Cuandixia Village

Cuandixia Village

Cuandixia Village is a national AAA-level tourist attraction.

Ancient dwellings built along the mountain contours, exquisitely carved stone, wood, and brick sculptures, streets paved with bluestone, purple stone, and gray stone, and folk customs that have continued for over 500 years... Stepping into Cuandixia Village in Zhaitang Town, Mentougou District, feels like entering a complete "Qing Dynasty residential painting."

Located beside the Western Hills Ancient Road at an altitude of 650 meters, Cuandixia Village boasts beautiful natural scenery and profound cultural significance. Since the Ming Dynasty, it has been a resting place for merchants traveling through the area. Scenic spots such as the ancient plank road, Shuanglong Cave, and the One-Line Sky are extraordinarily spectacular. Today, the village preserves 76 well-maintained Qing Dynasty courtyard homes, totaling 656 rooms. The houses are built against the mountain, scattered yet orderly, naturally staggered in height, and divided into upper and lower levels by a 20-meter-high rocky slope in the center. From a distance, it resembles a cluster of bungalows surrounding a stone-walled mountain fortress. Walking up along the uneven bluestone paths, surprises await around every corner: just when you think you’ve reached the end, a turn reveals another shop; standing casually at a villager’s home, you’re greeted by panoramic views of the surrounding green mountains and clear waters; even where some parts are worn, they blend seamlessly with the natural surroundings... The authentically preserved cultural landscape earned Cuandixia Village the title of Beijing’s first “China Historical and Cultural Village” in 2003.

In 1995, Cuandixia Village began developing its tourism resources. Agritainment-style leisure tourism, characterized by folk cuisine and homestays, flourished. Every household along the stone-paved roads could host tourists, captivating countless visitors with its rustic village food and well-preserved ancient architecture. Over a decade later, nearly all 55 village households became folk tourism hosts, with 95% of the village’s total income derived from tourism.

To establish Cuandixia’s “cultural calling card,” the village leveraged the One-Line Sky scenic area to attract film and television productions, offering filming locations to crews seeking scenic backdrops. Notable productions such as "Cell Phone" and "The Warlords" were shot here. To date, Cuandixia Village has hosted over 60 film and TV productions.

Suggested Duration

1–2 days

Location

Cuandixia Village, approximately 5 km north of National Highway 109, Zhaitang Town, Mentougou District, Beijing

Transportation

1. Take Bus 892 from west of Apple Park Station on Metro Line 1 to Zhaitang Station (fare approx. 20 RMB), then transfer to M15 to Cuandixia Village Station (fare approx. 2 RMB).

Note: M15 is a scheduled bus. Buses from Zhaitang to Cuandixia run daily at 9:20, 15:05, and 18:40. Return buses from Cuandixia depart daily at 6:50, 9:40, and 15:35. Returns are busier, so arrive early to secure a seat.

2. Alternatively, you can take a taxi from Zhaitang Town to Cuandixia Village, at about 20–30 RMB per ride.

Ticket

Adult ticket: 35 RMB; students with valid ID and seniors with senior ID: 18 RMB.

Opening Hours

Open all day

Cuandixia Village: Cuandixia (pronounced “cuan” [down]) Village is located in the deep mountain valleys of Beijing’s western mountainous region, also renamed as Chuandixia Village. The entire village retains a relatively intact ancient architectural complex, situated on a gentle northern slope, built against the mountain with varying heights, clear lines, and winding paths paved with purple and bluestone, giving it a somewhat Jiangnan-style charm and a sense of a hidden paradise.

The village's architecture is divided into upper and lower levels, with the staggered heights making the settlement resemble an ancient fortress or a mountain town. Known as the “Potala Palace of the Beijing area,” it combines the charm of Beijing’s traditional courtyard homes with the scenery of mountain village alleys. Chuandixia Village and... Cuandixia Village detailed information++