As the Year of the Horse charges into 2026, Beijing’s Gubei Water Town is serving up a cultural feast where ancient walls meet watery charm. Nestled beneath the Simatai Great Wall’s rugged silhouette, this destination is #Goals for travelers craving tradition with a side of Instagram-worthy vibes.
💡 Why it’s lit: Streets glow with lanterns shaped like galloping steeds, while canals mirror fiery dragon dances. Foodies can munch on niangao (sticky rice cakes) as folk artists perform yangge dances – think TikTok meets Tang Dynasty.
🏯 Pro tip: Night hikes along the illuminated Great Wall offer views that’ll make your followers DM ‘Where is this?!’ The town’s blend of northern Chinese grandeur and Jiangnan-style architecture creates a visual mashup even K-pop MV directors would envy.
📆 Until Feb 26: Catch paper-cutting workshops and traditional shadow puppetry – perfect for showing your squad how Lunar New Year’s done where history literally looms large.
