Gubei Water Town
Miyun, Miyun District, Beijing, Beijing, 101506
Inspired by the water towns around Shanghai, especially Wuzhen, Gubei Water Town occupies a picture-postcard position beside a lake, backed by the Great Wall at Simatai. Locals re-create traditional activities, from making rice wine to dying clothes. There are temples and eateries year-round and ice sculptures in season.
The Basics
While there’s plenty of accommodation in the area, most of it focused on Chinese travelers, the majority of international visitors see Gubei Water Town on a day trip from Beijing. Trips almost always combine a Gubei Water Town tour with the Great Wall at Simatai, part of which is just a 1-mile (1.5-kilometer) walk from the town. As with the authentically historic water towns in the Shanghai area, access to Gubei is ticketed, with an additional charge for boat rides. A guide may be helpful for travelers who don’t speak Chinese.
Things to Know Before You Go
Photographers and Instagrammers who won’t be visiting Shanghai or Suzhou may appreciate Gubei Water Town.
If staying overnight, check your hotel’s location carefully. Some are a bus ride away from the scenic area.
A few vendors will only take Chinese mobile payment systems (WeChat or AliPay), but you can load cash onto a card and use that instead.
Cobbles, steps, and arched bridges make Gubei Water Town challenging for travelers who use wheelchairs.
How to Get There
Gubei Water Town is located about 89 miles (143 kilometers) northeast of downtown Beijing, close to the Great Wall at Simatai. Express buses run several times a day to and from Dongzhimen in Beijing, but watch out for bus scammers. Many travelers prefer the ease of a tour that includes door-to-door round-trip transfers.
When to Get There
Gubei Water Town’s scenic area is open to visitors from morning until late in the evening. It can be particularly magical over the Chinese New Year period, when there are ice sculptures on display and lanterns in the street. If boat rides are on your agenda, visit over the summer.
China’s Top Water Towns
Despite its ancient appearance, Gubei Water Town is a planned town, built for the tourist market. It takes its inspiration from pretty water towns around Shanghai and Suzhou, which long served the silk trade along the Grand Canal. Favorites include Wuzhen, Tongli, Zhouzhuang, and Zhujiajiao, while Suzhou itself offers charming watery views.
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