Xiangtang Village

Xiangtang Village

Destination Introduction

Xiangtang Village is located 12 kilometers east of Changping and is a semi-mountainous village under the jurisdiction of Cuicun Town, Changping District. The 14.2 square kilometer area is home to 602 households and over 1,840 residents of Xiangtang. On more than 3,000 acres of land, generations of farmers in Xiangtang never managed to change the situation of “relying on state allocations for grain and loans for money.”

1987 was the milestone when Xiangtang transformed from poverty to prosperity, truly achieving a virtuous cycle where favorable timing, geographical advantages, and human harmony were perfectly unified. That year, Zhang Wenshan took over as the Party Branch Secretary of Xiangtang. Embracing this great responsibility with extraordinary vision, he made a bold promise: “What Beijing has, we will have; what Beijing doesn’t have, we will also have.” Sixteen years flew by, and the changes in Xiangtang are nothing short of astounding. With an investment of over 12 million yuan, several smooth and wide asphalt roads were built, putting an end to Xiangtang’s history of poor transportation. More than 1 million yuan was invested to drill over ten wells nearly 300 meters deep, bidding farewell to the days of water scarcity. A minibus route, Route 48, runs every 10 minutes from Xiangtang to Jing’an Zhuang, making transportation difficulties a thing of the past.

I. Xiangtang Orchard

Upon entering the village, the first thing that catches your eye is the rows of fruit trees lining both sides of the road. Spanning 1,500 acres of standardized orchards, a variety of fruits are grown. Early-ripening apples such as “Jonathan Gold,” “Rui Guang No. 5” nectarines, and “Little Red Pearl” nectarines hit the market on July 1st. These are among the earliest fruits you can taste during the seasonal gap. “Lu Wangxian” and “Early Phoenix,” two types of peaches known for their large size and high sugar content, have gained fame and replaced the once-familiar “Da Jiu Bao.” The longest-growing peach variety here is the flat peach, with the largest weighing over seven liang. “Lu Ao” apples are sweet with a hint of tartness, while “Wang Lin” apples resemble pears in appearance but are extremely sweet with a slight creamy flavor, making them highly favored by buyers. The most abundantly produced apple is Japan’s “Fuji,” which is crispy and juicy, now a premium variety that urban dwellers come to pick or purchase in bulk every late autumn. Besides these fruits, Xiangtang is also renowned for its large flat persimmons — a delicacy once presented to the imperial court. After the autumn leaves fall, they turn a transparent red and look especially beautiful in the sunlight. What makes them even more unique is their clear, non-turbid juice, unmatched by persimmons from other regions.

II. Naming of Xiangtang Cultural New Village

The origin of this name is first attributed to the presence of cultural celebrities in Xiangtang from the fields of journalism, calligraphy and painting, and performing arts. Figures such as Li Ruiying, Wang Ning, Jiang Hua, Hu Ziwei, He Beiqi, Li Shuangjiang, Ma Tai, Xin Fengxia, Zhang Jiaosheng, Chen Ying, Li Wenhan, Su Ping, Wang Jieshan, Li Xiang, Yuan Wu, and others reside here. Secondly, it is due to the cultural venues built in recent years to support the community. After 1987, to completely resolve the issue of locals watching movies and performances outdoors, the “Xiangtang Theater” was built in 1989. In 2000, an additional 850,000 yuan was invested to renovate it, making it the first village-level theater in China with surround sound. In 2001, over 13 million yuan was invested to build cultural venues including the “Xiangtang Oriental Calligraphy and Painting Research Institute,” “Chen-style Tai Chi Martial Arts Hall,” and “International Nursing Home.” In 2002, with an increasing number of long-term migrant workers in Xiangtang, a summer plaza and artificial lake capable of accommodating nearly 10,000 people were constructed. Later that year, a multifunctional entertainment hall was renovated. This venue, which can host 800 to 1,000 people, is where major events such as National AIDS Awareness Day are held. Thirdly, it is due to the cultural activities organized in Xiangtang. Each year, Xiangtang hosts around 20 to 30 performances. Some performance troupes make annual visits, such as the Beijing Hebei Bangzi Opera Troupe, China National Peking Opera Theatre, Dachang Peking Opera Troupe, and Beijing Quyi Troupe. In recent years, Xiangtang has also established a Peking opera team, dance team, and yangko team. The Xiangtang Peking opera team performed the full-length opera “Liu Qiao’er.” Despite limited experience, it played a role in enriching the community's cultural life and changed the old habits of gathering in small groups to chat or bicker. The Xiangtang yangko team, consisting of over 100 members ranging from their 20s to nearly 80 years old, often participates in competitions or performances at the town and district levels. The Xiangtang dance team rehearses various small programs loved by the public.

III. Composition of Xiangtang New Area

From 1994 to the present, Xiangtang has developed and built eight residential communities, totaling 1,248 housing units. The distribution and layout of these eight communities are entirely based on the order of their development.

Zone One has a total of 224 housing units, including 189 apartment buildings and 35 traditional courtyard homes. The famous Peking opera performer Xin Fengxia purchased the first housing unit here. Currently, celebrities such as Li Shuangjiang, Hu Ziwei, He Beiqi, Li Wenhan, Su Ping, and Chen Ying reside in this zone.

Zone Two has a total of 138 housing units, including 116 apartment buildings and 22 traditional courtyard homes. Famous Peking opera actor Ma Tai, Beijing TV host Jiang Hua, and others live in this community.

Zone Three has a total of 293 housing units, including 203 apartment buildings and 90 traditional courtyard homes. Among them is one large quadrangle courtyard covering 1.5 acres, with a construction area of over 400 square meters, priced at approximately 1.5 million yuan. Zone Three is home to a group of military painters, such as Li Xiang, who oversees art for the entire army; Yuan Wu, deputy director of the PLA Art Academy; and painters Wang Tiansheng, Wang Jieshan, Zhang Qingzhi, and Chao Hong.

Zones Four and Five have a total of 228 housing units, including 203 apartment buildings and 25 traditional courtyard homes. Notable residents include Xin Yuling, president of China-Japan Friendship Hospital; Liu Xing, head of the PLA Song and Dance Ensemble; and Wang Zaizhou, former vice president of Air China.

Zone Six is a newly built residential area completed in 2002 and currently undergoing interior decoration. The famous calligrapher and painter Huang Yan resides here. A large quadrangle courtyard is under construction, covering 1.8 acres with a construction area of over 630 square meters, priced at about 2 million yuan.

Zones Seven and Eight are both newly built residential areas completed in 2003. Zone Seven, located at the southernmost part of the villa area, consists of apartment buildings adjacent to a golf course to the west and north. Zone Eight, situated in the northern part of the village, features traditional courtyard homes. Although construction is not yet complete, most units have already been sold.

Scenic Spot Location

Beijing, Changping District, Beijing

Cuicun Town: Cuicun Town is located in the eastern part of Changping District, 10 kilometers from the county seat, covering a total area of 60 square kilometers. It borders Baishan Town to the west and leans against the Cuihuashan Mountain range of the Jundu Mountains to the north, making it a typical semi-mountainous town. The town governs 12 village committees. Located at the foot of Cuihuashan Mountain, the town slopes from northwest to southeast, forming a rectangular shape running from north to south. The northern mountainous area within the town includes famous peaks such as Cuihuashan, Yuzhu Mountain, and Macun Mountain. In the southwest, there is an isolated east-west mountain, approximately 4.5 kilometers long, called Jiuli Mountain.

- Planar Location

The town has mountainous land spanning 54... Detailed information about Cuicun Town ++