Situated to the north controlling the frontier, to the west connecting Shanxi and Shaanxi, to the east overlooking the capital, and to the south gazing upon the lands of Hebei, Mentougou boasts the centuries-old Jingxi Ancient Road that runs through its territory, and is known as a famous "Beijing Ancient Village." Since the time when the Yellow Emperor established his capital at Zhuolu and “cut through mountains and opened roads” in the Western Hills, the various routes of the Western Mountain Road were repeatedly maintained and upgraded throughout the dynasties, eventually becoming a sizable official and commercial thoroughfare. The Jingxi Ancient Road linked the imperial capital to the west and connected to the frontier to the east, serving as an important passageway out of the capital in ancient times. From merchant travel to pilgrimages to the capital, from defensive battles to trade exchanges, from religious affairs to cultural interactions, from promotions and demotions to rising social status… across dynasties and eras, day and night, the sound of bells on mountain paths heralded the arrival of caravan trains, bustling and thriving in prosperity. However, as the tides of history receded, the ancient villages scattered along both sides of the ancient road, weathered by time, have become historical symbols, still exuding a strong aura of ancient road culture to this day.
These traditional Beijing ancient villages gradually formed as commercial shops that served the caravan teams, relay stations and inns, as well as workshops crafting materials specially needed by the caravans. The indentations of hooves, large and small, deep and shallow, left on the ancient stone-paved roads, the carvings of patterns and inscriptions praying for safe passage on the cliffs along the steep ancient roads, and the legends of ancient roads, west winds, and lean horses still passed down in these ancient villages all serve as cultural annotations of the bygone trails. In past times, whether it was the “Ancient Tea Horse Road” or the “Silk Road,” transportation relied on caravans and animals, and on the Western Hills Ancient Road of Beijing, horses, donkeys, and mules were the main means of transport. As a result, Huanglingxi Village has built an Ancient Transport Museum, showcasing a full array of tools used in ancient transportation. Moreover, a unique profession born from ancient transport—“saddle makers,” also called “saddle inserters”—still has practitioners in many Beijing ancient villages along the ancient roads, who preserve the traditional craftsmanship intact. (Article from: Beautiful Villages http://www.bjmlxc.cn/ Please credit the source when reproducing)