Located 90 kilometers from Beijing—a solid day's ride by horseback before the advent of the automobile—this charming stone village in the mountains has changed little in the past century. Once a key stopover for travelers famed for its goat meat, Cuandixia is now a living architectural museum where some 70 traditional courtyard buildings dating back roughly 400 years to the Ming Dynasty huddle together in the cleft of two rugged mountainsides.

After a long spell of economic hardship experienced after highway construction left the town high and dry, Cuandixia has experienced something of a renaissance thanks to its time-capsule atmosphere. An excellent day trip or even overnight trip for anyone seeking historic authenticity and charm. Overnight stays can be booked in a local courtyard room (see phone number below).