Autumn special: A 1-hour trip from Beijing to the "Little Kyoto" ancient town! Red leaves + hot springs, breathtakingly beautiful
Seriously! No need for long-distance travel
1 hour from Beijing to Gubei Water Town
Many people only know its night view is beautiful, but underestimate its autumn✨
Red leaves all over the Great Wall, mountain hot springs, lanterns everywhere
The autumn atmosphere is unbeatable, the top choice for a weekend getaway!
💡New perspective:
Most people only plan to visit the ancient town during the day
The real Gubei autumn scenery is a dual mode of "daytime red leaves + nighttime lights"
I recommend staying 1 night to unlock 2 completely different landscapes at once
A day trip will miss out on most of the romance!
🚗Transport | Choose from 2 travel methods based on your needs
▪️Self-driving | About 1.5 hours from the city center
Parking is RMB 5/hour, capped at RMB 20 per day, convenient for luggage
▪️Bus | Direct to Gubei Water Town from Dongzhimen Transportation Hub
Departs at 9:00 AM/12:00 PM, RMB 48/person, return trips at 3:00 PM/6:00 PM
👉Tips: Book tickets in advance via the official WeChat account; tickets are very tight during holidays
🍂Must-visit autumn spots (ranked by photo priority)
▫️Simatai Great Wall⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The autumn ace! Standing on the Great Wall, red leaves spread across the mountains
Red, orange, and yellow intertwine, taking in the autumn colors of the mountains
✅New angle: Recommend going up the mountain around 3:00 PM; the soft sunlight is great for shooting red leaves
▫️Yongshun Dye House⭐⭐⭐⭐
Blue dyed fabrics flutter in the wind, paired with red maple trees nearby
The color contrast is amazing! The light is soft in the morning, great for shooting while avoiding crowds
▫️Ancient town bluestone alleys⭐⭐⭐⭐
Boston ivy dyes the walls red, yellow leaves rustle and fall by the roadside
Stroll slowly, check in at the Matchmaker Temple and Zhenyuan Escort Agency
Every shot feels like a Japanese-style ancient town, no wonder it's called the "Little Kyoto" of the Beijing suburbs
▫️Ancient town hot springs♨️ The soul of autumn!
The autumn breeze blows cool, soak into the warm hot springs
Look out at the distant mountains covered in autumn colors, and fatigue instantly disappears
👉New perspective: Prioritize outdoor hot springs; indoor ones lack the autumn atmosphere
▫️Night tour of the ancient town⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
When it gets dark, all the red lanterns are lit, and the river reflects the lights
There are even drone shows on weekends!
The whole ancient town instantly switches to an ancient dreamscape; this is the essence of Gubei Water Town
🗺Itinerary | One-day/two-day trip plans
▫️One-day trip | For those with tight schedules
Morning | Enjoy red leaves at Simatai Great Wall
Noon | Eat local specialties in the ancient town
Afternoon | Take photos at Yongshun Dye House, stroll through the alleys
Evening | Soak in hot springs, watch lights/drone show -> Return
▫️Two-day trip [Highly recommended! Immersive experience]
D1: Arrive at the ancient town, stroll slowly through the alleys and experience intangible cultural heritage crafts
Soak in the outdoor hot spring in the evening, wait for the town lights to turn on, and enjoy the night tour
D2: Wake up early to explore the ancient town! Fewest people, enjoy the quiet autumn scenery alone
Climb Simatai Great Wall to see the autumn morning light, return after lunch
🍜Must-eat heartwarming autumn snacks
▪️Qiaotou Cake | Soft and glutinous red bean filling, buy it while strolling the town
▪️Gubei Roasted Pear | Moisturizing for autumn and winter, super comfortable to eat hot
▪️Miyun Braised Pork | Local hearty dish, soft and flavorful
▪️Lamb Offal Soup | Have a bowl when the temperature drops, warm from head to toe
🏨How to choose accommodation
✅Want to shoot morning and evening scenery: Stay in a homestay inside the scenic area, the night view is right outside, convenient for early morning photos, budget is higher
✅Pursuing cost-effectiveness: Hotels outside the scenic area, 10-minute drive, the first choice for saving money
⚠️Essential travel tips
1. Best viewing period for red leaves: mid-October–early November, miss it and you have to wait a whole year
2. Huge temperature difference in the mountains! Long sleeves during the day, must bring a thick jacket in the evening, it's very windy
3. Many steps when climbing the Great Wall, wear non-slip sneakers, don't wear shoes that look good but are hard to walk in
4. Drone shows are only open on weekends, don't go on weekdays or you'll miss it!
5. If you want to take blockbuster photos with no people, you must wake up early! Fewest tourists in the early morning
Gubei Water Town in autumn brings together red leaves, the Great Wall, hot springs, and lights
Escape the hustle and bustle of the city and come here to catch the romantic autumn of Beijing🍁