can also stay overnight in Gubei Water Town, soak your feet in the city's hot springs, or find a cute cafe to take pictures. Traveling from Beijing, you can take a bus. At the bus station to Gubei Water Town.

| Itinerary Planning. 💎Highlights of the itinerary: 🌟World-class historical and cultural heritage The Forbidden City, Great Wall (Badaling, Mutianyu, Simatai), Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace 🌟Old Beijing Hutongs and Local Life Nanluoguxiang, Shichahai, Yangmeizhu Xiejie 🌟Modern Urban Landmarks and Art China World Trade Center Phase 3, China Zun Tower, CCTV Headquarters ("Big Pants"), 798 Art District, Olympic Park, Bird's Nest, Water Cube night view, National Museum 🌟Imperial Gardens and Natural Scenery Fragrant Hills Red Leaves (late October to early November), Beihai Park, Jingshan Park 🌟Hidden Experiences and Seasonal Specials Night tour of the Central Axis: Qianmen Street → Zhengyangmen → Tiananmen Square, feel the grandeur of the imperial capital at night. Hutong vegetable markets: Sanyuanli Market (international vibe), Chaonei South Street Market (local vibe), perfect for cultural photography. Seasonal specials: Cherry blossoms at Yuyuantan in April, lotus flowers at Beihai in July, snow scenery at the Forbidden City in December (rare and precious). ✅Food: • Beijing cuisine: Roast duck, copper pot hotpot, barbecue, zhajiang noodles • Snacks: Douzhi’er (fermented mung bean drink), miancha (wheat flour snack), candied hawthorn sticks, pea jelly, donkey rolling, fried sausage, tripe, fried liver, thin crispy pancakes, twisted fried dough sticks, fried ring, sugar fire cake, cream fried cake, Beijing-style pastries ✅Scenic spots: Check in at many famous Beijing attractions ✅Activities: • Siheyuan life: Stay in a hutong guesthouse • Local flavor: Huguo Temple Snack Street or Niujie are food hubs • Cultural experience: Listen to Peking Opera at Huguang Guild Hall • Intangible cultural heritage: Visit Liulichang for calligraphy, painting, and seal carving, experience traditional crafts ✅Specialties: Neiliansheng layered sole cloth shoes, Daoxiangcun pastries, glazed tiles, dough figurines, rabbit clay sculptures, gold-inlaid jade chains, cloisonné enamel ✅Performances: Jingyun drum, Peking Opera, Shulaibao (comic storytelling), Huabo drum dance, vocal mimicry, freestyle whip cracking 🥰 Beijing, just one click away✈️ Here you will find both the grand narrative of the "Son of Heaven's doorstep" and the everyday life of hutong elders. It is a city worth exploring again and again.

#AbsolutelyFreeTrip Located about 120km northeast of Beijing, Simatai Great Wall is known as one of the most rugged and beautiful Great Walls. Unlike other Great Walls that have been turned into tourist spots, Simatai has retained its ancient appearance, and is a precious place where you can feel the weight of history and the grandeur of nature. We left Beijing early in the morning and drove for about two and a half hours. When the Great Wall towering over the mountains came into view, we were captivated by its breathtaking beauty. This time, we took the ropeway and climbed all the way up to the middle of the mountain. From there, we walked along stone steps and paths, heading towards each of the watchtowers. Simatai is popular not only for its daytime scenery, but also for its fantastic nighttime illumination, making it a popular "night hike." The Great Wall under the moonlight looks like a scene from a movie. The mountain ranges seen from the top of the Great Wall, the trees swaying in the wind, and the silence. It felt as if time had stopped.

First time in China Also first time to the Great Wall Chosen Simatai Great Wall where there are not many tourists and Gubei Water Town for a day trip Although the drive is far But maybe because of the off-season It is really quiet There are not many people If you come to Simatai Great Wall, you must go to the right from the trail between the 5th and 6th floors To the end, which is the 10th floor Although it is steep, it is very spectacular and worth it

I spent 2 days 1 night at Gubei water town. It is just 2 hours away using bus from Beijing. There are few bus providers and they are all very convenient to book for tourists. The town was amazingly beautiful, calm and so authentic. We stayed in GuBei Water town hotel, which provided in the package the night tour to Simatai Great Wall with cable cars, hotspring and day tour ticket to the scenic area. The hotspring, Duan Jia's hotspring, is super awesome and zen. Do spend some time here if you have time when in Beijing!

1️⃣ Anaya · Seaside Fairy Tale Kingdom 🚗 Self-drive: Guomao → Anaya (2h)｜High-speed train: Beijing Chaoyang → Beidaihe (1h plus bus transfer) 🍜 Kids’ favorites: Sand scallion buns, seafood jelly (community canteen offers great value) 🏨 Stay: Choose the "Anlan Hotel" family room (with slide + picture book area)｜10-minute walk to the beach, free sand play/crab digging at the kids’ camp ✨ Highlights: Read picture books with kids at the Lonely Library, hunt for handmade shells at the seaside market, super healing sunset views 2️⃣ Gubei Water Town · Jiangnan Night Stay 🚄 High-speed train: Beijing North → Gubeikou (1h)｜Direct bus: Dongzhimen → Gubei Water Town (2h) 🍢 Hidden treats: Bridgehead cake (freshly steamed glutinous rice, sweet but not greasy), Miyun three roasts (lamb/pig’s trotters/tofu) 🌙 Must-do: Night tour of Simatai Great Wall (cable car + walkable path for kids)｜Water town light show feels like traveling through Jiangnan 🏡 Stay: "Wangjinglou" homestay inside the scenic area (with terrace for stargazing, breakfast included) 3️⃣ Tianjin Binhai · Ocean Adventure 🚅 High-speed train: Beijing South → Binhai Station (30 minutes)｜Metro Line 9 direct to National Ocean Museum 🐠 Kids’ highlight: Whale sharks at the aquarium｜Touch beluga whales at the polar pavilion (interactive sessions require advance booking) 🍜 Local tip: "Old Tofu" on North Chezhann Road with crispy rice and vegetable dish (breakfast staple) 🎡 Bonus: Take stunning photos at Binhai Library’s "Sea Library," kids holding books make for great shots 4️⃣ Huairou Yanqi Lake · Nature Classroom 🚗 Self-drive: City → Yanqi Lake (1.5h)｜H11 bus direct (kids can sit by the window to enjoy mountain views) 🚴 Light exercise: Rent parent-child bikes to circle the lake (free child seats under 1.5m)｜Birdwatching boardwalk to spot water birds 🍲 Farmhouse meal: Three ways to enjoy fish (grilled/sashimi/soup), kids love the salted mushrooms 🏠 Stay: "Shanba" wooden cabin (with small courtyard, fall asleep to insect sounds at night) 5️⃣ Chongli Taiwu Town · Snowy Mountain Fun for Kids 🚄 High-speed train: Beijing North → Taizicheng (50 minutes)｜Direct bus: Guomao → Taiwu (2.5h) ❄️ Year-round fun: Summer kids’ ski slope (soft slope safe for kids)｜Forest adventure park with climbing nets 🥟 Warm treats: Oatmeal nests with mushroom meat sauce (homestay auntie makes fresh) 🏰 Fairytale vibe: European-style town for princess dress photos, kids hold dad’s hand riding the little train around the shopping area 💡TIPS: All 5 places have "family shuttle" buses (tickets bookable on Trip.com), bring mosquito repellent patches + portable water bottle; wear light-colored sportswear (great for photos + dirt-resistant). 🌟 Each place allows plenty of "kids burn energy + moms relax" time, a healing weekend getaway you can just go for～

Caught the spectacular sunset after reaching the tower of Simatai Great Wall of China! It was a great experience and the night sight of the Great Wall was also beautiful. Do remember to bring along a jacket if you intend to stay there longer to catch the sight of day and night scenery of the Simatai Great Wall of China because the winds can be quite strong and chilly.

1. Aranya · Artsy Seaside Family Trip (Qinhuangdao, Hebei) Transport: ~3.5h drive from Beijing, or 2h high-speed train to Beidaihe Station + 30min taxi. Best for ages: 3+ (beach, art galleries, kids' activities) Must-do: - Beach digging & seaside swings: Aranya's fine sand is perfect for kids to play. - Lonely Library & Aranya Chapel: Great photo spots with artistic vibe (reservation required). - Children's Farm: Slides, trampolines and mini garden for toddlers. - Seaside Market: Buy fresh fruits/ice cream for beach picnics. Eats: Seaside Canteen (¥50/person), Yellow River to Sea (NW Chinese cuisine). Stay: Anlan Hotel (kid-friendly amenities) or vacation rentals (with kitchens). Tips: - Arrive Friday night to avoid weekend crowds. - Rent a camping cart (¥50/day) for easier transport. 2. Gubei Water Town · Jiangnan-Style Escape (Miyun, Beijing) Transport: 1.5h drive or tourist bus from Dongzhimen (¥48/person). Best for ages: 4+ (ancient town, crafts, night views) Must-do: - Children's Play Center: Huge indoor playground (¥80/child). - Simatai Great Wall night tour: Cable car for panoramic views (best for 5+). - Tie-dye/kite making: Traditional crafts (¥50/activity). - Boat rides: Paddle through waterways (¥80/adult, half-price kids). Eats: Gubei baked pears (¥15), bridgehead cakes (¥5). Stay: In-town inns (ticket discounts) or nearby farm stays. Tips: - Don't miss the 8pm drone show! - Strollers may struggle on cobblestones. 3. Tianjin Binhai · Ocean World & Beach (Tianjin) Transport: 30min high-speed train to Binhai Station or 1.5h drive. Best for ages: 2+ (aquarium, beach, museums) Must-do: - Polar Ocean World: Belugas, penguins & underwater tunnel (¥200, free under 1m). - Dongjiang Bay Park: Free clam digging (bring buckets/shovels). - National Maritime Museum: Interactive exhibits (book free tickets). - Binhai Library: Instagrammable "book mountain". Eats: Three Fishermen seafood (¥100/person), jianbing (¥10). Stay: Polar Ocean Hotel (ticket packages) or budget hotels. Tips: - Check tide tables for best clam-digging. - Schedule aquarium visits around nap times. 4. Yanqi Lake · Lakeside Fun (Huairou, Beijing) Transport: 1h drive or bus 916 + taxi. Best for ages: 3+ (cycling, boating, playgrounds) Must-do: - Family bike rides: Lakeside cycling (¥50/hour). - Hiking trails: Free views of conference center (best for 5+). - Water activities: Summer boating (combo ticket ¥100). - Tongniu Film Town: Fairytale-themed playground (¥60, 20min away). Eats: Rainbow trout BBQ (¥80/person), cornbread (¥10). Stay: Lakeside B&Bs or Sunrise Oriental Hotel. Tips: - Best May-Oct; limited winter activities. - Bring picnic mats for lakeside relaxation. 5. Thaiwoo Town · Mountain Retreat (Zhangjiakou, Hebei) Transport: 1h train to Taizicheng Station or 2.5h drive. Best for ages: 4+ (cable cars, outdoor sports) Must-do: - Cable car rides: Mountain views (¥80, half-price kids) with summit playground. - Luge tracks: Thrilling downhill rides (¥120/ride, 6+). - Petting zoo: Feed alpacas/deer (¥20/food). - Mountain biking: Family bikes (¥60/hour). Eats: Alpine Cabin (Western, ¥100/person), craft beer bars. Stay: Thaiwoo Hotel (cable car tickets included) or Hyatt. Tips: - Summer retreat - pack jackets for cool evenings! - Weekend live music + markets create great atmosphere.

Simatai is breathtaking but quite steep and physically demanding in parts. If you’re not comfortable with stairs or heights, you might struggle. The views are incredible and it’s much less crowded than other sections, but I recommend this mainly for active travelers. Make sure to bring water and wear proper shoes. If you’re looking for a relaxed walk, another section like Mutianyu might suit you better.#china #beijing