Che'erying Village
This village in Haidian District is at the southern part of Fenghuangling (Phoenix Mountain Range), within the western hills of Beijing. As well as the mountains, there is a stone Buddha which dates back to the Northern Wei Dynasty, the Cave of Lu Zu, Temple of Guan Yu and a diamond stone pagoda. There are plenty of local foods to try, including red trout, corn cake with vegetable stuffing, and free range duck and chicken. The local fruit orchard produces peaches, cherries, apricots, grapes, apples, Chinese dates and chestnuts. Apricot flowers are about to bloom, and the area is home to hundreds of thousands of apricot trees.
How to get there: Take Bus 346 from the Summer Palace and get off at the west of Niegezhuang, Fenghuangling. Or take the train from Xizhimen or Beijing Railway Station and get off at Fenghuangling. Or drive on Badaling Expressway and off at Bei'anhe exit, turn left at Xinzhuangqiao, head west on Beiqing Lu, pass Niegezhuang Village and go north.
Tel: 010-6240-5084
Mayufang Village
This village at Changling Township, Changping District, is located 4 kilometers northwest of the Ming Tombs, and close to the Duijiuyu natural beauty spot to the west. It is encircled by mountains and the air is fresh. There will be plenty of wild flowers in the spring as well as some fantastic mountain views. There are fishing ponds, bonfire parties, fruit picking, and village foods.
How to get there: Take Bus 345 at Deshengmen, get off at Changping Nandajie, change to bus No 5 to get to Mayufang Village. Or drive on Jingchang Expressway to get out at exit 13C (13C), and go further north for another 30 minutes.
Tel: 010-8972-1728
Shifosi Village
This village in Yanqing County is located at the southeast corner of Badaling Township, close to Badaling Expressway's exit to the water pass of Badaling Great Wall. There is an architect's corridor, Chinese railway technician Zhan Tianyou's tomb, and more than 10 famous scenic spots.
How to get there: Take Bus 919 at Deshengmen to reach the Yingchengzi exit of the Badaling Expressway, turn right and go for 500 meters.
Tel: 010-8118-1475
Xishuiyu Village
Located at the northwest of Jiuduhe Township of Huairou District, this village is close to Huanghuacheng Great Wall. There is Haominghu Lake, mountains, and a part of the Great Wall that is underwater, as well as a big orchard of ancient chestnut trees planted during the Ming Dynasty.
How to get there: Take Bus 916 at Dongzhimen, get off at Huairou International Convention Center, change to minibus to get to Xishuiyu.
Tel: 010-6165-1277
Hexi Village
This village is located at Gubeikou Township, Miyun County. The Panlongshan part of the Great Wall is known to be well preserved. Another part of Great Wall inside the village is the oldest part of the Wall from the Northern Qi Dynasty.
How to get there: Take Jingcheng Expressway 101 national road (101) untill Gubeikou Township Feishui exit, head west, reach the crossroads, then turn south.
Tel: 010-8105-1291
Qingshiling Village
The village at Liulimiao Township, Huairou District is located at the foot of Yunmeng Mountain of the Yanshan Mountain Range.
With a river passing it and mountains encircling it, the village has large patches of crops and river banks of sand. Wild flowers bloom. The closest natural scenery is the Longtanjian natural scenic area. Here, visitors can fish, ride horses, drift on the river and pick fruit.
How to get there: Take Bus 916 at Dongzhimen to get to Huairou bus station, change to minibus to get to Liulimiao Township, change bus to arrive at the village. Or drive from Dongzhimen via Jingshun Lu and go on to 111 national road (111).
Tel: 010-6161-8483