A unique Village in Beijing

Village	Village

Tucked away in the mountains west of Beijing is the sleepy Ming Dynasty village of Chuandixia.
The village is one of the best-preserved examples of a complete Ming Dynasty village. Although small (and easily managed in a day-trip), the village contains over 70 siheyuan courtyards with over 500 rooms. Because the villagers were originally from the same family, the courtyards were all interconnected, making it possible to walk from one end of the village to the other without ever using the road. The housing arrangements are simple, but the villagers are very hospitable.
Perhaps even more appealing to those longing to escape the city are the beautiful trails in the surrounding mountains. For those who would only like to spend a day in the village, there is a well maintained trail that circles the village, and is easily hiked in a couple of hours. The trail will take you through cornfields and past temples, before climbing a bit to give you a bird's eye view of the village. For those with a little more time to explore the area, there are some wonderful trails that wind through the mountains and valleys around the village. Here you can take in some breathtaking views of craggy rock formations jutting out of lush mountainsides. You can even hike up to a remote section of the Great Wall called "The Seven Towers."