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By Ilona Kauremszky
Spend the night to see the Great Wall of China take on a whole new form amid the sparkling lights.
This new 409-room property called the Gubeishui or Gubei Town Hotel dons a Beacon Tower theme with its carefully designed nod to its historic location overlooking the Simatai Great Wall. To boot, the ancient castle design has a resort sensibility. Find an indoor heated pool and outdoor rooftop pool.
Gubeishui Town Hotel Highlights
The new luxury property blends an urban cosmo vibe with an ambiance that beckons Old Imperial China. See exquisite artwork showcasing the grandeur of the Great Wall throughout the property The other big deal: The hotel location.
Situated at the foot of the Simatai Great Wall – this section is considered the only Great Wall in China to preserve the original appearance dating back to the Ming Dynasty. The Times once rated this heritage site as “the world’s top not to miss 25 landscapes” because the Great Wall is so steep and the walls are very low.
Suite Pluses
There are several room categories from which to choose. I stayed in a standard room category. The spacious 36 sq.meter room uses modern furnishings, rich gold wood paneling, marble counter tops, and a built-in flat screen TV.
A windowed wall separates the bathroom and sleeping area resulting in a good source of natural light into the bathroom. Step outside your screen balcony to see mountain views. There’s a king-sized bed, bathrobes and slippers including kettle for tea and lots of charging stations.
Hotel Perks
The location is ideal. Folks arriving into the Beijing International Airport can take an airport express to Dongzhimen Station and transfer onto a train to Gulou Station and board either #51 or #38 Simatai bound.
Dining
Head to the anchor restaurant for a breakfast buffet feast. Find an excellent variety of Chinese breakfast items as well as Western-style dishes and pastries.
Diversions:
Located in the Miyun County beneath the shadow of the Simatai Great Wall of China this recreated village is a 1.5 hour drive from downtown Beijing. Four companies invested 6 billion Chinese yuan in creating a traditional Chinese-style village which has shops, restaurants, museums, and various workshop demonstrations.
We saw a distillery, a textile-making venue with a modern gallery of silks, batiks and early photos showing the textile-making process. For a sense of this place watch my latest video on Gubei Water Town.
Purchase a ticket package and gain entry to the village, round trip cable car, and entry to the Simatai Great Wall.
Overall impression
This great find that lies beneath the Great Wall of China offers the right balance for Western guests seeking Old World charm and modern amenities.
Booking
You can make your reservations at the Gubeishui Watertown Hotel website
Standard room rates are from $140 (double occupancy).
Original photography by Stephen Smith
Ilona Kauremszky was a guest of the China National Tourism Office which did not approve this editorial.
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