Gubei Water Town and Simatai Wall
6.2Friend Score / 10#14 of 14 Attractions in Beijing
Known forsimatai great wallgreat wall at nightgubei water townnight climb
A purpose-built 'ancient' canal town at the foot of the genuinely spectacular Simatai Great Wall, 2.5 hours from Beijing. The town is a manufactured resort — pretty, pricey, knowingly fake — but the night-lit wall climb is unique in China. Go for Simatai and an overnight stay, not for authenticity.
Key facts
| Hours | Hours not verified |
|---|---|
| Price | $$$ |
| Phone | — |
| Website | — |
| Nearest transit | No subway; direct tourist buses from Dongzhimen hub, or about 2-2.5 hours by car from central Beijing |
| Time needed | Overnight is the point; a long day trip works if you leave early |
| Best time to go | Arrive mid-afternoon, do the town at dusk when lanterns light, wall by night or early morning |
| Last verified | July 12, 2026 |
Friend Score
6.2/10- Value6.5
- iconic5.0
- Freshness9.2
- Crowd level7.0
- Authenticity4.5
- Accessibility4.5
Frequently asked questions
- Can you do Gubei and Simatai as a day trip?
- Yes, but it's a 5-hour round-trip journey, so you'll feel it. The direct tourist bus from Dongzhimen takes about 2-2.5 hours each way. The experience is engineered around dusk — lantern-lit canals, night wall — which is exactly what day-trippers miss. Overnight if you can.
- What makes the Simatai Great Wall special?
- It's largely unrestored Ming wall climbing a knife-edge ridge — steep, dramatic, and the only major section open for night visits, with towers 5-6 lit after dark. Night access runs from about 17:30, with a round-trip cable car around 160 CNY.
- Is the night Great Wall climb worth it?
- It's the trip's trump card — standing on a dark watchtower with the wall's lit spine snaking over black mountains is something no other section offers. Only the stretch between towers 5 and 6 opens at night, so it's more moment than hike. Most people find the moment worth it.
- Do I need to book Simatai in advance?
- Yes — Simatai limits daily visitors and requires advance reservation (it's booked through the Gubei Water Town system, with passport registration). Night-wall slots are capped and sell out on weekends; book as soon as your dates firm up.
- Is Gubei Water Town real or fake?
- Purpose-built, opened in 2014, modeled on Wuzhen in the south — canals, grey-brick lanes, and dye-house props included. Knowing that going in, it's a genuinely pretty, well-run resort. Just don't come expecting an actual ancient village; the ancient thing here is the wall above it.
- How much does Gubei Water Town cost?
- Town entry runs around 140 CNY, with Simatai access, cable car, and boat rides extra — a family day adds up fast, and the on-site hotels charge resort rates. Check current bundle tickets on the official site; combo pricing changes frequently.
- What's actually good in the town itself?
- The evening: lantern light on the canals, the nightly music-fountain show, hot-spring pools at several hotels, and the view up to the floodlit wall. Daytime, it's shops and staged craft demonstrations — pleasant, not profound. Budget for resort-priced food throughout.
- How does Simatai compare to Mutianyu?
- Simatai is wilder, steeper, and less restored — more adventure, fewer amenities, and stricter access control. Mutianyu is easier, closer, and cheaper. If you want a resort weekend plus dramatic wall, Gubei/Simatai; for a classic wall day trip, Mutianyu wins.
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Where to stay near Gubei Water Town and Simatai Wall
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