Overview
Cool private day from Beijing to the western hills. Stroll Longmenjian, 'Beijing's Little Three Gorges', and explore Cuandixia, a Ming-Qing stone village, with car, guide and lunch.
Itinerary
Beijing: Longmenjian Canyon & Old Village Private Day Trip
Just a couple of hours from central Beijing lies a green, mountainous corner of the city that most visitors never see. This relaxed private day tour pairs a refreshing canyon with one of northern China's best-preserved old villages, all at an easy pace with your own English-speaking guide and private vehicle.
Your driver picks you up from your Beijing hotel in the morning and heads west into the Mentougou hills. First stop is Longmenjian, a cool, shaded canyon nicknamed 'Beijing's Little Three Gorges'. Here you take a gentle stroll along clear streams, small waterfalls, and quiet pools, a welcome escape from the summer heat. There is no demanding hiking, just a leisurely walk with frequent stops for photos and rest, and your guide on hand to point out the scenery.
At midday you enjoy a relaxed home-style countryside lunch in Cuandixia, a 500-year-old mountain village. The afternoon is spent wandering its stone lanes and stacked courtyard houses, built into the hillside in classic Ming and Qing style. Used as a filming location for Chinese cinema, the village feels like a living museum of old northern China, with grey-tiled roofs, carved doorways, and sweeping valley views. Your guide brings the history to life, explaining the architecture, family compounds, and daily traditions.
The whole day is designed to be comfortable and unhurried, ideal for families, couples, and travellers who want real culture and nature without strenuous activity. In the late afternoon your private car returns you directly to your Beijing hotel.
Cool private day from Beijing to the western hills. Stroll Longmenjian, 'Beijing's Little Three Gorges', and explore Cuandixia, a Ming-Qing stone village, with car, guide and lunch.
What's Included
✓ Included
✕ Not included
Cancellation Policy
Free cancellation is available on most tours up to 24 hours before the start time. The exact cancellation terms for this tour are shown during booking.
Traveler Reviews
The part around Longmenjian Canyon & Old Village Day was unhurried, which mattered more to me than squeezing in one more stop. Beijing, Chongqing and Luoyang was a good counterpoint.
What helped was simple: our questions wandered well beyond the standard facts, and the guide stayed with them. That made the time at Beijing, Chongqing and Luoyang much more interesting.
Looking back, the schedule is fairly full. I would have liked another twenty minutes at Longmenjian Canyon & Old Village Day, but I would not drop any of the main stops.
Looking back, this felt like travelling with someone who knew the area, not following a person holding a flag. That difference showed most at Beijing, Chongqing and Luoyang.
In short, worth doing for Longmenjian Canyon & Old Village Day; worth remembering for the small stops in between.