Architecture is an art that combines material and spiritual civilization of human beings. It is not only the place for residence, but also the embodiment of humans’ values, ideas, the aesthetics. With distinctive residential houses, ingenious agricultural landscapes, solid and majestic fortifications, and tranquil temples, the vast countryside is like an exposition of legendary ancient architecture. Over the years, the countryside, ancient buildings, either delicate, quiet, elegant, or majestic, has composed the history, recorded the images of countryside. Having gone through social transformation, they are attractive and valuable in the new era, serving as a “time tunnel” that connects the past and present, as well as people’s hearts.
To enrich the supply of high-quality cultural and tourism products in the summer vacation, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism announced 82 boutique rural travel routes, enabling tourists to visit the ancient buildings and the ruins and search for the cultural roots. The column has been launched on the homepage of the official website of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. The authority will also strengthen promotion through relevant media and market platforms to fully present the beauty of construction and ancient architecture and enrich the spiritual life of the public.
Three routes in Beijing have been selected. Let’s discover the charm of them!
Tongzhou District
Journey to explore ancient architecture and appreciate antiqueness
I Introduction:
A thousand-year canal has nutured the ancient city. Tongzhou District has always been a major transportation route and a critical site for warehousing along the canal in the east of Beijing, with rich historical and cultural sites. Ranging from the 1,400-year-old rending tower that represents the past scenery of the canal dock, the three cultural landmarks of Beijing Municipal Administrative Center, to Daoxiaoxie Art Farm that reproduces rice crab model in the 1980s, the historical buildings intersperse along the route, combining the interest of history, culture, and agriculture.
Location: Tongzhou District, Beijing
Route: North area of Beijing Grand Canal Cultural Scenic Area (the Rending Tower and the surrounding ancient architectural complex) – (Shiba Pier Ruins and Daguang Building) -- South area of Grand Canal Cultural Scenic Area (Water Transport Wharf) --Three major cultural facilities --Daoxiaoxie Art Farm --Taihu Tangdazhuang B&B Village
Transportation:
Self-driving: 25 kilometers from downtown Beijing, a 30-minute drive.
Public transportation: Get off at Beiguan Station of Subway Line 6 and walk to the vicinity of the Rending Tower.
II Highlights:
Randeng Pagoda and the surrounding ancient architectural complex: Located in the northern part of Beijing Grand Canal Cultural Scenic Area, the site consists of the Rending Tower, Confucius Temple, Youshengjiao Temple, Ziqing Palace and other buildings. Magnolia trees stand outside the gate on the south side, with their white flowers reflect the red walls, attracting countless tourists. Inside the courtyard, visitors can take a rest and taste a sip of tea, visit the exhibition of intangible cultural heritage, appreciating the excellent traditional Chinese culture.
Shiba Pier Ruins: Located in the Beijing Grand Canal Cultural Scenic Area, the pier is the northern head of the thousand-mile Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal. Wenyu River, Tonghui River, Yunchaojian River and Xiaozhong River converge into the canal here, forming a spectacular scene. One can imagine the busy scene of loading and unloading grain in the past. One can also view the rebuilt grain inspection building after being ruined a hundred years ago and the ancient Rending Tower that stand for a thousand years.
Water Transport Wharf: Located in the south area of Beijing Grand Canal Cultural Scenic Spot, it shows the historical scene of canal transportation a thousand years ago. The ancient pagodas and posts make visitors feel as if they have travelled through time and returned to the grand scenery of the canal in ancient times.
III Tourism products
Three cultural facilities: The Grand Canal Museum is known as the Boat of the Canal, whose design principle comes from the elements of boat, sail, and water in the ancient canal scenery. It is a comprehensive museum integrating the functions of exhibition, public education, cultural relic protection and restoration, collection and storage, etc. Beijing Performing Arts Center, known as the Granary of the Canal, is one of the three of the National Grand Theatre. It boasts the latest applications of “art + technology”, such as 8K, 5G, AR, VR, panoramic sound, and so on, where visitors can enjoy a rich artistic and cultural life. Beijing Library, known as the “Forest Book Garden, boasts an indoor structure that resembles the green shade under towering trees. The library has a collection of nearly 8 million books and the largest intelligent three-dimensional bookstore, which is a cultural treasury.
Three Cultural Facilities
Daoxiaoxie Art Farm: Located in Taihu Town, Tongzhou District, the farm covers an area of 320 acres. With rice and crab share the same space, it holds the beautiful memories of the local people 20 years ago. Visitors can catch crabs, shrimps and loaches, enjoying the joy of harvesting.
Taihu Tangdazhuang B&B Village: Two kilometers away from Beijing Universal Resort, it is the first choice for B&B around the Municipal Administrative Center. There are not only boutique lodgings such as Jinxitang, Nuangtang, Yeutang, but also Huanying Camp, where travellers can not only have camping, but also organize weddings.
The Grand Canal Cruise: Starting from March 22, 2024, the Grand Canal Cruise will make its maiden voyage from Pier Two. There are three cruise routes: the first route travels from Pier Two to Water Transport Wharf (about 60 minutes), the second route from Willow Square Pier (about 60 minutes), and the third one is a night cruise route started from Pier Two and takes about 30 minutes for a round trip.
Intangible cultural heritage experience in Confucius Temple: There is a Northern Grand Canal Intangible cultural heritage Experience Center in Confucius Temple, which is located in the Rending Tower and the surrounding ancient architectural complex, providing the Grand Canal culture courses and sightseeing tours. Visitors can taste the tribute tea, learn incense-making, embed filigree and enjoy the bronze crafts. They can also carve characters on the bronze bells - a local intangible cultural heritage, and send the craft to friends as souvenirs. Other traditional crafts in the cities along the Grand Canal are provided here such as Tianjin Yangliuqing woodblock prints. Many young people come to the cultural and creative stores here to collect stamps, which is an interesting way to appreciate the scenery of administrative center appearance and keep cultural memories.
Taihu Performing Arts Workshop: The entire park has a beautiful ecological environment, and the red-brick architectural style is a combination of Chinese and Western styles, with great humanistic characteristics. The immersive opera performance Teahouse is located in Qing Auditorium on the third floor, which replicates the teahouse scene in the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China as described in Teahouse written by Lao She. Visitors not only can sit with the actors and actresses to have an immersive experience, but also put on a costume and integrate into the performance, which makes the Peking accent and Peking rhythm even more intense.
IV Specialty food and creative products:
Specialty food: Braised catfish at Xiaolou Resterant, Sugar baked bun at Dashunzhai, Gezhahe – a kind of cooked wheaten food.
Creative products: “Gift From the Grand Canal” cultural and creative products.
Miyun District
Enjoy the coolness at the foot of Yanshan Mountain and the ancient monuments of the Great Wall
I Introduction:
The Great Wall at Miyun is a unique historical and cultural landscape in the suburbs of Beijing. With the extant Ming Dynasty Great Wall of about 200 kilometers, it is famous both at home and abroad. Visitors can take a night tour with lanterns, watch the stars and moon, and relax themselves. Panglong Mountain Great Wall, the ancient Beiqi Dynasty Great Wall, is located in Gubeikou village. While enjoying the Great Wall scenery, tourists can taste the local farm speciality food, enjoy the humanities landscape in the Hexi Folk Custom Village, learn about the ancient and legendary garrison culture at the Yaoqiyu Ancient Fortress. In addition, visitors can can experience the thrills of drifting in in the Wuling Xifeng and have fun in the wooden houses in the Xijiu Valley or with the lovely squirrels in the Squirrel Valley.
Location: Miyun District, Beijing
Itinerary: Simatai Great Wall - Gubeikou Village - Hexi Village - Panglongshan Great Wall - Yaoqiyu Ancient Fortress - Wuling Xifeng - Xianju Valley - Squirrel Valley
Transportation:
Drive along Beijing-Chengde Expressway and follow the signs to the Simatai Great Wall, Panlongshan Great Wall, Gubeikou Village, Hexi Village; turn right at the first light post to Wuling Xifeng. Exit the Beijing-Chengdu Expressway at Taishitun Exit, follow the road signs to Xianju Valley and Squirrel Valley.
II Highlights
The Simatai Great Wall: It is a section of the ancient Great Wall that retains the original appearance of the Ming Great Wall. It is famous for being dangerous, dense, trim, ingenious, and comprehensive. Ancient architect Luo Zhewen praised the Simatai Great Wall: “The Great Wall of China is the greatest in the world, and the Simatai Great Wall is the greatest of the Great Wall of China”. It is named by The Times as No.1 of the World’s 25 Greatest Places.
Yaoqiaoyu Ancient Fortress: Located opposite to the Yunxiu Valley Natural Scenic Area in Yaoqiaoyu Village, Xinchengzi Town, Miyun District, this is a well-preserved ancient fortress of the Ming Dynasty in the vicinity of Beijing. There are 60 household, all of whom are descendants of the soldiers who guarded the border. Most of them have become the hosts of folk custom tourism, which is a unique feature of the Village. Having gone through vicissitudes, the fortress has remained the original, recording the history of garrison.
Photo: Yaoqiaoyu Ancient Fortress
III Tourism products
The Panlongshan Great Wall: With its dangerous terrain, it is a critical military base since ancient times. There are 19 watchtowers on the 5-kilometer Great Wall. The General Tower and the 24-Eye Tower are the highlights of this section.
IV Specialty Food and Creative Products:
Specialties: multi-layer meat pie of Xianju Valley,28 dishes of Gubeikou (Manchu snacks).
Huairou District
Climb the Great Wall and appreciate the ancient architecture
I Introduction
Welcome to Huairou to enjoy its beautiful spring scenery. Visitors can climb the great Wall and appreciate the ancient architecture. Also, visitors can taste the specialties, have a cup and tea, enjoy the leisure in the nature, stay in the countryside lodging, and visit the ancient temples.
Location: Huairou District
Route: Huanghuacheng Water Wall - The Verse - Hongluo Temple - Qunsheng Compound
Transportation:
Self-driving: about 80 kilometers from downtown Beijing, about 1.5-hour drive
Public Transportation:
Mutianyu Public Transportation: Qianmen Tourist Center (First bus at 9:00) → Dongzhimen (at the bus stop of Line 635) → Shaoyaoju Subway Station (at the bus stop of Line 942) → Mutianyu Great Wall Scenic Spot; P1 Parking Lot (first bus at 15:30) → Shao Yaoju Subway Station → Qianmen.
Huanghuacheng Water Great Wall Public Transportation: Liuliqiao Bus Terminal (first bus at 8:30) → Qinglongxia Gorge (first returning bus at 14:50); Sihui Bus Terminal (first bus at 8:30) → Qinglong Gorge (first returning bus at 14:50).
II Highlights
Huanghuacheng Water Great Wall: Located in Jiuduhe Town, Huairou District , it is named after the three sections of the Great Wall that are submerged into the water. Namely, it is a section of Great Wall connected with water. The spot is 70 kilometers away from downtown Beijing and 35 kilometers away from Huairou city. Famous for being odd and beautiful, it is a tourist resort integrating mountains, waters, the Great Wall, ancient trees and canyons. The majestic Water Great Wall integrates the elegance of the South and the magnificence of the North and boasts both natural and humanistic value.
Photo: Huanghuacheng Water Great Wall
Hongluo Temple: built in 338 AD, it is a national AAAA-class tourist attractions. There is an one-day tour plan composed of three cultural tourist areas – Hongluo Temple area, Guanyin Temple area, Buddha Sculpture area- and two natural ones- Hongluo Mountain and Qinglong Mountain. One can enjoy distinct sceneries in four seasons.
III Tourism Products
The Verse: The Verse is a multifunctional boutique B&B located in Huanghuacheng Village, Jiuduhe Town, Huairou District. Surrounded by the mountains and the water, visitors can see the bacon tower of the Great Wall. In addition to lodging, it provides a range of services including restaurants, boutique cafe, bars, tea, local groceries, online shopping. Its restaurants boasts high-quality ingredients, experienced chef who specializes in Western dishes, a variety of dishes, drinks, desserts, coffee, etc. It is committed to build itself as a warm place for leisure, vacation, and entertainment.
Photo: The Verse
Qunsheng Compound: Located at No. 22, Xisan Village, Huairou District, Qunsheng Compound is a catering brand with a 200-year history, specializing in donkey meat seasoned with old Beijing sauce. The venue integrates elements such as Peking Opera, donkey culture, and poems of Mu Xin, a Chinese writer-artist. Built in the form of compound, it is a multifunctional space for culture promotion, food, leisure and entertainment. In addition to specialized catering business, B&B is another major business of Qunsheng Compound. It has several brands including Chestnut Forest, Jujube Garden, Little White Elephant, and Red Chestnut, all of which are built adjacent to the Compound. They can provide services ranging from outdoor camping, barbecue, lawn movies, team buildings, meetings to open-air receptions.
IV Specialties and creative products:
Specialties: Huairou rainbow trout, Huairou oil chestnuts.
Creative products: customized wild orchid black tea, scarves dyed with local plants of Huairou .
Tips
Please notice the flood warning, learn about the weather and safety around the route in advance, and notice weather changes and meteorological and geological disaster warning and forecasting information during the trip, so as to plan and adjust the itinerary reasonably and timely to ensure your safety.
Source: Voice of culture and tourism, the portal of Ministry of Culture and Tourism
