Step into Mentougou, where the most authentic landscapes and cultural memories of Western Beijing are hidden

【3 days 2 nights, about 4600 RMB per person! Mentougou Guide: Western Beijing’s Secret Realm, Ancient Villages, Starry Skies, and Canyon Hiking】

Day 1: Drive or take the M1/M4 subway to Pingguoyuan and transfer to a bus, arriving in about 1.5 hours at **Zhaitang Town, Mentougou**. Stay at boutique guesthouses recommended: 【Wayao Guesthouse】 or 【Shanzhongxi·All Season】 (breakfast included, 1600 RMB/night × 2 = 3200 RMB). In the afternoon, visit 【Cuandixia Village】 (entrance 35 RMB) — a Ming and Qing dynasty ancient village built along the mountain, with stone-paved alleys and courtyard houses showcasing the spirit of Western Beijing.

Day 2: Hike 【Shuanglong Gorge】 (entrance 60 RMB, optional small train +25 RMB) — traverse high mountain valleys, reach the ice waterfall area (stunning in winter), and enjoy lush shade in summer. The whole route is about 8 km with moderate difficulty. Return to Zhaitang in the evening, enjoy authentic local dishes like “Fire Pot Tofu Feast” and “Wild Vegetable Dumplings” (about 60 RMB per person), and spend the night in the mountains stargazing and listening to cicadas.

Day 3: Visit 【Lingshui Juren Village】 (free) — an ancient village with imperial examination culture, climb up to view the Bagua-shaped layout, and check out the filming location of “Where Are We Going, Dad?”. On the way, stop by 【Jiuyuangou on the Western Beijing Ancient Road】, walk the stone-paved road with horse hoof prints, and feel the vicissitudes of a thousand years of commerce and travel. In the afternoon, return passing by 【Tanzhe Temple】 (entrance 55 RMB) — “Tanzhe Temple existed before Beijing City,” pay respects to the thousand-year-old ginkgo and imperial trees, and end with a peaceful heart.

💰Budget breakdown:
Transport 300 RMB + Accommodation 3200 + Meals 600 (4 meals) + Tickets and local transport about 300 + Miscellaneous reserve 200 ≈ **4600 RMB**

📌Tips:
- Enjoy autumn red leaves and winter snow villages; Shuanglong Gorge ice waterfall is best from December;
- Ancient roads have many stone steps, wear anti-slip hiking shoes;
- Guesthouses are recommended to be booked in advance, weekends are busy.

⚠️Warnings:
❌ Don’t trust “cheap local guides” near villages, the attractions are concentrated and don’t require guides;
❌ Incense stalls outside Tanzhe Temple are expensive, bring your own or buy incense inside the temple.

Three days and two nights, step into Mentougou. Here lies the most authentic landscapes and cultural memories of Western Beijing. Come here, count stars in the night of Cuandixia, retrace the river of time on the stone steps of the ancient road — no noise, just natural sound.

Post by JEFFREY STEVENSON | Oct 20, 2025