Itinerary:

Your friendly guide will pick you up from your downtown Beijing hotel in the morning. Then you will be transferred to the lush, fertile valleys that are home to beautiful Cuandixia Village (2-hour driving time). It is located on an ancient post road in a mountainous border region, the village boasts around 70 well-preserved courtyard homes, some of which date back to the Ming dynasty, built into the side of a hill. Once a trade hub for coal, fur, and grain, today Cuandixia is a popular subject for photographers and painters. A great way to start exploring is by a 2-hour circular walk that starts at the steps leading up into the village and brings you all the way to the top of the hill for stunning views of both houses and valleys. After this, enjoy a traditional countryside lunch in a local family restaurant and perhaps make friends with some locals, before exploring the beautiful landscapes around the village by some of the well-marked trails. After around five hours in Cuandixia, return to your climate-controled vehicle for the 2-hour drive back to Beijing.