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!
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 km
Time: 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)
2. 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
How to Visit Great Wall of China
How to Get to Badaling Great Wall by Train
How to Get to Badaling Great Wall by Bus
How to Get to Simatai Great Wall & Gubei Water Town
How to Visit Mutianyu Great Wall
How to Visit Great Wall of China in Winter
How to Visit Great Wall of China Wheelchair Accessible
Tip: Hassle-free Beijing Guided Tours
If you don’t want to go the do-it-yourself route and prefer the hassle-free escorted tours, here are some options for guided tours to Beijing:
Car Rental in Beijing
Simatai Great Wall & Gubei Water Town Day Tour
Beijing Day Tour
Beijing Tour Packages
Great Wall Tour
Beijing Winter Tour
Beijing Tours
China City Tours
China Tour
Further Readings
How to Plan a Trip to Beijing
Best Time to Visit Beijing
Top 10 Attractions in Beijing
Top 10 Tourist Scams Beijing
How to Visit Tiananmen Square
How to Visit Forbidden City
How to Visit Temple of Heaven
How to Visit Summer Palace
How to Visit Ming Tombs
How to Visit the Great Wall of China
How to Visit Hutongs
How to Visit Olympic Sites
Top 10 Markets in Beijing
Top 10 Shopping Malls in Beijing
Beijing Shopping
Wangfujing Snack Street
Qianmen Commercial Street
Beijing Huguosi Street
Any questions, just drop a line.
Hello,
Is it possible to buy your bus ticket in advance to go to Gubei Water Town? Thank you!
Dear Florence Longval,
Thanks for your inquiry! As far as I know, basically people have to buy the tickets on the spot without online ticket booking upfront.
The bus schedule has changed. There is no longer a bus at 8a.m. First departure is 9. There was, however a private bus just outside which leaves at 8:30 for the same price.
Dear Sean,
Thanks for your updated information! Much appreciated!
Thank you for the great tips! One note: for now the last shuttle buses returning to Beijing leave around 5 PM; you don’t need to book them in advance, also please note you need to take cash to pay for the bus- no WeChat/Alipay option available!
Hi K, thanks for your updated travel information!
There are things that need to be done before actually getting on the bus that don’t seem to be mentioned here:
1. Go to wtown.com to book your tickets for the water town/Great Wall at least the day before you go to the wall to guarantee you get in (the website only appears to be in Chinese)
2. The bus is cash only; they don’t accept any other forms of payment