preface

People long for a trip that they want to go, and as photographers, how to go out and empty their own things after busy creating becomes even more important. Changing your mind will also help to carry out further work. In fact, there are many places worth visiting around every city where we live. It is not far away, but it is very tourist.

Just like the selection of Gubei Water Town this time, it is known as the Hongye Town under the Great Wall. This is truly beyond doubt. My pursuit of it has reached the extreme. Although many people will always say.. Ah, isn't Gubei Water Town modeled after Wuzhen COPY? Will there be any interesting places? It's always not good to see others following their voices, and the answer is yes, especially during the red leaf season from early October to early November, when you especially appreciate the scenery and shoot autumn scenery!

After thinking about the structure of this article for a long time, I still have to put the landscape first, because readers and friends must be here for this. Because even if the places I visited these two times are relatively comprehensive, I will describe the process of visiting from many specific points. Of course, you can read it as a guide.All pictures and texts in this article are original by me. Reprinting without permission is strictly prohibited, otherwise legal responsibility will be held.

content description

Let's talk about the equipment used first: Sony A7M2 and A7R3 micro-singles, plus two small aperture lenses for travel (16- 35ZA, 70- 200G). 90% of the photos in travel notes were taken by this equipment. In addition, there are some relatively unclear pictures taken by the iPhone 7 Plus phone because some of the vignettes were taken with the phone.

Description of the content: This content is relatively comprehensive. It is the result of two consecutive autumn visits to Gubei Water Town in 2018 and 2019. Some of the amusement projects may not have been played or displayed. This may be because I am a photographer, and this travel note may have some content that focuses on the scenery and the photography itself. I personally like to talk about my experience and photos of specific tourist spots in Gubei Water Town from several aspects. Of course, there will also be other necessary content. If friends have any questions, they can leave a message and ask me in relevant notes.

After thinking about the structure of this article for a long time, I still have to put the landscape first, because readers and friends must be here for this. Because even if the places I visited these two times are relatively comprehensive, I will describe the process of visiting from many specific points. Of course, you can read it as a guide.

Morning in Gubei Water Town

When I first went to Gubei Water Town, I came back to the city early in the morning because I had work tasks and rushed back and forth, so I basically didn't feel the early morning in Gubei Water Town. Facts have proved that, as the team leader said during the second visit, the early morning in Gubei Water Town is the most beautiful of the day. This is a real escape from reality.

As a photographer, I have long been used to going out early and returning late every day. There is no other way. If you want to use the natural light given by nature to take pictures, these two time points must be grasped. I left the house after 6 o'clock in the morning. Considering that Gubei Water Town is in the mountains, I deliberately left it a little late.

There are basically no tourists or staff in the entire water town. At this time, the entire water town seems to belong to you. How wonderful is that feeling? Stop and stop, you can relax and take a look at the scenery.

I found a very interesting phenomenon. Water Town will have a common meteorological phenomenon in autumn. There will be a faint layer of morning fog when the water vapor comes out. Although it cannot be compared with the dense fog in famous mountains and rivers, it is still a kind of small "spectacle". When photographed with red leaves and scenery, it will have a very early morning scene, which is still very great.

When the sun rises to a certain height, it should be around 7 o'clock, the atmosphere of the whole scenery becomes warmer and the weather is not so cold. It's just right to have sunshine and a new day begins. I think this is the charm of morning, especially in this uninhabited environment. It's very comfortable and comfortable.

When you are tired from walking, you can find a chair in the deserted water town, sit down and rest, and quietly feel the late autumn morning. There is no hustle and bustle of the city here, only the tranquil river water and gradually changing red leaves. Really, just sit down quietly and enjoy it.

Night in Gubei Water Town

I am a photographer, so I didn't join in the fun to watch the water dance performance at night, and I didn't watch the drone take-off performance very close to the area. It was still quite spectacular from a distance. Let's talk about the feeling of Gubei Water Town at night, and you can also find a comfortable feeling.

Because the second time I went there was not a weekend, there were quite few tourists in the entire water town, and there were even fewer tourists at night. Many places were very quiet. Coincidentally, the moon was particularly round and large at night in Beijing that day, and the visibility was particularly ideal that day, so the photos taken were quite touching, and it was really possible to see the bright moonlight. If you are not on a scenic road like the Food Street, you can enjoy this tranquility. If you go to the Food Street to eat, there will definitely be many tourists.

Whether it is viewed from a high point (the location will be detailed later) or from a horizontal perspective, the night view of the entire Gubei Water Town is very touching. Perhaps it is because it has been carefully designed and the overall light effect is very Attractive.

The big feature is that a lot of spotlights have been added around the buildings, and similar lights have been added near the planted plants. That is to say, we can watch the night of the water town with red leaves, which is also a great feeling. In addition, hand-rowed cruise ships will also work at night, and you can also enjoy the scenery of the entire water town from the perspective of the water surface.

Although it is a bit cold on the road to the town, enjoying the tranquility can also be part of the tour. The ancient town under the lights may lack a little retro feeling, but this is in line with the heart of modern people who never return at night. PS: It's all because Gubei Water Town is a starry town. The conclusion is that you can really see the starry sky, and the sky in the distance is dotted with stars.

Mountain of Gubei Water Town-Simatai Great Wall

Although Gubei Water Town is within a valley, there are really no obvious mountain views on the mountains, except for the famous Great Wall-Simatai. It is said to be the only Great Wall in China that retains the original appearance of the Ming Dynasty. The city wall is built according to the steep mountains and is famous for its strangeness, uniqueness and danger. It has 20 well-preserved enemy towers, especially Wangjing Tower, which is built on a steep peak at an altitude of 1,000 meters. It can look into Beijing and has an excellent view. Of course, there is no specific answer as to whether this building can be climbed up.

There are two ways to visit the Simatai Great Wall. There is a very obscure road that seems to lead to the Great Wall on foot. But if you reach the foot of the Great Wall, you will understand that the mountain road is still relatively rugged. If you just walk up the mountain, you will probably be exhausted. Of course, if you have the time and strength, it is also good to walk up and see the scenery along the way.

It is reasonable that most tourists will choose the fast means of transportation-the cable car, which takes less than 10 minutes to reach halfway up the mountain. Because the weather was very good on the day of play, there would be some wind in the valley. Even riding the cable car felt a little shaky. It was a very exciting feeling. I was afraid of heights and silently took some photos of the autumn scenery outside the window.

In fact, the cable car cannot reach the top of the mountain, but will reach a position slightly higher than the mountain. It may take about 20 minutes to get off the cable car station and walk to the Great Wall. Fortunately, this road is not steep. Just walk slowly up the road.

After climbing the Great Wall, I really felt that my vision was wide. It turned out that the entire Great Wall was built on a ridge with steep cliffs on both sides. I truly admired the courage and determination of the ancients to build it. Compared with other Great Walls in Beijing, it is truly absolutely authentic. There is almost no trace of repair. It is completely broken and ruined. Be careful when walking, it will be bad if you fall.

The advantage of climbing a high mountain is that you can look far away. The viewing angle here is very wide. It is enough to be as high as three enemy towers. You can see the entire scenery of Gubei Water Town and more scenery of the Great Wall (Outside the Pass). You cannot go to the enemy towers in the distance because they have not yet been developed. The whole mountain is still a little bald, but fortunately, there are still some red leaves surrounding the Great Wall. In this regard, it still conforms to the theme of viewing red leaves.

Water of Gubei Water Town-Tanghe River Rafting

If you don't feel special walking in a small town and want to save some energy, you can try a cruise ship in the town, so that you can slowly enjoy the scenery and deeply experience the feeling of the town. Besides, since you are in Water Town, you must experience the cruise ship in Gubei Water Town. Water Town Water Town, how can we call water town tourism without water sightseeing projects?!

It seems that there are two docks for cruise ships. We boarded the boat from the one near the foot of the Great Wall... In other words, the "shock" from the cable car just now was really in my heart. The wind in the valley made the cable car sway quite scary. Sitting on a boat is really... It's really soothing to a calm mind. The cruise ships here are the same as Wuzhen in the south. They are all manual rowing boats. The boatmen are very hard and the service enthusiasm is very high. When sailing, we are told to pay attention to safety, so we should put on life jackets...

It is still very pleasant to sit on a boat, walk through the river, and enjoy the small scenery of shops on both sides of the strait. And the afternoon sun is so comfortable that it makes people almost fall asleep... Don't sleep, the scenery on both sides is worth seeing. In this way, the sound of rowing on the Tanghe River was very interesting to feel up against the river, and my mood calmed down, and I heard the sound of the boat master's rocking. When the boat saw the peninsula, it also saw a few cute geese on the shore, which was really interesting to live.

Gradually, you will find that the perspective on the water is really unique. You will see the whole process of changing color of ginkgo, maple leaves, and creeper creeper more clearly on the boat, and it will be more suitable for taking photos.

Finally, on the sparkling water, the boat seemed to be heading towards a rapids. Why did the water surface look crooked? Was it going under the dam? No way! You reached the dock before the dam, and the master safely drove you to your destination. The dock was just near the entrance of the scenic area.

Gubei Water Town Temple-Yuantong Tower

Because I am a photographer, I often look at photos of many well-known scenic spots. I have always been surprised by the temple in this ancient northern photo. Why is there a temple in a modern scenic spot? What does it look like inside? This time we finally have a chance to lift its veil.

It is said that in ancient times, Gubeikou was located among fortresses and famous mountains, with many temples. Old people said that in history, there were 72 temples of large and small in this area, and now there are still 12 cultural relics and monuments that are completely preserved and repaired. Therefore, it is not surprising that Yuantong Tower appears in Gubei Water Town. This is actually a place for tourists to understand local history and experience spiritual cultivation. The reason why it is named "Yuantong Tower" is because Yuantong is synonymous with Guanyin in Buddhist teachings, which means "impartiality, no obstruction" and complete understanding.

To reach this temple, you also need to climb the mountain first. Of course, the mountain is not very high. It is estimated that you can reach it within 15 minutes at a normal speed, but the slope is relatively large, so you need to pay attention to safety. There are basically no tourists in the entire temple, and there don't seem to be any monks. Only a few palaces and the protagonist "Yuantong Tower".

I don't know much about Buddhism, and I can't tell too many reasons. I just know that there are three halls in it. Yuantan Pagoda Temple consists of two major architectural complexes: Guanyin Temple and Yuantan Pagoda. Guanyin Temple is divided into mountain gate, Tianwang Hall, Dashi Hall and Piluzhana Buddha Hall.

You have to pass through them to reach the foot of Yuantong Tower. I especially hope that there is a place here that can overlook the scenery of Gubei Water Town. In fact, there is, but it is just different from the imagined angle. Because of the wall, you can see about 70% of Gubei Water Town. It's good to be content.

It is said that the base of the Yuantong Tower represents the social etiquette and moral rules of integrity; the body of the tower represents the high degree of wisdom of perfection, clarity, and exquisite on all sides; the top of the tower represents the noble holiness of the creation of the Emperor of Heaven and the sanctity of the apocalypse. There are 7 floors in total, and you cannot visit the inside.

I used to think this was a good place to overlook the night of Gubei Water Town, but unfortunately, perhaps because it was a temple, it was not open at night, at least it did not accept ordinary tourists, so people with this idea could give up. However, it is said that some meditation rooms here can accommodate accommodation. I wonder if the guests themselves can see the moving night? That is unknown.

Gubei Water Town Church-Hilltop Church

Continuing on the previous topic, which is where the night views of Gubei Water Town were taken from. The Hilltop Church and its surroundings can satisfy your wishes. Although this church is Western-style, it does not feel out of place on the top of Water Town. It seems that there has been a TV series taking scenes here before?

It is located on a hill in the scenic area of Gubei Water Town. It is about 200 steps to climb from the foot of the mountain to the church. It is quite tiring for people to climb back and forth. But this is not the only road. There is a winding cement road on its side. It is not difficult to climb at all.

The exterior of the church is a gray stone house, which is integrated with the buildings of the ancient town. Specifically, it belongs to a Romanesque Catholic church. The church faces west and east, with a construction area of 933 square meters and 112 seats in the church. The interior is elegant and beautiful European and American style, which is very romantic.

You can often visit Mass ceremonies, sing hymns, and hold weddings and other activities here. In the afternoon, the most charming light will enter it, giving an extra sense of tranquility.

Especially now this season, the entire church is surrounded by red leaves. It is really an exotic scenery. The colorful world looks even more beautiful in this corner. Of course, you can also take night pictures here, but personally feel that the sky is rather boring, and the light in the afternoon or afternoon is the most beautiful. No matter how many scenes are taken here. Scenery. Personally, although you can't directly see a side view of Water Town, it is a good place to watch the stars.

Coffee in Gubei Water Town-Cloud Coffee

This cafe is relatively hidden, just in a small room next to the church. It is really difficult for ordinary people to find it if they don't look carefully. Overall, the person who designed this cafe was too business-minded and placed a panoramic viewing platform where you can see Gubei Water Town.

Of course, it's not possible to have a view for free, but ordering a drink is not expensive. Anyway, I was a little tired climbing the mountain to the church, so I decided to sit here and have a drink. I stayed there for two hours until dark.

Generally, this kind of Internet celebrity store has its own characteristics. For example, the location of this store is really good. You can basically see the whole picture of Gubei Water Town, but observe it from the best perspective. Nowadays, in this season, sunset usually starts after 4 p.m., so you just sit down and watch quietly. The shop assistants were two young ladies with a good attitude. They couldn't drink coffee themselves, so they recommended something else, such as sparkling water.

Different from the scenery seen during the day, Gubei Water Town at dusk and sunset is very characteristic. The scenery seems to be three-dimensional, especially the ginkgo trees and maple trees, which look very spectacular from afar. The moment the sun sets on the valley, the halo is very charming, and you will sigh at the beauty of nature.

The night view of the entire water town will probably open after 5:30 and fully open around 6:00. The best time to watch and shoot must be here, rather than waiting until the sky is completely dark, which will look dead and have no sense of beauty. At this time, the outdoor temperature this season is definitely cold enough. In addition, the coffee shop is halfway up the mountain, so it must be around 0 degrees. You must wear more clothes, otherwise you will easily catch a cold.

When I return to the cafe, it is definitely warm enough, but I still need to take it for a while before going down the mountain. This cafe is not as bad as the online reviews say, at least it is warm.

Gubei Water Town's Internet celebrity shop-Yongshun Dyeing Workshop

I have long heard that this dyeing workshop has a reputation, mainly because of the fact that there are too many Douyin and all platforms have been exposed here. Recently, I witnessed it with my own eyes. It is really extraordinary. It matches the tune of Gubei Water Town itself and is very suitable for taking photos! Let's share it today.It is a special pity that there is no Hanfu girl as a model... I instantly felt that I should have an exclusive muse. If anyone has ideas, trust me privately quickly!

It is said that this Yongshun dyeing workshop was founded in 1900. Founder Zhang Jukui learned his unique skills as a dyer in his hometown when he was young. He was able to make his own indigoid dyes. Later, he opened his own shop to process and dye them for the local people. In addition to indigo, he also used local plants such as madder, safflower, sophora flower, lithospermum, gallnut, walnut shell and other plants to study plant dyes in other color systems, and mastered their extraction techniques, which could dye many bright colors. Because of its uniform dyeing and beautiful and lasting color, Yongshun dyeing is famous in Gubei.

Walking through the autumn-like path and walking into this small courtyard, I was immediately shocked by the scene in front of me, especially with the feeling of heaven and earth inside. The inside area is very large, divided into two floors. Although it is a shop, it really looks like a museum. Long floral cloth hangs on the tall pole. The colorful floral cloth dances in the breeze and sails in the wind. It is absolutely beautiful in the Chinese style. After taking a closer look, the details of these floral fabrics are not bad, but they are too big to take home. Fortunately, this store provides finished products in a small size that you can buy home for collection.

The slanting light of the afternoon sun and the surrounding gray walls and red leaves set off, the beauty of that moment can be remembered in people's hearts. There was a time when we kept rushing in our lives, and we would inevitably miss the scenery we once missed. At this moment, slowing down is a better choice.

Let's talk about taking pictures: The best angle should be inside the floral cloth group on the first floor. Walking in will give you a feeling of slowly passing through and make it easier to compose. If you are taking portraits, it will be a good choice. If you are taking scenery pictures, you must go to the second floor. You can overlook the entire courtyard, see all the floral cloth, and the autumn scenery in the distance. The overall atmosphere is absolutely perfect. You can see the ancient town at a glance, and you can see the autumn of the ancient town at a glance. It is indeed rare to see this kind of scenery in the north.

Gubei Water Town Road-Hongye Road

Speaking of this, we must finally talk about what the red leaves in Gubei Water Town look like?! Many of these "autumn plants" are vines that climb walls and woody plants that grow along rivers. Currently, in the most beautiful "color change period", green, yellow, orange, and red will appear in front of your eyes. Against the backdrop of blue sky and white clouds, the colorful colors will make you dizzying.

For a photographer like me who is more sensitive to color, the red leaves on the walls of the water town in autumn are full of my eyes. They are very beautiful. The gorgeous red leaves are intertwined with the ancient buildings of the North. It is really unique. There is a style in it. The most beautiful parts of the town are actually hidden in Hutongli. The two walls sandwich the rich autumn colors, making it an excellent place to take photos.

There are red leaves everywhere in Gubei Water Town, but I think the best looking red leaf path is near Yongshun Dyeing Factory. Although the road is very narrow, it looks like it really wants to be surrounded by red leaves from a distance. Many tourists will take photos here and feel the rich autumn flavor of nature.

When the morning sun covers the entire path, the scenery at this time is the most beautiful. The beauty lies in its layered feeling and its high color temperature. When the light passes through this street, it instantly makes people feel relaxed and happy.

In addition, there are many other plants that change color in Gubei Water Town, such as ginkgo and maple leaves, which make up for the shortcomings of the creeper in "height". At the same time, we can see more beautiful pictures that can be combined with buildings, so that people can see at a glance. Well, this is autumn, the autumn of Gubei Water Town.

Gubei Water Town: Diet Chapter

It is said that food is the most important thing for the people. Gubei Water Town has won countless praises for its scenery and delicious food. It is really amazing that you can find delicious food from all over the country on the food street in the ancient town. Especially in Water Town, there is a snack street with many snacks to choose from.

First of all, the snack street: This street is next to the small lake in Linshui Town, and it belongs to a food stall style snack gathering place. Dining here requires direct payment on Weixin Pay, which is very convenient, especially since it is relatively cheap (compared to other restaurants). Then taste snacks from all over the country. The price is quite affordable, so you can go and taste it. Specialties: snail powder, Gubei roasted pears, hot spring firewood eggs, fried tofu, roasted sweet potatoes, shredded radish shortcake, bridgehead cake, shredded radish cake, dried plum vegetable cake, mutton kebabs, etc. The biggest problem here is that it is relatively concentrated. Many tourists who come to eat here basically need to wait in line at every stall and need to be calm down.

In addition, there is one restaurant that is really worth recommending, which is also a typical local food. Because Miyun places pay attention to three barbecues, among which roasted meat is really an authentic local food. There are also two other dishes in this store, but you can't drink alcohol, so there are only two left to try. Its name is easy to remember, it is called "Roast Meat Restaurant".

Allusion to roast meat: This is a traditional food in this small place with a strong historical color. It is said that Gubeikou is an important border town in history, and there are not a few people responsible for guarding the border. The macho temperament in food is obvious. Soju makes people bold; sesame cakes make people hungry; roast meat is nutritious and fragrant on the teeth and cheeks, which can satisfy their cravings.

Looking at this dish carefully, there are many things on the whole plate: the dough sesame cakes are made of dough, the outer shell is crispy and the inner side is soft. After cutting, you can just add the meat directly. This roast pork is paired with a special hot sauce, cucumber strips and lettuce. It looks like a foreign hamburger in thickness, but the taste is really different. It is hot and satisfying. You can smell its aroma from afar.

Other things about this store: Although the door of the store is small, the interior space is still quite large. Generally, there is no need to wait for a waiting table. It seems that if you are open until the evening and finish listening to it, you can still have a "late night canteen". The waiter is also quite enthusiastic. As for other dishes, they don't feel as strong as local characteristics.

Gubei Water Town: Accommodation

As a mature tourist attraction, Gubei Level can provide too many places in terms of accommodation. Because this scenic spot is far away from Beijing, many tourists should also stay there. After all, it is better not to travel too long when traveling. However, there are really many types of hotels here. I guess tourists need to choose a hotel according to their own needs. For example, some people like to soak in hot springs, while some people like to live halfway up the mountain. Everyone's needs are different.

My two autumn tours in Gubei Water Town and my stay was different. The first time I stayed in a big hotel outside the scenic area, and the second time I stayed in an inn in the scenic area. Relatively speaking, if the price is similar, I still feel that it is more convenient to live in the scenic area.

I stayed at Beijing Shuizhen Hotel for the first time, which is the world's first Great Wall Beacon Theme Hotel. It is located in Beijing's Gubei Water Town Leisure and Tourism Resort at the foot of the Simatai Great Wall in Miyun District. Based on the background of the Simatai Great Wall and ancient buildings in northern China as the carrier, the hotel is a comprehensive hotel integrating sightseeing, leisure vacations, business exhibitions and cultural and creative functions. The hotel covers an area of more than 70,000 square meters and has 409 guest rooms, Chinese and Western restaurants with different styles and unique dining boxes, with more than 1500 seats; a luxurious banquet hall of 1000 square meters, 2 multi-function halls of different specifications and 3 board meeting rooms, equipped with fitness, health, leisure and entertainment, and other supporting facilities.

This hotel is a standard mid-to-high-end hotel. The rooms are quite large and spacious. The interior decoration is luxurious. The service of the staff is also very good. The only shortcoming may be that it is still a little distance to the scenic area, and you have to pass the entrance of the scenic area. Face Recognition certification is required (this will be described in detail in the later chapter), which is quite troublesome.

The second time I stayed in a standard inn, Yinghua Inn. Although it is only one floor, and although this inn is not big, the feeling of staying in it is not worse than that of a big hotel. Especially now in the red leaf season, when you open the windows and doors and go out, you just see that the house you live in is surrounded by nature. Does it feel so good?!

The antique room is not big, but it is still exquisite. It is very comfortable to live in a queen bed room. Although it was quite cold in Gubei Water Town on autumn nights, fortunately, the air conditioner in the room was quite hot. The room is about 20-30 square meters, so 1-2 people don't feel crowded at all. The owner of this inn is very good, very warm, and easy to communicate with. The breakfast is very generous and you can eat your fill. It seems that lunch in the restaurant can also be ordered a la carte, but because the time is too short, it is a pity that we miss it.

Give some advice on dry goods to friends who come to enjoy red leaves

Transportation: Gubei Water Town is very far away from the center of Beijing City. It is basically outside the boundaries of Beijing City, so even driving by yourself is quite tiring. Fortunately, the parking lot is relatively large, and charging piles for electric vehicles are also designed, which is considered humane. In addition, there are currently public transportation with dedicated buses, but the flights are relatively small, as if there are only three flights a day. Finally, there is a more convenient way to take the S5 suburban train, which is the latest popular online train in Beijing. There are two round-trip trips from Huangtudian Station in the city to Gubeikou Railway Station every day. After that, it takes half an hour to get to Gubeishui Town, which is quite convenient.

Wearing: I mean the current season, which is the red leaf season. It is relatively warm during the day when there is plenty of sunshine, but it is very cold at night. You must wear thicker clothes for outdoor activities. In addition, shoes must be paid attention to. Many water towns are filled with steps or stone roads. Don't wear high heels, you will definitely fall.

Safety: Gubei Water Town is quite large in area, and some small roads are quite offset. You need to be careful not to get lost. At night, the lights on many roads are not very bright, so you must be careful when encountering steps and things like that, and be careful to break the things you carry.

Check-in: If guests are staying in an inn, they must take a blank sheet of paper, which is the check-in form. They need to use it for staying in the inn. There will be battery cars at various attractions in the scenic area, and they must also show them to the staff before getting on the bus. The luggage you carry is in a separate channel. You can rest assured that there is a special person to help guests deliver their luggage. In addition, if you live in a scenic spot outside the Shuizhen Scenic Area, in order to be able to enter and exit the scenic area freely, it is best to perform Face Recognition registration at the counter at the door, so that you can enter and exit repeatedly.

Tickets: All attractions in the scenic area mentioned in the travel notes are free. Except for restaurants where you buy and eat, there are almost no items that require tickets. Remember.

When I finished writing this travel note, I seemed to be saying goodbye to this Hongye Town at the foot of the Great Wall. Although there are some disputes in Gubei Water Town at present, as shown in the picture, its autumn scenery is indeed extraordinary, which makes me, a photographer who likes autumn, can't stop it. Let's see you next time on my travels.