Day trippiin': Cuandixia
Cuandixia is one of my favorite places to go for a day trip from Beijing. It’s 90 kilometers (60 miles) from Beijing, and takes 2-1/2 to 3 hours to get there by car. You pass through rural villages and farmlands to get there.
Cuandixia is a small rural village nestled in a small canyon. Centuries ago, it was a post stop between Beijing and Shanxi Province to the west. A tight pass is just up the road, within walking distance of the village. Cuandixia farmers gained fame for providing top quality goats and produce to the imperial family living in Beijing’s Forbidden City. Cuandixia is reminiscent of the French Riviera walled city of Eze: narrow, sometimes steep, walkways leading up hills to homes and restaurants, and a fortress like appearance from down below. Pack animals are used to carry freight to the upper level homes. Spend time just wandering through the village. Depending on how much time you have, you may want to hike in the surrounding hills, or at least up to the hillside temple. Have lunch at a family-run restaurant; the food is plentiful and not that expensive. Cooking is usually done outside, sometimes under a roof, so if you’ve always wanted to learn how to prepare Chinese food, now’s your chance. Restrooms for tourists are located at the entrance. Communal restrooms can be found in the village, but these really aren’t recommended unless you’re desperate. Either way, you’ll need your own tissue and hand cleaner. Tip: Little bottles of sanitizer fit in your jeans pockets perfectly. I’ve written an eguide to the village. It’s called Cuandixia: an ancient mountain village in China. A photoless version is available from the Amazon Kindle Store, but the versions on GuideGecko.com and Visual Travel Tours have photos. How to get to Cuandixia: The easiest way to get to Cuandixia is by tour bus or taxi. More adventuresome travelers can get there by bus and subway. |
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Copyright 2012 by Cheryl Probst. All rights reserved.
Copyright 2012 by Cheryl Probst. All rights reserved.