Beijng: Tours around Beijing in Autumn and Winter

As a famous cultural and historical city, Beijing also becomes more and more modern. Every day, there are new buildings standing up somewhere in the city and the air seems to be crowder too. Every streets are full of rushing people and zooming cars. When the weekend comes, many people want to go out of the city. Today, I will introduce two good places in suburbs of Beijing for choice.

1. Mentougou Scenic Spot

Why people like it: Beijing section of G109 national highway is a golden tourism gateway which runs through the whole part of Mentougou scenic spot in western Beijing. Zero road toll along the Beijing section and you can pass through several scenic sites in western Beijing. Beautiful landscapes varies with the height of the elevation. What I will introduce to you today is the Cuandixia Village.

The village is located beneath the Ming Dynasty’s “military pass of Cuanli’anko”, hence the name “Cuandixia Village (“dixia” means beneath)”. It is a village which well preserved the residence of Siheyuan in Ming and Qing Dynasty. Originally built in Yongle Reign（1403~1424）of Ming for immigrants from Shanxi Province, it is hailed as “the palais de potala in western Beijing”. If you join a Beijing to Xian tour, you can go there when you have time.

2. West Qing Tombs in southern Beijing

Originally built in the 8th year of Kangxi Reign (1730) in Qing Dynasty and completed in 1915, the West Qing Tombs covers a total area of more than 800 square kilometers. With 14 mausoleums in there, and among which 4 are the emperors’, 9 are empresses’, 57 are concubines’, 2 So far, it is the most well-preserved, the latest and most original Qing emperors’, 2 are royal highnesses’, 2 are princesses’ and 6 are princes’, totally account for 80 people. The beautiful natural landscapes also add it a little aura of nature.

In fact, last time when I travel in Xian, I also witnessed the beautiful suburbs like Fengyukou Gully and Louguantai Temple.