How to Get to Gubei Water Town & Simatai Great Wall

Dear Travelers,

We’d like to have the following quick guide to be always updated for the benefit of new visitors visiting Gubei Water Town & Simatai Great Wall in Beijing by using the local public transportation - bus and train. If anybody having used the piece finds necessary updates, please leave a message or feedback. Thanks!

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Basically you have four ways by using the special shuttles, public buses and S5 trains going from the city core of Beijing to Gubei Water Town ( Simatai ) or vice versa.

1. Dongzhimen Outer Bus Terminal 东直门外场站

Beijing Dongzhimen Outer — Gubei Water Town ( Simatai) Shuttle

Bus fare: 48 yuan**Distance:134 kmTime:**120 Minutes

**Starting Point:**Dongzhimen Outer Bus Compound ( 东直门外车场）**How to Get to Dongzhimen Outer Bus Compound ？**First get to Dongzhimen Transport Hub, then walk along Dongzhimen Outer Street ( 东直门外大街）for about 100 meters, the turn left ( north); walk along Dongzhimenwaixie Street （东直门外斜街）for about 420 meters; then you come across Xiangheyuan South Street (香河园南街) on your left side. Dongzhimen Outer Bus Compound is just on the north of Xiangheyuan South Street.

Daily Departures: 9:00am、12:00 am、03:30pm ( Mon – Fri) 9:00 am、11:00 am、12:00 am、02:00 pm、03:30 pm ( Weekends & Public Holidays )

Returning Point: By the Gate of Gubei Water Town Tourist Dispatch Center 古北水镇景区游客集散中心门口(二号停车场) Daily Departures: 11:00 am、12:00 am、04:00 pm、09:00 pm ( Mon – Fri) 11:00am、01:00 pm、03:00 pm、05:00 pm、07:00 pm、09:00 pm ( Weekends & Public Holidays )

Note: For going back, you need to reserve your return tickets one hour in advance at the Tourist Center. Then you take your reservation coupon to line up for the shuttle bus.

Note: There is however a private bus just outside which leaves at 8:30 for the same price ( updated by Sean).

2. Beijing Hub of Tourist Dispatch 北京旅游集散中心旅游大巴

Take the Shuttle Bus to Gubei Water Town (Simatai) by Beijing Hub of Tourist Dispatch北京旅游集散中心旅游大巴

**Bus Fare:**RMB 50; Round Trip: 70 ( Only available on the same day )**Bus Ride Time:**3 Hours **Tickets:**Buy your Tickets at Booth 1, 3 and 4 at the Bus Center at Qianmen

Starting Point: Get on your bus at Booth 2 of Beijing Hub of Tourist Dispatch atQianmen (前门), south of Tiananmen Square **Daily Departure:**8:00 am ( Mon – Sun)

Returning Point: The Parking Lot of Gubei Water Town **Daily Departure:**03:30 pm

3. Taking Public Buses to Gubei Water Town 公交换乘

Take public bus No.980 from Dongzhimen Transportation Hub and get off the stop of Xidaqiao Miyun (密云西大桥站), then walk across the road and connect local bus No.51 to Simatai Village**,**then walk to Gubei Water Town

Note: Taking connected buses is very time-consuming, not recommended.

4. Take the S5 train

Take the S5 train, get off at Gubeikou Station, and take the ferry bus to Gubei Water Town 乘坐S5线列车

You can take the Beijing Suburb Railway Line S5 train starting from Beijing North Railway Station to Gubeikou Station, where you take the ferry bus to Gubei Water Town. The ferrybus is expected to cover the whole journey in 30 minutes, with a total distance of 15.5 km. Ticket price: 10 yuan/person/one-way.

Gubeikou S5 train schedule

(Subject to change without prior notice)

If you have found the latest schedule, please leave a message to us, so that we can have it updated, for the convenience of f new tourists. Thank you!

There are 2 S5 trains daily between Beijing North Railway Station and Gubeikou Railway station

Beijing North Railway Station to Gubeikou Station:

S501 (06:58 - 09:24)

S503 (14:20 -16:52)

The S5 train returns from Gubeikou station to Beijing North Station

S502 (10:00 - 12:30)

S504 (17:20 - 19:52)

Note: There is a ferry bus connecting Gubeikou Station and Gubei Water Town (Simatai Great Wall). The whole shuttle journey is 15.5 km. The shuttle bus is expected to take 30 minutes.

Passengers on S5 train line can use the railway magnetic ticket, suburban railway card and China Railway Yintong card, as well as the Beijing municipal Transport Card to enter the station. Suburban Railway Line S5 supports swiping personal id card to get in and out of the station without collecting tickets.

Just a kind reminder

It is recommended that you buy an "all-in-one" transport card, similar to the Octopus card in Hong Kong, The Singapore Easy Pass, or the Oyster card from London, UK. The card can also be used to pay for Beijing taxis, Beijing buses, Beijing subways and S5 trains.

Some Basic Price Information on Gubei Water Town & Simatai Great Wall

1. Gubei Water Town Entrance fee: RMB 150 Senior over 60 years old: Half Price

2. Opening Hours: 8:00- 17:00 ( ticket selling till 16:30)

3. Simatai Great Wall: RMB 40 ( You need to book your ticket by phone one day in advance) Ticket Booking Phone Number: 010 – 81009999

Note: 1.If you buy the ticket for Gubei Water Town, then you don’t need to book your Simatai Great Wall ticket one day in advance. 2. Gubei Water Town + Simatai Great Wall Combo Ticket: RMB 170 3. Cable car at Simatai Great Wall: RMB 80 (single); RMB120 (return)

Add-on

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