25 Beautiful Villages in China: Ancient Courtyards, Karst Peaks & Ethnic Life

Key Data & Practical Info

🌳 Forest coverage rate: over 82%

🌤️ Air quality excellent rate: consistently above 95% year-round

🌡️ Annual average temperature: 16–18°C

💧 Annual average humidity: approx. 78%

📅 Best travel season: March–April (rapeseed flower sea); November–December (autumn harvest sunning)

🗺️ Location: Northeast Jiangxi, at the junction of Jiangxi, Zhejiang and Anhui provinces

Key Data & Practical Info

🌳 Forest and vegetation coverage: over 70%; bamboo forest alone exceeds one million mu

🌤️ Air quality excellent rate: consistently above 90% year-round

🌡️ Annual average temperature: 15–17°C

💧 Annual average humidity: approx. 76%

📅 Best travel season: all four seasons — summer for cooling, winter for snow scenery

🗺️ Location: Northwest Zhejiang, northern foothills of Tianmu Mountain

3. Taining Village, Fujian

Taining Village, Fujian

As part of a UNESCO World Geopark and World Natural Heritage Site, Taining is celebrated for its one-of-a-kind water Danxia landforms, rich cave-dwelling culture, and the scholarly legacy of its "state examination champion" hometown.

Signature Landscapes & Experiences

Dajin Lake

Dajin Lake (大金湖): Cruise by boat and watch scarlet cliffs and canyon walls wind through their own reflections in turquoise water — poetry made geology.

Zhaixia Grand Canyon

Zhaixia Grand Canyon (寨下大峡谷): Pass through a "time tunnel" formed by three valleys joined end-to-end, directly experiencing geological strata from different eras.

Shangshu Mansion Complex

Shangshu Mansion Complex (尚书第建筑群): Explore the grand residence of Ming Dynasty Minister of War Li Chunye — regarded as the "finest private residence in Jiangnan" — and appreciate its architectural grandeur.

Taining's landscape is both a three-dimensional geological epic and a living ink-wash scroll. Come here — witness the red mountains and jade waters, listen to the echoes of ancient caves, and sense the sublime beauty of heaven and earth.

🏯 Cultural Heritage: After exploring these rustic rural escapes, dive into China’s grander historical narratives with the 16 Most Beautiful Ancient Towns in China (World Heritage & Living History), where well-preserved architecture meets centuries of living history.

4. Xidi Village, Anhui

Xidi Village, Anhui

Xidi Village, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site, is praised as a “Home in the Peach Blossom Spring”, ”Chiina’s Museum of Ming-Qing Vernacular Dwellings”and is the concentrated embodiment of Huizhou village planning, architecture and humanistic spirit.

Signature Landscapes & Experiences

Hu Wenguang Memorial Archway & Jing'ai Hall

Hu Wenguang Memorial Archway & Jing'ai Hall (胡文光刺史坊与敬爱堂): Begin at the Ming Dynasty stone-carved ceremonial archway at the village entrance, then step into the ancestral hall to feel the solemnity of Huizhou clan governance and the merchant-scholar tradition.

Huizhou-Style Street Lanes

Huizhou-Style Street Lanes: Walk on bluestone paths flanked by staggered horse-head walls, admiring exquisite brick, wood and stone carvings. Every door hides a family's centuries-old story.

Village Feng Shui Layout: View the entire village from above and observe its boat-shaped layout merging seamlessly with surrounding mountains and water — a profound embodiment of "harmony between heaven and humanity."

Xidi is not merely a village — it is a living history. Walking through its high-walled deep lanes, you can almost hear the footsteps of Huizhou merchants returning in glory centuries ago, and the sound of children reading aloud.

5. Wufeng Tujia Village, Hubei

Wufeng Tujia Village, Hubei

‘Hometown of Famous Chinese Tea’ Wufeng has the astonishing karst peak-forest landform of the Wuling Mountains, with sheer gorges, high-altitude tea gardens and the densely-woven living culture of the Tujia (土家族) ethnic minority.

Signature Landscapes & Experiences

Chaibuxi Grand Canyon

Chaibuxi Grand Canyon (柴埠溪大峡谷): Experience the magnificence of "a hundred-li secluded gorge with three thousand strange peaks." Walk along the cliff boardwalk, look down into the deep valley below, and feel nature's masterful craftsmanship.

Qinggangling Tea Gardens

Qinggangling Tea Gardens (青岗岭茶园): Stroll through undulating tea hills, experience picking and processing tea, sip a cup of fragrant highland selenium-rich tea, and watch a sea of clouds rolling beneath you.

Tujia Folk Culture

Tujia Folk Culture: Listen to the melodious Tujia mountain ballad "Wufeng Nanqu" (五峰南曲), taste authentic Tujia "steamed meat in a wooden frame," and experience the warm, unpretentious minority culture firsthand.

In Wufeng, every strange peak tells a story and every wisp of tea fragrance carries the freshness of the mountain wild. This is an ideal hidden retreat to escape summer heat and cleanse the soul.

6. Shibadong Village, Hunan

Shibadong Village, Hunan

Shibadong Village (十八洞村) came up with the innovative concept of “targeted poverty alleviation”. It has become a national model for rural rejuvenation from a nondescript and poor Miao (苗族) village in the deep Wuling Mountains.

Signature Landscapes & Experiences

Lizhai Sub-village

Lizhai Sub-village & Targeted Poverty Alleviation Exhibition Hall: Visit the source where the "targeted poverty alleviation" concept was first articulated. Through the exhibition, understand the village's profound transformation and feel its inspirational spirit.

Traditional Miao Village

Traditional Miao Village

Traditional Miao Village: Explore well-preserved Miao wooden stilt houses and stone-paved paths, appreciate exquisite Miao embroidery (苗绣), and sense the original ecological Miao architectural and lifestyle aesthetics.

High-Mountain Ecological Industries: Visit kiwifruit, yellow peach and other specialty industry parks. Experience the integrated "tourism + agriculture" development model and taste fresh, green local produce.

Shibadong Village's story is a microcosm of China's rural revitalization. Come here not only to appreciate the Miao mountain scenery, but also to witness the spirit and strength of an era.

7. Yidoushui Village, Henan

Yidoushui Village, Henan

Yidoushui Village (一斗水村) In the depths of the South Taihang Mountains, beside an ancient well with a history of thousand years, the water level is only one dou (about 1.75 liter) full. Built in Ming and Qing Dynasties, remnants of the Jin-Yu merchant road. Famous for being "a village built of stones".

Signature Landscapes & Experiences

Ancient Stone Dwellings

Ancient Stone Dwellings: Every building, road and bridge in the entire village is constructed from blue-grey stone. Having weathered hundreds of years of wind and rain, the village stands as an open-air museum of Taihang stone culture.

Ancient Merchant Road

Millennium Ancient Well & Ancient Merchant Road: Explore the miraculous ancient well that yields only a dou of water, then hike along the winding remnants of the ancient trade road, imagining the distant jingle of Shanxi merchant caravans.

Taihang Mountain Scenery: The village is embraced by majestic Taihang peaks. Nearby gorges and waterfalls are easily accessible for an experience of driving through colored clouds and touring inside a painting.

Yidoushui Village is a silent epic written by the Taihang Mountains in stone. Come here — touch the warmth of history, listen to stories the stones tell, and feel the most authentic tranquility and resilience of Taihang.

8. Yumu Village, Hubei

Yumu Village, Hubei

Set atop an isolated mountain ridge among the peaks of Lichuan, and with sheer cliffs on three sides, is the well-known Yumu Village (鱼木村), the site of a massive and sophisticated defensive system of Tujia stilt-house architecture, hailed as the "First Tujia Mountain Stockade."

Signature Landscapes & Experiences

Precipitous Mountain Stockade Layout

Precipitous Mountain Stockade Layout: Enter through the only approach road to the stockade gate, look down upon surrounding cliff-sided valleys, and appreciate the "one man guards the pass, ten thousand cannot force it" strategic terrain and the survival wisdom of the ancients.

Tujia Stilt-House Complex (土家吊脚楼群): Tour the tiered dry-column architecture built to follow the mountain terrain, and learn about its unique functions for moisture prevention, defense and architectural aesthetics.

Tujia Customs & Culture: Feel the original-ecology Tujia living atmosphere and learn about intangible cultural heritage including the Baishou Dance (摆手舞) and Xilanka Pu (西兰卡普, brocade weaving).

Yumu Village is a human miracle suspended in the clouds. It is not just an architectural marvel — it is a spiritual totem of a people's tenacious survival and fierce protection of home against all odds. Come here for a breathtaking cloud-top rendezvous.

9. Baoting Li-Miao Village, Hainan

Baoting Li-Miao Village, Hainan

Baoting, nestled in the tropical rain forest zone of Hainan Island's central region, is where the cultural tourism areas of Yanoda and Binglang Valley are located, making it a perfect place to enjoy tropical rain forest and natural hot springs, and also visit the residence of Li(黎族)and Miao(苗族)people.

Signature Landscapes & Experiences

Yanoda Rainforest Cultural Tourism Area

Yanoda Rainforest Cultural Tourism Area (呀诺达雨林文化旅游区): Explore one of the world's last remaining northern-edge tropical rainforests. Experience canyon waterfalls and high-altitude zip lines, and discover the bizarre diversity of tropical flora and fauna.

Binglang Valley Li-Miao Cultural Tourism Area (槟榔谷黎苗文化旅游区): Immerse yourself in the culture of Hainan's indigenous Li and Miao peoples. Watch large-scale outdoor performances and learn about ancient traditions such as Li brocade weaving and traditional tattooing.

Qixian Ridge Hot Springs (七仙岭温泉): Soak in natural wild-stream hot springs rising from underground, cradled in the embrace of tropical rainforest — washing away every trace of fatigue.

In Baoting, breathing is sweet and living is slow. This is a tender paradise between mountain and sea — a tropical haven for escaping the cold and healing body and mind.

10. Dazhai Village (Longji), Guangxi

Dazhai Village (Longji), Guangxi

Dazhai Village (大寨村), the base of the Jinkeng Terraces (金坑梯田), is considered the core area of the Longji Terrace, carved by the Red Yao (红瑶) people in hundreds of years. Known as “the scenery hanging at the edge of heaven” and “the most beautiful curves on Earth”.

Signature Landscapes & Experiences

"Xishanshao Music," "Thousand-Layer Sky Ladder" & "Golden Buddha Summit" Viewpoints: Admire the magnificent curving terraces and shifting light from three different angles. Sunrise and sunset are the most awe-inspiring moments of all.

Red Yao Culture

Stilt Houses

Red Yao Culture & Stilt Houses: Stay in a Yao stilt house halfway up the mountain. Experience the Red Yao women's renowned long-hair customs, exquisite embroidery crafts and warm hospitality traditions.

Trekking Through the Terraces

Trekking Through the Terraces: Hike along the narrow paddy-field paths, feel the texture and agricultural wisdom of the terraces at close range, listen to the murmur of flowing water, as if walking inside a three-dimensional pastoral painting.

Dazhai's terraces are an agricultural epic jointly composed by human will and natural terrain. Come here — watch clouds roll and unfurl, enjoy farming scenery through four seasons, and feel the millennium wisdom of the Yao people dancing with the mountain.

11. Baihou Town, Guangdong

Baihou Town, Guangdong

Baihou Town (百侯镇), a “National Historic and Cultural Town”, also known as the ‘Grand Garden of Hakka (客家) Folk Architecture’, has in addition to its vast number of preserved large Ming-Qing Hakka walled-compound houses, unique beautiful East-meets-West arcade-style streets which bear witness to the glorious history of Hakka overseas Chinese.

Signature Landscapes & Experiences

East-West Fusion Architecture

Zhaoqing Hall, Haiyuan Building & Other East-West Fusion Architecture (肇庆堂、海源楼): Admire buildings that perfectly blend Hakka traditional architecture with Western columns, arches and stained glass — a testament to the open-minded philosophy of "Chinese learning as the substance, Western learning for practical use."

Thirty-Six Lane Ancient Residential Complex

Thirty-Six Lane Ancient Residential Complex (三十六巷古民居群): Weave through a labyrinthine alley network, exploring grand mansions including Tongyidafu Mansion and Taishou Mansion. Savor exquisite wood carvings, lime-plaster sculptures and couplet culture.

Baihou Old Street

Baihou Old Street & Culinary Culture: Stroll through the arcade old street, taste authentic Hakka snacks including abacus seeds (算盘子), bamboo-shoot cakes (笋粄) and stuffed tofu (酿豆腐), and experience the leisurely market life of an ancient town.

Baihou is a living Hakka overseas Chinese history book. Here, classical and Western in dialogue, architecture and humanities intertwined — quietly recounting the past glory of a "hometown of culture and talent."

12. Xingyi City, Guizhou

Xingyi City, Guizhou

Xingyi boasts the breathtaking Wanfenglin (万峰林, Forest of Ten Thousand Peaks), the magnificent Maling River Canyon(马岭河峡谷) and the magnificent Wanfeng Lake, the most beautiful of all. It is the essence of Karst and is known as "a long scroll of mountain-and-water landscapes, ink-wash Jinzhou."

Signature Landscapes & Experiences

Wanfenglin (万峰林): Ride a sightseeing vehicle or cycle through, looking down upon thousands of cone-shaped peaks. Amidst "Bagua Fields" and "Fuzi Fields" land-art patterns, feel the harmonious coexistence of humanity and nature.

Maling River Canyon

Maling River Canyon (马岭河峡谷): Walk along canyon boardwalks and watch waterfalls cascading from hundred-meter cliffs. Experience what has been called "a beautiful scar carved across the face of the Earth."

Wanfeng Lake

Wanfeng Lake (万峰湖): Cruise on the lake where lake light and mountain color reflect each other, and enjoy fishing and fresh fish cuisine, as if immersed in a mountain-lake landscape gallery.

In Xingyi, the boldness of mountains and the spirituality of water are perfectly united. This is China's Karst museum and a paradise for photographers and outdoor enthusiasts alike.

13. Cangyuan Wa Village, Yunnan

Cangyuan Wa Village, Yunnan

Cangyuan (沧源) - home to the largest Wa ethnic community village in China, bordering Myanmar, this mysterious land preserves Wa’s original culture and the Cangyuan cliff paintings - “the Wa people’s creation epic”, it is also the secret borderland city for experiencing another carnival “Moni Hei”.

Signature Landscapes & Experiences

Wengding Original Tribal Village

Wengding Original Tribal Village

Wengding Original Tribal Village (翁丁原始部落) (Note: old village was lost; a new cultural heritage village has been rebuilt): Learn about traditional Wa cultural symbols including "village totems," "wooden drum pulling" and "ritual houses." Experience the original tribal character through the cultural inheritance new village.

Cangyuan Cliff Paintings (沧源崖画): Explore mysterious cliff paintings over 3,000 years old. View red pictograms recording scenes of Wa ancestors hunting, dancing and performing rituals — touching the pulse of prehistoric civilization.

“Moni Hei”Carnival

"Moni Hei" Carnival (摸你黑狂欢节): If visiting around May Day, participate in the grand carnival where pure plant-based "Nangbuluo" mud is smeared on each other as a blessing — experiencing the Wa people's reverence for life and health.

Cangyuan is the land where the song "Wa People Sing the New Song" was born — a place that still retains the primal life force of ancient times. Come here to feel the simplicity, warmth and awe-inspiring ancient faith of this borderland secret realm.

14. Taoping Qiang Village, Sichuan

Taoping Qiang Village, Sichuan

Taoping Qiang Village (桃坪羌寨) is the most well-preserved "living fossil" of Qiang (羌族) ethnic building cultural arts. With its cyclopean watchtower lanes, complicated underground water supply system and a long history of the Qiang nation, it is known as the "Mysterious Eastern Ancient Fortress".

Signature Landscapes & Experiences

Watchtowers & Labyrinth Lanes: Climb the Qiang village watchtowers to overlook the entire stone fortress. Navigate through interconnected lanes — light and shadow alternating — to experience the ancient Qiang people's sophisticated defensive system.

Mysterious Underground Water Network

Mysterious Underground Water Network: Explore the millennium-old hidden channels flowing beneath the village, and learn about this ingenious engineering system that serves simultaneously for water supply, fire prevention, temperature regulation and wartime passage.

Qiang Culture

Qiang Culture & Shibi Ritual Masters (释比): Visit Qiang folk residences and learn about white-stone worship. If fortunate, listen to a Qiang "Shibi" (shaman-priest) recounting ancient myths and epics.

Taoping Qiang Village is a wordless history book written in stone. Every stone holds condensed wisdom; every lane conceals a hidden story. Come here — decode the survival cipher of an ancient people.

🏔️ Hidden Gem: For those seeking a more rugged and untouched frontier beyond these famous sites, explore our Xinlong County Travel Guide for a Quiet and Raw Western Sichuan Experience to discover one of the most authentic Tibetan landscapes in the highlands.

15. Jingzhu Village, Wulong, Chongqing

Jingzhu Village, Wulong, Chongqing

Jingzhu Village (荆竹村), located in the heart of the Wulong Karst UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site, features extraordinary natural wonders such as Tianseng Three Bridges (天生三桥) and Longshui Gorge (龙水峡地缝), and is now becoming an eco-art pastoral complex centered on the theme of "returning to origins".

Signature Landscapes & Experiences

Tianseng Three Bridges

Tianseng Three Bridges (天生三桥): Walk into the filming location of Transformers 4 and Curse of the Golden Flower. Look up at three naturally formed giant stone bridges spanning the canyon — feel billions of years of geological creation.

Longshui Gorge (龙水峡地缝): Descend along cliff boardwalks deep into an earth fissure, watching waterfalls and springs cascade while experiencing the deep mystery of "one thread of sky."

Guiyuan Village (归原小镇): In the renovated traditional village, experience rural inns, teahouses and libraries that fuse contemporary design with rural memory — and enjoy the tranquility and artistic atmosphere of mountain living.

In Jingzhu, natural spectacle and modern poetry coexist. From the shock of sinkholes and gorges to the ease of the Guiyuan village, this is a complete journey from geological adventure to spiritual homecoming.

16. Liangdang Village, Gansu

Liangdang Village, Gansu

Liangdang (两当) is nestled in the southern foothills of the Qinling Mountains, famous for the "Yunping Three Gorges". Characterized by high mountains and s deep valleys, lush forests, and flanked by the highest peaks of the “the roof of Shaanxi & Gansu”, it has become the green barrier of the upper reaches of the Yangtze River to form a “natural oxygen bar” and “Longevity township” far from the noisy city.

Signature Landscapes & Experiences

Yunping Three Gorges

Yunping Three Gorges (云屏三峡): Drive or hike through Changlingxia, Jinkudong Gorge and Heishui Gorge. Feel towering cliffs on both banks with streams babbling through the canyon floor — the sensation of "mountain upon mountain, surprise after surprise."

Alpine Meadows & Pastures: At higher elevations, encounter open alpine meadows and leisurely cattle and sheep. Experience the unique pastoral scenery deep within the Qinling Mountains.

Red Cultural Heritage & Zhang Guolao Cave (张果老洞): Visit the Liangdang Mutiny Memorial and feel the red historical memory. Also seek out the legendary cave where Zhang Guolao is said to have practiced cultivation, adding a touch of mythological color to the journey.

The beauty of Liangdang lies in its raw, uncarved wilderness and quietude. Cloud-wrapped gorges are the gentlest interior of the Qinling, waiting for travelers in search of stillness.

17. Hemu Village, Xinjiang

Hemu Village, Xinjiang

Hemu Village (禾木村) is an ancient village of Tuva (图瓦)’s ancestral Antarctic people located beside Kanas Lake. Its autumn log cabins, kaleidoscopic trees, morning mists and winter “snow mushroom” log cabins under the stars are a dreamy pure land of beauty, fondly called “the back garden of the gods.”

Signature Landscapes & Experiences

Hemu Autumn Colors & Morning Mist: Climb Hadeng Platform (哈登平台) and look down at the small log-cabin village surrounded by golden, gleaming birch and larch forests. Morning mist flows like milk through the river valley — a scene of pure enchantment.

Tuvan Log Cabins & Daily Life

Tuvan Log Cabins & Daily Life: Stay in a log cabin, taste milk tea and Baursak (包尔萨克), and listen to an elderly local Tuvan play a "sur" (grass flute, 苏尔) melody — experiencing unique ethnic culture firsthand.

Hemu Winter

Hemu Winter: Experience horse-drawn sleigh rides, frolic in knee-deep powder snow, watch "snow mushrooms" growing on log cabin rooftops, and gaze at a brilliant Milky Way in minus-thirty-degree silence at night.

The beauty of Hemu is an extreme and pure beauty. Whether the brilliance of autumn or the serenity of winter, it is like a distant shepherd's song that soothes every restless city heart that arrives here.

18. Maji Village, Huzhu Village, Qinghai

Maji Village, Huzhu Village, Qinghai

The Huzhu Village (互助县) where Maji Village is located is the "Hometown of Chinese Tu People (土族)," preserving the most complete Tu ethnic traditional culture. Vivid folk costumes, the joyful "Anzhao Dance" (安昭舞) and the thrilling "Wheel Swing" (轮子秋) together compose a seven-colored Tu ethnic cultural tableau.

Signature Landscapes & Experiences

Tu Ethnic Garden

Tu Ethnic Garden & Folk Performances (土族园与民俗表演): In the Tu Ethnic Garden, watch a Tu ethnic wedding performance hailed as "the world's longest carnival," and observe the high-difficulty "Wheel Swing" and graceful "Anzhao Dance."

Tu Ethnic Costumes

Tu Ethnic Costumes & Pan Embroidery (土族盘绣): Admire up close the vivid, exquisitely embroidered "flower-sleeve shirts" (花袖衫, seven-color sleeves) worn by Tu women, and learn about the superb skills of the national intangible cultural heritage "Tu Pan Embroidery."

Qingke Liquor & Family Banquet: Taste the mellow Huzhu Qingke (highland barley) liquor (青稞酒), and experience the traditional Tu "Three-Course Meal" family banquet — feel the enthusiasm of being warmly hosted.

The Huzhu area where Maji Village is located is the place where rainbows linger. The joy here is as brilliant as seven-color sleeves; the folk songs here are as mellow as highland barley liquor. Come here — spend a day as a happy Tu person.

19. Xinglong Village, Hebei

Xinglong Village, Hebei

Xinglong (兴隆县) is situated deep in the Yanshan mountain range. It was designated as a Qing Dynasty “Rear Dragon Feng Shui Forbidden Ground” and for 254 years was sealed off by imperial edict, creating the pristine ecological environment it is today famous for being — a rare “natural oxygen bar” and summer retreat.

Signature Landscapes & Experiences

Wuling Mountain National Nature Reserve

Wuling Mountain National Nature Reserve (雾灵山国家级自然保护区): Ascend to the main peak of Yanshan, watch the sea of clouds at sunrise, observe the vertical forest belt spectrum, and explore natural wonders including Xianren Tower and Dragon Pond Waterfall.

Xinglong Limestone Cave

Xinglong Limestone Cave (兴隆溶洞): Tour the largest limestone cave in the Yanshan range, admire bizarre calcium carbonate formations, and feel "warm winters and cool summers" in the constant-temperature cave interior.

Beyond-the-Pass Jiangnan Water Town

Beyond-the-Pass Jiangnan Water Town (塞外江南水镇): In the Qingsongling Canyon, experience a water town that fuses northern mountain scenery with the spirit of southern China — stroll covered bridges and enjoy coolness and leisure.

Xinglong is an unpolished jade gem in the back garden of Beijing and Tianjin. There are no imperial palace crowds here — only the silent generosity of great mountains. Come and enjoy a cool summer of 22 degrees.

20. Ergun City, Inner Mongolia

Ergun City, Inner Mongolia

Ergun (额尔古纳), from which the river drew its name, is not only the patrie of the Mongol race but the site of the only Russian township in China, which is a settlement on territory occupied by the Rossifi. In the combination of forest, steppe, lake and river, and the association of the Mongol, Russian and Chinese, particularly the religious cell of the Hui, it is indeed a representative "corner of the north."

Signature Landscapes & Experiences

Ergun Wetlands

Ergun Wetlands (额尔古纳湿地): Climb to a high viewpoint and overlook "Asia's No. 1 Wetland" — the Genhe River winding like a silk ribbon across the vast steppe, creating extraordinary biodiversity.

Shiwei、Enhe Russian Ethnic Township

Shiwei/Enhe Russian Ethnic Township (室韦/恩和俄罗斯族民族乡): Stay in carved wooden log houses, taste Leiba bread and blueberry jam, and listen to descendants of Sino-Russian heritage singing Russian folk songs in a Northeast Chinese accent — experiencing a unique exotic atmosphere.

Birch Forests

Birch Forests & Steppe Pastures: Wander through golden birch forests in autumn, or visit nomadic herders on the summer steppe. Experience equestrian riding and milking cattle as pastoral life.

In Ergun — forest on the left, steppe on the right, and ahead the winding boundary river. This is a land full of epic grandeur and exotic romance, fulfilling every romantic imagination of the north.

21. Liang Village, Pingyao, Shanxi

Liang Village, Pingyao, Shanxi

Liang Village (梁村): Located next door to Pingyao Ancient City, Liang Village is comprised of five fortresses in the shape of an outstretched phoenix, which served as the rural estate and warehouse of Shanxi merchant magnates, with an intact cluster of fortresses and lovely Ming-Qing residences to explore. It is known as "a complement to the culture of Pingyao Ancient City."

Signature Landscapes & Experiences

"One Phoenix, Five Fortresses" Layout (一凤五堡): Overlook or wander through the five ancient fortresses including "Hexun Fortress" (和薰堡) and "Changtai Fortress" (昌泰堡), appreciating their "phoenix in flight" village layout and tight defensive system.

Shanxi Merchant Mansion Courtyards

Shanxi Merchant Mansion Courtyards: Visit the Ji family ancestral mansion, Ji clan ancestral hall and similar sites. Through brick carvings, wood carvings and inscribed plaques, glimpse the Shanxi merchant wisdom of "concealing wealth among the people" and profound clan culture.

Pingyao Ancient City

Quiet Ancient City Outskirts: Compared to the commercial clamor of Pingyao Ancient City, Liang Village is more tranquil and unspoiled. Staying here allows a deeper appreciation of the original, authentic rural life atmosphere of central Shanxi.

Liang Village is a low-profile pearl beneath the glare of Pingyao's fame. It lacks the commercial noise of the ancient city, yet possesses a more complete village form and more authentic historical texture — the perfect quiet destination for deeply understanding Shanxi merchant culture.

22. Cuandixia Village, Beijing

Cuandixia Village, Beijing

Cuandixia (爨底下村), the best preserved cluster of Ming-Qing courtyards (siheyuan, 四合院) in the suburbs of Beijing. Built against the mountainside and shaped like an ingot, the village was an important stopping-point for travelling merchants and travelers along the ancient postal road – dubbed the “Most Beautiful Village of Beijing,” it was a “treasure of classical architecture”.

Signature Landscapes & Experiences

Mountain Siheyuan Architectural Cluster: Stroll on lanes paved with grey-blue and purple stone, admiring tiered courtyards that rise with the mountain. Feel the ingenious rainwater drainage system cleverly designed so "not a drop of water drains to outsiders."

"Cuan" Character Culture & Village Layout (爨字文化): Learn about the unique "Cuan" character culture; ascend Golden Toad Mountain (金蟾山) or Dragon Head Mountain (龙头山) to overlook the entire village's "ingot-shaped" feng shui layout.

Ancient Postal Road

Ancient Postal Road & Guan Di Temple (古驿道与关帝庙): Walk the once-busy ancient western Beijing road, visit the Guan Di Temple at the village entrance, and imagine the prosperous scene of past caravans passing endlessly.

Cuandixia is the closest "old time" to Beijing. Pass through the tunnel and instantly travel from the modern metropolis to a Ming-Qing ancient town. The perfect destination to experience western Beijing historical culture and architectural aesthetics.

23. Linjiang City, Jilin

Linjiang City, Jilin

Linjiang (临江市) is located deep in the heart of land dominated by Changbai Mountain, sitting on the banks of the Yalu River (鸭绿江) which separates us from Korea across the water. With its boundless forests, natural resources, its significance as an ecological barrier, its fame as a “longevity township”, and in the blood of rich history that is coursing through its streets, it is little wonder it should be deemed worth visiting.

Signature Landscapes & Experiences

Jinyinxia Gorge

Jinyinxia Gorge

Jinyinxia Gorge (金银峡): Cruise the Yalu River canyon, watching jade-green river water wind between towering peaks on both banks — feeling the magnificent rivers and mountains of the China-Korea border.

Valleys & Forest Wellness: Head to Pokou, Songling Snow Village (松岭雪村) and similar areas. Enjoy forest bathing in summer; experience pure Lin Hai Xue Yuan (林海雪原, forest sea and snow plains) and snow village scenery in winter.

Yalu River

Chen Yun Former Residence & "Four Defenses of Linjiang" (四保临江): Visit Comrade Chen Yun's former residence and the "Four Defenses of Linjiang" battle memorial, and understand this important chapter of revolutionary history during the Liberation War period.

The beauty of Linjiang lies in its unpolished simplicity and abundance. It is the green treasure house gifted by Changbai Mountain and a serene pearl on the Yalu River shore — ideal for travelers seeking peace and deep oxygen immersion.

24. Hongxinglong Administration Bureau, Heilongjiang

Hongxinglong Administration Bureau, Heilongjiang

Hongxinglong Administration Bureau (红兴隆管理局), the heartland of China's "North Great Wilderness" (北大荒). Home to the world's most advanced large-scale modern agriculture, there are no old villages here, just the most beautiful farmlands in the world, spreading a jigsaw of Chinese food security heroism.

Signature Landscapes & Experiences

Ten-Thousand-Mu Grand Farm Fields (万亩大地号): Stand on an observation platform and look down upon endless geometric fields cultivated by the world's top agricultural machinery — feel the extreme order and geometric beauty brought by modern agriculture.

Modern Agricultural Machinery Demonstrations: During appropriate seasons, watch the spectacular sight of large tractors, combine harvesters and aerial chemical application operations. Witness the technological power of "smart agriculture."

North Great Wilderness Spirit Study Tour (北大荒精神研学): Visit the North Great Wilderness Development and Construction Memorial Museum, understand the epic history of transformation from "North Great Wilderness" to "North Great Granary," and feel the "North Great Wilderness Spirit" of hard work and pioneering.

Hongxinglong represents the pinnacle expression of modern industrial civilization applied to agriculture. The scenery here is a grand narrative about human survival, technology and the land. Come here and witness the spine and strength of Chinese agriculture.

25. Lüjiang Village, Dandong, Liaoning

Lüjiang Village, Dandong, Liaoning

Lüjiang Village (绿江村) is located on the China-DPRK border where the Yalu River and Hun River (浑江) converge. Because of fluctuating water levels, large wetlands and "submerged land" landscapes form here. Spring rapeseed flowers, summer green wilderness and autumn tidal flats create endlessly transforming scenery through all four seasons — earning it the title "Northern Shangri-La."

Signature Landscapes & Experiences

Hun River Grand Bend & Rapeseed Flower Sea (浑江大拐弯与油菜花海): In spring, climb to a viewpoint and overlook the giant "Ω"-shaped bend the Hun River forms before the village, with golden rapeseed flowers and jade-green river water reflecting each other magnificently.

The "Submerged Land" Spectacle (水没地奇观): In spring and summer when river water rises, farmland and trees become half-submerged, creating dreamlike "forests in water" and "fields in water" landscapes, with fishermen rowing small boats through them as if in a painting.

Fishing Culture & Border Scenery: Experience local fishermen casting nets, taste fresh Yalu River fish. Gaze across the river at North Korean scenery and feel the unique border atmosphere.

The beauty of Lüjiang Village lies in its unadorned wildness and the surprise of four seasons in rotation. It is less refined than the Jiangnan water towns, but possesses a grand, naturally formed beauty of its own — a paradise for photographers and road-trip enthusiasts.