Gubei Water Town sits at the foot of the Simatai Great Wall, built along the Baihe River in the style of a traditional Ming-era settlement. The project, which opened in 2014, is an upscale resort development with hotels, restaurants, and a pedestrian street of shops — all constructed to look antique. As heritage experiences go it is self-consciously artificial, but it is also very well done, and the views of the floodlit Simatai wall from the water channels at night are spectacular.
The practical value of Gubei Water Town for Great Wall visitors is considerable. Staying here gives you early morning access before the day visitors arrive, the option to do the night visit program, and a comfortable base for the Jinshanling hike the following day. The hotel options range from mid-range to genuinely luxurious, and the restaurants (some quite good) serve food until late.
Gubeikou village, a few kilometres west, is the more authentic alternative — a real settlement with traditional courtyard houses and a separate section of the wall worth exploring. The Gubeikou section is less visited than Simatai and virtually free of crowds.