Situated in the mountainous Miyun District, two hours northeast of the capital's center, this sprawling haven of architectural homage is anchored by the precipitous ridges of the Simatai Great Wall and a meticulously constructed network of waterways mirroring the Jiangnan style of southern China. Within a few steps, you can see architectural marvels ranging from soaring, Ming-dynasty watchtowers clinging to sheer cliffs to beautifully aged, courtyard-style boutique hotels flanking the Mandarin Duck Lake Reservoir. Stop for a warming cup of locally distilled plum wine, browse the towering racks of indigo fabric fluttering in the breeze at a traditional dye house, and sample hearty, northern-style roasted meats in a bustling, lantern-lit square. Saunter along the stone bridges at twilight to watch a fleet of illuminated drones perform an intricate, synchronized ballet against the backdrop of the mountains. Take a break from the dense, visual stimulation of the artisan workshops with a quiet, deeply restorative soak in an open-air hot spring, watching the glowing spine of the Great Wall wind its way into the night sky above you.
Don't Miss
- Riding the cable car up to the Simatai Great Wall at night, holding a traditional lantern as you walk along the only section of the ancient fortification in China that is officially open and illuminated for evening tours.
- Wandering through the towering wooden poles of the Yongshun Dye House, an incredibly photogenic, interactive museum where you can witness the ancient techniques of eco-friendly fabric dyeing.
- Soaking in the iron-rich, natural geothermal waters at one of the town's premium Japanese-style onsens or boutique hot spring hotels, offering a stunning, steamy contrast to the crisp mountain air.
How to Get There
While located deep in the mountainous outskirts, Gubei Water Town has been flawlessly integrated into Beijing's tourist infrastructure.
For sophisticated travelers and digital creatives basing their capital operations at a central hub like the Ascott Raffles City Beijing in Dongzhimen, the journey is incredibly streamlined. The Dongzhimen Transit Hub serves as the primary launching pad, offering a direct, dedicated express tourist bus that whisks you straight from the Second Ring Road to the resort gates in under two hours. Alternatively, the high-speed rail from Beijing Chaoyang Station to Miyun Station offers a sleek, traffic-free approach.
Quick Facts
- Opened in 2014, Gubei Water Town was developed by the same visionary team behind Wuzhen (near Shanghai), effectively transplanting the romantic, canal-town aesthetic of the south into the rugged landscape of the north.
- The Simatai section of the Great Wall is famously untamed; UNESCO designated it as the original, un-restored Ming Dynasty wall, renowned for its steepness and dense concentration of watchtowers.
- The resort spans a massive 9 square kilometers and functions as a fully enclosed, self-sustaining holiday ecosystem, complete with its own transport network of wooden sculling boats and electric buggies.
Home to Beijing's most ambitious heritage resort
Since the mid-2010s, when developers flooded the valley beneath Simatai to create a sprawling, faux-ancient retreat, Gubei has been an enclave long synonymous with highly orchestrated, premium escapism. From the area's imported stone bridges to the groundbreaking logistics of operating a massive hot spring infrastructure, the district's love of master-planning sees it serve as the definitive weekend getaway for Beijing's affluent urbanites.
The town's cinematic, lantern-lit alleys have been featured globally as a masterclass in domestic tourism design. And while its aesthetic is undeniably engineered rather than organic, the destination hasn't forgotten the importance of absolute quality, ensuring that its slate-roofed courtyards house five-star hospitality, seamless service, and an immaculate, traffic-free pedestrian environment.
The Waterways—navigating the northern canals
The winding, willow-draped canals form the resort's main circulatory system. Stepping through the grand entrance gates, you'll immediately see a network of pristine waterways crisscrossed by arched bridges and flanked by beautifully aged wooden facades that perfectly mimic centuries of history.
Jam-packed with weekenders, avid photographers, and families enjoying the crisp mountain air, these pedestrian lanes are a fascinating melting pot of southern Chinese romance and northern Chinese climate. It’s an environment that's sure to give you a highly relaxing, curated perspective on how modern China engineers its leisure time.
Satisfy your appetite, from street snacks to distillery spirits
Behind almost every heavy wooden door are the resort's diverse kitchens, pumping out a mix of nostalgic street food and refined banquet fare. A must-do for visitors to the area, the dining scene here is deeply comforting, designed for the cooler mountain temperatures. Whether you're after a piping hot, incredibly flaky turnip pastry from a street-side vendor, a bubbling copper pot of traditional Beijing mutton hotpot, or an immersive tasting session at the Sima Liquor Distillery, there's something to warm every palate.
These bustling food squares and highly themed dining rooms are essentially the resort's hospitality staple, and you can't leave without finding a riverside table, ordering a feast of roasted meats, and watching the wooden boats glide silently past.
A paradise for boutique hospitality and wellness
Gubei is arguably Beijing's capital of holistic weekend wellness, and what's a mountain retreat without spectacular accommodations? No matter your aesthetic, you can find an incredible, overwhelming selection of boutique courtyards and massive luxury hotels.
The undisputed anchor of the area's lifestyle is its geothermal hot springs. If you're hoping for ultimate relaxation, be sure to check into properties like the Wangjinglou Boutique Hotel or the various secluded ryokan-style inns scattered along the hillsides. It is a stunning example of how natural resources are beautifully packaged into a premium, highly restorative hospitality experience.
Taking to the illuminated peaks
Thanks to its highly successful design as a tourist magnet, the main canals and town squares of Gubei are undeniably bustling hotspots. Though the atmosphere there is essential for enjoying the resort's amenities, if you really want to immerse yourself in the varying, deeply profound layers of this landscape, you must look up.
If you head to the cable car station at dusk, you'll be lifted out of the master-planned town and deposited onto the raw, jagged spine of the Simatai Great Wall. Stepping onto these ancient, weathered bricks offers a breathtaking, haunting contrast to the polished town below. Here, you can walk along the illuminated battlements, peer out into the pitch-black void of the northern mountains, and absorb the authentic, unyielding history of China's greatest architectural triumph.
