Gubei Watertown
By Nicole M., Loyola Marymount University, TBC Summer 2019 Intern Abroad Student
If you’re looking for an escape from the city, spend a weekend in Gubei Watertown. Located just a two-hour drive from Beijing, the town is made up of traditional architecture, greenery, and not to mention an endless number of doorways to take photos in. While in Gubei, hike up to the Mountaintop Church for a view of the city and a coffee to start your day. Once down the mountain, take in the view from a boat for only 80RMB. If you’re feeling hungry for lunch, explore the side streets to find restaurants serving authentic Chinese food. Otherwise, stop for ice cream or Hawthorn. Just a ten-minute walk from the town center, visit the Yuantong Pagoda Temple before securing your spot for the Great Wall Music Fountain Show, shown from March to October.
Hotels are plentiful in Gubei. Choose to stay at an inn located along the water or spend the night in a western style hotel. On your second day in Gubei, walk the Great Wall of China at Simatai. After your climb, return to the city and grab a drink along the waterfront or stop by the Sun and Moon Square to watch theatre performances from your seat. Stay to see the town light up at night and find a group to dance along to the street performers with for an immersive experience.
Beijing’s Temple of Heaven may be one of, if not, the most iconic tourist sites in Beijing. Constructed starting back in 1406, around the same time as the Forbidden City and the other respective temples of the Sun, Earth and Moon.
Another one of the more irreplaceable experiences we have in China as students is the amount of cultural exchange we get to participate in. While The Beijing Center organizes plenty of culture-based events, from tourist activities to arts workshops, there’s something about engaging with other people our own age in cultural exchange that’s really special.