In Gubei Water Town, we learned about the charm of Simatai Great Wall in a new and unique way, felt the excitement of traditional Chinese handicrafts and performing arts, ate gourmet food, encountered soulful teahouses and stayed in boutique hotels. Gubei Water Town is not only suitable for Beijing citizens on outings in Beijing, but also for foreign friends and foreigners.
Introduction to Shops and Venues
The three of us wore clothes that were plant-dyed from the store in front of Yongshun Dyeing in Gubei Water Town. My children and I wore cloth and my mother-in-law wore linen. The cloth is comfortable, generous in style, good quality and affordable, unlike other attractions that are generally homogenized, overpriced or of poor quality. I liked the commercial tone of the whole Gubei Water Town, with no repetition of what each store sells.
Yongshun Dyeing Workshop
Yongshun Dyeing Workshop was founded in 1900 by Zhang Jukui, a native of Gubeikou. When he was young, he learned his first skills as a dyer. He made his own vegetable dyes using local plants in Gubeikou, and the cloth he dyed was even, colorful and long-lasting. As a result, "Yongshun Dyeing" became famous in Gubei and also in Beijing.
The first thing you see when you enter is the drying area of Yongshun Dyeing, which is where the fabrics are dried and is the last process of the dyeing workshop.
Yongshun Dyeing House has a special lamination. Anyone who comes has to go to the center of the high hanging cloth to take a few shots. Children play hide-and-seek in the sea of colorful cloth, and happy laughter ripples through the small courtyard.
In the Riya, you can learn the basics of the Chinese printing and dyeing industry and the process, as well as experience the dyeing process for yourself.
Interactive experiences are available at many of the workshops in North Watertown.
Kite Culture Center
The painted kites on the wall, the Beijing Shayan kites in the shed, the semi-finished kites made by the masters, and the historical kites physically displayed in the Kite Museum give us a taste of the history and culture of kites from different schools and regions. You can also make your own unique kite with the help of a kite master.
Shadow Theater Hall
Children experience the unique charm of China's intangible cultural heritage here. Images, animal totems, and a curtain that glows under the reflection of lights and the manipulation of handles become vivid beings that enact a series of legendary stories that will amaze you.
If you have the time and interest, you can also experience the shadow-making process by selecting, cutting, tracing, coloring and drying the shadow.
Dianjianzhi
Magnetic and DIY paper cutouts of various patterns are available for you to choose from, or you can take part in making them yourself.
Nianhua Workshop
Experience the making of various traditional hand-painted New Year's paintings, bringing a strong festive atmosphere to the water town.
Luwan Bifangshu
In addition to a variety of combs, there are also exquisite headdresses and handmade soaps for sale.
Xinglong Shoe House
Hand-embroidered shoes, hand-held thousand-layer cloth shoes, cloth tigers, hundred surnames pendants, hand-embroidered every stitch is an art; you can also hand-draw graffiti on your shoes to paint a unique pair of shoes.
Tong Chian Lantern Shop
Sells a variety of lanterns. The master can handmake lanterns on site, and you can experience it for yourself.
Cheng Pu
Sells all kinds of mahogany scales, dragon head scales, dragon and phoenix scales, gold and silver scales and other kinds of scales.
Sima Shoushao, one of Miyun's three treasures, has the reputation of being Beijing's old white dry, comparable to Erguotou.
The main raw material of Sima Shao Shao is red sorghum and other grains, brewed with traditional technology. It is dry enough to be strongly flavored, sweet and refreshing. At the distillery, you can learn about brewing techniques and buy shochu. Chenxi two brothers bought a bottle for their grandfather, the younger brothers are filial.
The Eight Flags Club
The Eight Flags Club, one of the eight scenic spots in the Gubei Water Town, is undoubtedly a special presence. Ancient Xiongguan, the throat fortress of the capital, was the residence of the Huangzheng flag of the Qing Dynasty hundreds of years ago. In the Guild Hall, feel the majestic posture of the soldiers stationed at the border and experience the customs of the horseback nation. When you are tired of shopping, take off your shoes and soak your feet in the soup in front of the Zhenyuan Dart Board.
Introduction to the Sima Great Wall
Visiting the Great Wall is not heroic. The Great Wall is a must-see tourist attraction for every first-time traveler to Beijing. The famous Badaling Great Wall is crowded all year round. Why don't you come to Gubei Water Town and feel the charm of the Great Wall in a different way?
The Gubei Water Town is located at the foot of the famous Simatai Great Wall. The Simatai Great Wall is regarded as "the most beautiful Great Wall in China" by China's Great Wall preservation expert Luo, and is listed as one of the "25 unmissable attractions in the world" by The Times, a world heritage landscape.
In Gubei Water Town, you can see Simatai Great Wall from many angles.
Night view of the Great Wall
Booked the Great Wall Yoga, and experienced the feeling of worshiping the Japanese style in the morning light. The yoga mats are filled with naughty ants and cicadas that keep chirping in your ears. The breeze and sunshine were energizing, and I felt strongly that I was part of nature.
Riding the Great Wall, I really couldn't stay idle. The kids and my mother-in-law took a nap while I rode the Yuanyang Lake section by myself. You must think I'm crazy. In fact, on such a hot day, it would be cool by the water and in the shade. The scenery you see on the road is different too.
The Sima Great Wall is the only ancient Great Wall that retains the original appearance of the Ming Great Wall, and it is also the only Great Wall in China that is currently open for night tours. Take the cable car, and at night children carry lanterns to the Great Wall to look up at the starry sky in the height of summer and overlook the romantic night view of Gubei Water Town.
Oh, I suddenly realized that Almond Child was also a hero for having been to the Great Wall.
Watching the interesting drone lantern show on the Great Wall.
Under the starry night sky, backed by the beautiful Simatai Great Wall, the small town of Wangjing Street holds a water dance feast every night. You can feel the collision of music and light, the mingling of water and fire.
Parent-Child Travel Tips
My children and I spent three days in Gubei Water Town, where there were many entertaining activities. They were full of energy. I'm afraid I wouldn't have been able to keep up with them if it weren't for my recent strength training and physical fitness. It's a frothy summer at Sun Moon Island Plaza.
Special recommendation for the children's playhouse in Gubei Water Town is really good! Large area, lots of fun, new facilities, less people. You can play here for two or three hours in the summer, except for the hottest noon nap at the hotel. If not for the distance, I really want to give him an annual pass, haha.
There is also a big airplane in the children's playroom. Brother Morningside is the pilot and Armond is the flight attendant. They said they would take me to Chicago.
After dinner, I went to the church on Mt. Every night until Sept. 15, there was a psalm sing-along. Listening, the Hymns were filled with gratitude.
There is a cafe at the top of the hill, and the terrace is a perfect spot for a panoramic view of the Gubei Water Town. It was here that the only picture of July and I was taken, and I really couldn't be bothered to take care of the baby all the time.
The kids listened attentively at the Starry Sky Lecture Hall at the top of the hill, where their moms were in the shape of hollow hearts.
After descending the mountain, we came to Sun Moon Island Square, which was bustling with activity. There were foreign movies that kids love, dough kneaders and candy blowers. I found the feeling of visiting the night market when I was a kid. The big stage rotates daily with performances of Beijing opera and comedy.
[Where there's food, there's energy]
Flavorful restaurants
The Boutique Hotel Flavor Restaurant at Wangjing Building was our favorite restaurant of the three days. You can tell the chef has put a lot of effort into the ingredients, presentation, heat and flavor. If I were in town, I would take my family there once a week for dinner. If you come to Gubei Water Town, you must try this one.
The restaurant specializes in Lu cuisine, and I ordered the signature nine-turn large intestine, which is sweet and salty, soft and chewy. Braised abalone is also very good. What stood out was the tofu tendon inside. Great flavor
Super happy a beautiful meal. This restaurant is so delicious! Wangjing House also has a western restaurant and rooms. Next time you might consider staying here. It's very convenient to eat. It is said that Jiang Wen likes to stay at Wangjing Building Boutique Hotel, and many scenes of "Evil or Not" directed by him were filmed in Gubei Water Town.
Keyhouse Chinese Restaurant
Keyhouse Chinese Restaurant is located at the William Edgar Hotel in Watertown, a boutique hotel named after William Edgar Gail, the first international friend to hike the Great Wall of China. The 50-room hotel features a German restaurant and a Chinese restaurant. The hotel also has a large outdoor pool.
The Chinese restaurant specializes in Cantonese cuisine, which is light and rich in flavor. Steamed fish and roast beef are recommended. My son ate two large pieces of this beef, but he could have had another if he hadn't stopped.
Yue Tea House
This restaurant is located across the street from the Blue Bridge Ye Ching Hotel. Apparently, the cuisine at this restaurant was Cantonese, with crispy pigeon, roasted pork, a variety of dim sum and soups. The meal had the rhythm of a Cantonese breakfast.
The Thousand Hills Tea House
The Asayama Tea House was one of the surprises I encountered in Gubei Water Town. The more I encountered this surprise, the hotter I felt it. When I left, I couldn't say goodbye. Just like this pot of green tea, there was a slight bitter taste at first, and then I felt a strong, mellow, sweet flavor.
The whole teahouse is a warehouse of wonderful old things from the past, and it's relaxing to face them. Sitting by the window, watching the paddle boats sail by, sipping tea, eating a handful of melons and a fresh pea yellow, and talking to the friends who come to chat, I am content.
Two snacks you can't miss in front of the Asayama Tea House are the Gubei roasted pears.
Eggs boiled in hot spring water
Empty Beer Night Market
Sunmoon Island Plaza opens a beer night market in the summer, and the flower hair vegetable and cumin lamb shank are the most popular.
[Every hotel is so different]
Beijing Water Town has 10 boutique hotels, 4 theme hotels, and 27 B&B inns. There are more than 40 hotels to choose from, rich in thrift and style.
Wood City Boutique Hotel
This time with children to the Gubei Water Town, stay in the newly opened "Wood City" boutique hotel. The hotel is located in the Blue Valley of the Gubei Water Town Scenic Area, which is quiet and natural, depending on the mountains and the water. The hotel has 50 rooms, staggered in the north and south of the two districts.
The hotel adopts a "white" geometric design, modern and minimalist, the room is spacious and bright, comfortable king-size bed facing the floor-to-ceiling glass. My mother-in-law, son and I shared a queen-size bed, and I had a single bed by the window.
The hotel provides fruit and refreshments daily. Breakfast is a Korean set menu with tons of fruits and vegetables. The natural environment in the valley, the intimate and comfortable rooms, and the thoughtful and detailed service made our stay very comfortable.
The disposable slippers used by the hotel kids are very ethnic and interesting. After wearing it for two nights, he didn't want to throw it away. He had to take it home. The toiletries provided by the hotel are also of high quality.
Double toilet basin, wash in the morning will not interfere with each other. The bathtub is oval in shape, matching the overall style of the hotel, and the details are well taken care of.
Tang Fire Boutique Hotel
Tang Fire Hotel is very special and beautiful! Inspired by the combination of "Hakka Tulou" and "The Great Wall". The exterior is so simple that it looks like a brick wall, but there is nothing wrong with it. There are 18 beautifully designed rooms and an indoor heated swimming pool and bar. The hotel is set against the backdrop of the Simatai Great Wall, which is not far away, and is hidden in the city.
The open-air fire pit is the "spiritual core" of the hotel. Above the fire pit is an earthenware building with a huge circular patio.
Every corner and decoration of Tang Fire Hotel has its expression. Apart from its outstanding style, this hotel is also very private. Personally, I think it is suitable for couples or alone. Maybe one day, I will come here alone and live quietly for a few days.
Empty Tented Camps
From May to October, 10 tented camps will be set up in the valley, each with a capacity of two people, with pantries, toilets and showers in public ****. A breakfast basket will be placed outside the tents in the morning.
The campsite price is 399 yuan on weekends and 299 yuan on weekdays. This is a unique summer activity offered by Gubei Water Town, and a different kind of choice and experience. Seriously, I have yet to spend a night in a tent.
I plan to take my parents to Gubei Water
Beijing Driving Route: After getting off at Simatai Exit No. 24 of the Beijing-Chengdu Expressway, take the right ramp and drive left for about 2 minutes.
Railway route from Beijing: Take subway line 13 and get off at Huoying station, walk about 323 meters to Huangtudian station of Huaimi line, then take the Huaimi line train (northward to Huairou) and get off at Gubeikou station, and then take the special line of Gubeishui town from Gubeikou station to Gubeishui town.
Beijing through-train route: take subway line 2 to Dongzhimen, change to Beijing-Gubei Water Town special through-train at Dongzhimenwai Bus Station (the junction of Dongzhimenwai Xiejie and Xiangheyuan Nanjie, buses No.942 and No.855), and it is estimated that you will arrive at Gubei Water Town in 120 minutes.
Bus route from Beijing: take No. 980 from Dongzhimen, get off at Miyunxiqiao Station, transfer to No. M51 bus, get off at Simatai Village Station and walk to Gubei Water Town.