Cuandixia is a quite unusual ancient mountain village two hours drive from Beijing.
Cuandixia is very small, with only around 70 traditional courtyards. It is renovated nicely and seems rather authentic.
Despite the growing industrialisation of China, the village has succeeded in keeping its traditional folk culture as well as its original architecture. Remaining largely unchanged for centuries, the village is still surrounded by green pine trees, verdant cypresses and a mountain canyon.
I heard that the village was controlled by a local cartel, due to this food prices and the guesthouse prices were fixed and not negotiable. However it is hard to believe that Communistic China has any triad cartels left.
A nice aspect of a visit to Chuandixia is the hospitable behaviour of the villagers.
Visiting Chuandixia village is more about admiring traditional Chinese houses. The historical village is composed of many quadrangle dwellings and courtyards built to a very tiny shape and adapting to the surrounding terrain.
There are no bins, so all the garbage is thrown in the yards behind the houses.
Unlike big cities, the natural wildlife in Chuandixia makes you feel more of the real truth of nature and happiness, a way back to the traditional of harmony between humans and nature.
