In autumn, do you want to visit some places with rich history apart from the charming scenery of the wild? If you do, I can recommend a remote ancient village to you. What is it? It is Cuandixia, a village in the mountainous area of Beijing.

Cuandixia is located in Zhaitang Town, Mentougou District, Beijing. It is said the ancestors of the villagers came from Shanxi province during the Ming Dynasty, and the original site of it was located at the tomb site west of today’s village. Later, it was destroyed in a flood and only a young couple survived the disaster.

Cuandixia has witnessed over 400 years of history so far. It is said there are 689 houses in the village, which are mostly built in the late Qing Dynasty and are generally courtyard houses. The village was built on the slop of the mountain and looks like a spread fan if viewed from south to north.

The streets and hutongs of the village are all nearly paved with stone, limestone and purple stone slates. In summer, it is cool, and in winter is warm. If it rains, it will become the village of an old story.

Add: Zhaitang Town, Mentougou District, Beijing 北京市门头沟区斋堂镇

Admission: 35 RMB

Getting there: Take Subway Line 1 to Pingguoyuan, transfer to Bus No. 929 to Zhaitang Town, and then take a taxi to the village.