June 1, 2013 Beijing – The 3 Ancient Villages

June 1, 2013

Beijing – The 3 Ancient Villages

Our Beijing Guide, Lee could not take us to the tour to the 3 Ancient Villages as she had another assignment. We were fortunate that we were assigned another very nice guide called CoCo. She met us at 8:00 AM as we had to drive 150 KM west from our hotel. Our driver Bu quickly got us out of the city and to our surprise started to drive up into these beautiful mountains. The scenery was fantastic and similar to what we have in the Rocky Mountains. It was pleasant as it was much cooler than Beijing that was over 30 C. It was also clear and sunny with no smog as there was in Beijing. There were quite a number of cars and buses going into the mountains and CoCo explained to us that many people come to the mountains for the day and sometimes for the weekend. As it was Saturday, it was not surprising that many people were just enjoying their day off work.

We came to a bridge in the mountains that was to take us over a deep valley that was blocked off to traffic. The driver had to double back on the road we came on and then make a detour on another road to reach the 3 Ancient Villages. Of course our guide was not too pleased, but Dorothy and I were happy that we will see more of these beautiful mountains. Two of the 3 villages we were to visit were protected by the Government and now people have to pay a fee to visit them. Because of our age, CoCo said she can get us in at a reduced rate.

Our driver had to drive further up the mountain to reach 2 of the Ancient Villages. The first village only had 19 people and most of these were old as their children had left for better jobs at a factory and had settled in a 3^rd village that we were to visit. The first village was called Shuang Shipoo Cun or simply the Double Stone Village as 2 very large stones were at the entrance to the village. The houses in the village were all built of stone. They had electricity but what they possessed seemed rather limited.

The second village we visited was further up the mountain and was much larger than the first and was quite commercial with restaurants, stores and places where people can stay overnight. It was called Cuandixia or the village of the people who protect the mountain. The houses in the village were mostly built of stone or wood. Soon after we arrived we went to a restaurant to order our lunch and give the owner of the restaurant time to prepare the meal for us. CoCo took us for a walk further up the mountain so we could get a better view of the village and to see some of the houses and restaurants that were higher up on the mountainside. As it was clear, cooler and sunny, we found this walk up the mountain very pleasant. It was very picturesque and great for picture taking. After this very nice walk up and down the mountain, our lunch had been prepared so we returned to our restaurant. We were served a delicious home cooked meal of soup, beans and pork, wild vegetables, spicy green peppers and beef, tofu, a vegetable pancake and rice.

The third village was called Yancheeng Aghe or the Village by the River and was not in the Government protected area. The houses here were built using modern building material and people here were younger people that had left the other 2 villages to work at a local factory and so were able to have a better way of life. They had cars, and modern household items. They had a large school in the village with a playing field with a running track.

With the heavy Saturday traffic it took us some time to get back. As Dorothy and I had such a wonderful day, the delay because of the traffic was of little concern to us.

Beautiful mountain scenery on the way to the Ancient Villages.

Traffic was heavy on the mountainous roads as it was Saturday.

The ticket office for  2 of 3 of the Ancient Villages.

The first ancient village called  Shuang Shipoo Cun or simply the Double Stone Village that we visited.

The ancient village called  Shuang Shipoo Cun or simply the Double Stone Village.

Dorothy and Con in front of one of the 2 large stones at the entrance of the village,  Shuang Shipoo Cun or simply the Double Stone Village  

Dorothy and Con in front of the wall built to prevent stones sliding  into the  village called  Shuang Shipoo Cun or simply the Double Stone Village.

The road leading out of the Ancient Village of 29 people.

Lady baking and selling corn in the second Ancient Village called Cuan Dixia.

A young group of people dressed in costumes  from  children's fairy tails in  Cuan Dixia.

Dorothy and our Guide, CoCo on the main street of Cuan Dixia

The village of Cuan Dixia built on a steep mountain side.

The main store in Cuan Dixia. Note the corn handing from the eves of the roof.

A second store next to the main store. in Cuan Dixia.

Our host and chef for lunch, Dorothy and our Guide, CoCo

A short history of Cuan Dixia.

A bedroom for rent at the restaurant we planned to have lunch at.

Dorothy and our Guide ordering lunch.

A second bedroom for rent at our restaurant.

The narrow path up the mountain side that we were preparing to climb.

Dorothy and Con at a great viewing place on the path up the mountain. 

An ornate shelter that people sat in when protecting the forest  from forest fires.

Stairs leading to houses up the side of the mountain.in Cuan Dixia.

A very old thrashing mill.in Cuan Dixia.

Dorothy and our Guide, CoCo in front of a souvenir store high up  the side of  the mountain..

Dorothy purchasing an item and CoCo deciding what to purchase inside the souvenir store.

A decorative house in the village of Cuan Dixia.

Dorothy and CoCo before an old mill stone that used to be driven by donkeys.

A stone plaque describing the Wudao Temple in the village of Wudao Temple

The Wudao Temple.

CoCo stoking the cooking fire.

Dorothy and Con down from the mountain and on the main street of  Cuan Dixia.

Con showing Dorothy the Chinese character for Cuan Dixia.

Dorothy and Con sitting outside enjoy a delicious lunch in Cuan Dixia.

CoCo, Con, Dorothy and the owner and chef of the restaurant we ate at.

The third ancient village called Yancheeng Aghe or the Village by the River. This village housed people who worked in factories and were using modern materials to build their houses.

People in Yancheeng Aghe or the Village by the River had motor cycles and cars and were much better off that the first two ancient villages we visited.

A pretty view from the car as we made out way down the mountain along winding roads.

Another pretty view of the mountains.