In this edition, we are pleased to introduce the Gubei Water Town located in Miyun county of Beijing. The Gubei Water Town can be always considerred as one of the best options for a holiday resort.

Gubeikou town has a history of more than 2000 years since it was fortified in the Qin and Han dynasties. In 1421, Zhudi, the third emperor of the Ming dynasty, moved his capital from Nanjing to Beijing. Since then, Gubeikou became the capital’s “northeast gateway” and served as the strategic position of the capital of Ming dynasty outside the pass of the Great Wall. Today, six hundred years later, it turned into a fantastic tourist attraction and named Gubei Water Town.

Tour to the Gubei Water Town is actually one of the most unique experiences of Beijing. The town leans against the Simatai Great Wall and is surrounded by lakes, boasting a combination of mountains, water and ancient villages. Regarded as “Wuzhen” in the north of China, the town is simple and elegant, lined with houses, old streets of bluestones, and long alleys, all of which show the features of the northern architectural style of the traditional courtyards.

Lied next to the Simatai Great Wall, due to the well-suited location of the Gubei Water Town, visitors can take this advantage not only to enjoy the elegant Water Town, but also to climb the world renowned Great Wall. Blooming flowers of spring, desolate moon of autumn, cooler breeze of summer and white snow of winter, the cycle of the four seasons presents us some different pictures of the resort.

Spring: The spring sun gently peeps out a soft light from behind the thin clouds. The wild peach blossoms are blooming in the early spring days, the light pink colored flowers both in the Water Town and the Great Wall are tenderly swinging in the breeze, simple and beautiful.

Summer: The summer of the Water Town is full of life and energy with the green ripples in the zigzag little rivers, the daggling willows alongside the riverbank, and the pretty lotus flowers in the pond. What a great idea of either enjoying a relaxing afternoon beside the pond or siting on the Great Wall to have a bird-eye view of the town!

Autumn: The autumn of the Water Town and the Great Wall is a profound poem. Bright sunshine and colorful autumn leaves, without any decoration, are pure and attractive, like a world of fairyland.

Every autumn leaf shows the perseverance and brilliance of life; every building tells the culture and vicissitudes of the history; every inch of land bears and witnesses the distant civilization. Only by being in it can one understand the beauty of autumn itself!

In the time when the mountains are covered with yellow and red plants layer by layer, and the forests are dyed diversity colors, no one would miss the appreciation of the glorious leaves, the serenity and comfort of the Water Town.

Winter: Covering the eaves of every building, Gubei Water Town is astonished by the first snow in winter. The majesty and perfect combination of the exquisite old town with the grand Simatai Great Wall is truly impressive and unforgettable. The old street, the courtyards, and the hutongs retain a complete ancient style of a northern country. Gubei Water Town looks like an ink painting.

By the way, the Simatai Great Wall is the only one among other Great Wall of China opened at night, it would be marvelous to take a walk on the Great Wall in the evening, where you can admire the entire image and architecture of the Town that is lit up at night, which creates a magical nightscape of the Water Town.

There are also some other popular activities and interesting places in the Water Town that we’d like to recommend, there must be something you wish to experience.
If you love Chinese wine, the Sima Liquor Distillery would be a nice place to visit. The aroma of the wine can be well aware of from afar before you reach there. You can also witness the process of wine making and learn to cook dishes with its remains if you want to.
 

In the Yongshun Dye House, red, green, yellow and blue cloths hang flapping in the breeze. Some old-style looms and spinning machines are on display. You can learn about ecological cloth printing and dying, and even create your own work of art with the help of craftsmen.

In addition, you can spend some time in the Yinghua Academy, where many confucian classics, historical records, philosophical writings and miscellaneous works have been collected. Or, it would be a great fun to learn something from the teachers together with your kids. For example, learn how to pack Zongzi (a typical food for the Dragon Boat Festival), or do paper-cutting, or make kites and so on during the Children’s Day or in normal days. 

Apart from the above activities, many entertainments and performances are prepared and held in the town, such as Folk Acrobatics Show performed in the afternoon on Riyue Island, the Peking Opera and Cross Talk played at Miyun Grant Drama Stage... Those are definitely worthy of paying a visit.

Are you hungry after a long day tour? Surely you are, aren’t you? Finally comes the food. Many restaurants, stores and related service facilities can be found in the town. You can find Halal Restaurant, Italian Café and Great Wall Bar for food and drink, and it is also worthy of trying some yummy snacks, such as local dumplings, spiced corned eggs, pancakes, roast sausages and barbecued pork etc..