Nanjiao Village

Not far from Shuiyu Village, there is also a Nanjiao Village in Nanjiao Town, Fangshan District. It is the largest village in the mountainous area of Fangshan District, with a history of more than 600 years.

According to the record of Nanjiao Village in the Fangshan District Chronicle of Beijing, the village came into being in the Ming dynasty. It is located in a ravine in the southern part of the small basin at the northern foot of Mao'er Mountain. The mouth of the ravine is narrow, and the shape is like a cellar, so the name Nanjiao, which means cellar in the south in English.

Nanjiao was once one of the four ancient trading towns of Fangshan. During the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty, the discovery and large-scale mining of coal resources in the foothills of Dafangshan attracted many people to settle here. At that time, the old street was lined with shops and camel coal caravans came and went, making Nanjiao Village one of the richest villages from then on, and leaving many monuments to future generations.

Today's Nanjiao Village still retains the characteristic style of a hundred years ago, and the ruins of the former shops, medical halls, temples and theaters have stood on both sides of the ancient streets and alleys.  

From the courtyard of the old squire mansion in the village, you can glimpse the prosperity of Nanjiao Village. The spirit screen with poetry engraved in front of the door and a large number of decorative paintings and carvings all reflect the status of the owner at that time.

When the shadows of the trees swayed, there seemed to be a burst of camel bells ringing in ears, and visitors could vaguely imagine the flow of people and caravans shuttling back and forth at that time.

Stroll through the ancient streets of the mountain village, listen to the locals talk about those interesting traditional folk cultural activities, feel the cultural heritage of Nanjiao Village, and quietly enjoy the time to slow down.

Address: Nanjiao Village, Nanjiao Town, Fangshan District, Beijing

Translator: BAO Minmin

Reviewer: LIU Yu