Cuandixia Village

First built in the Ming Dynasty, Cuandixia Village has a history of over 500 years old. It boasts the best preserved courtyard houses. In this village, the beauty of nature, artifacts and society have been combined to a unity.

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ID : 25
City : beijing
English name : Cuandixia Village
Chinese name : 爨底下村
Type : Ancient house,
Level : easy
Kids : Possible
Elders: Possible
Best season : All seasons
Visiting length : 4 Hours
Distance to city center : 100 km

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Introduction of Cuandixia Village

Cuandixia Village, also known as Chuandixia Village, is located in Mentougou District in the western suburbs of Beijing. The village covers an area of 5.33 square kilometers and is 650 meters above sea level. Surrounded by mountainous, the whole village looks like a castle or a mountain city. There are more than 70 dwelling houses with 689 rooms of Ming(1368-1644)and Qing(1644-1912) Dynasties preserved there. These houses are decorated with delicate stone, wood and brick carvings. This traditional ancient village has it unique folk customs lasted for more than 500 years.

Photo of Cuandixia Village

This photo of Cuandixia Village was taken in front of an old house. A beautiful Dali Flower is blooming at the foot of the house.

Highlights of visiting Cuandixia Village

Traditional dwelling complexes, Rich Man's Courtyard, Temple of the Dragon King Subduing Demons

Helper to visit Cuandixia Village

Address in English : Cuan Dixia Village, Zhaitang Town, Mentougou District, Beijing,China
Address in Chinese : 北京市门头沟区斋堂镇爨底下村
Tel : +8610-69819090
Post code : 102300
Ticket time : All day
Open time : All day
Closing time : Null
Location : Cuandixia Village is around 100 km to downtown beijing

Transportation

Subway: Take Subway Line 1 and get off at Pingguoyuan Station, transfer to a taxi.
Public bus: Bus 892(Zhaitang Station),transfer to M15.
Private car is the best method to visit Cuandixia Village with local tour operator.

Admission

high season : 40 RMB/person.
shoulder season : 40 RMB/person.
low season : 40 RMB/person.

Hotel near Cuandixia Village

Manshanting B&B (Beijing Cuandixia Hotel)

Restaurant near Cuandixia Village

Everyone courtyard Xiusehanchuan Landscape Restaurant

History
Cuandixia Village was first formed in the tenth year of Zhengde Period of Ming Dynasty (1515). Three brothers surnamed Han were ordered to guard the Cuanlikou, a pass of the great wall. They and their family moved here, multiplying and developing, and gradually the village was formed.
In 1519, the ancient post road was built on the location of the village. The road was an important military road and then gradually turned into a business travel route. The village became very prosperous as a stopover place for merchants.
During the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912), the inner great wall lost its defensive role and the Soldiers were transferred to the common farmer. Some traditional quadrangle dwellings were kept well.

Question or Comment

Layout
Cuandixia Village was built on the northern slope of the Longtou Mountain following the terrain. With the mountain as the center, a south-north axis divided more than 70 courtyard houses into the upper and lower parts, forming a radial fan-shaped layout. The house distribution is rigorous and harmonious, with good order. There is a main road respectively on the upper and lower part. The whole village resembles a bottle gourd, and also like a sycee, which gives the ancient village auspicious meaning (bottle gourd means good luck and fortune, and sycee means gold and silver).

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Link to Page of Cuandixia Village

Beijingservice team provides deep information related with Cuandixia Village. Please link to this pae if you like the information.

Cuandixia Village
First built in the Ming Dynasty, Cuandixia Village has a history of over 500 years old. It boasts the best preserved courtyard houses. In this village, the beauty of nature, artifacts and society have been combined to a unity.
https://www.beijingservice.com/attractions/cuandixia-village.htm

Main attractions
A Thread of Sky A Thread of Sky is a mountain pass north-west of Cuandixia Village. It is in the rift valley of more than 100 meters long and is a typical fault landscape. Looking up from below, only a a narrow gap can be seen, from which a thread of light leaks. It is a natural defense and known as "A Thread of Sky".
Rich Man's Courtyard Also known as "Guangliang Courtyard", Rich Man's Courtyard is located at the highest place on the central axis of the village. It consists of front courtyard and back courtyard. The front courtyard is divided into east, middle and west part, forming a large courtyard with 45 rooms. The gate towers with elegant decorations were built in the southeast corner of each part.
Temple of the Dragon King Subduing Demons Temple of the Dragon King Subduing Demons, also called "Great Temple" by local villagers, was originally the Temple of Dragon King built in 1715. In the history of Cuandixia Village, mountain torrents often broke out after the rain. The villagers built the Temple of Dragon King to suppress the flood. They also pray for rain here during droughts. Cuandixia Village was also located near to the Beijing's Ancient Road and an important stopover place for merchants. The statue of God of Fortune, Guangdi, was placed in the temple to shelter the merchants. Then the temple was renamed Temple of the Dragon King Subduing Demons, also known as Guangdi Temple. The glazed statue of standing Guangdi was worshipped in the mail mall, the statue of Maitreya on the left, and the statue of the Dragon King on the right. There are murals on the back wall.