Listen to community opera, enjoy a pig's trotter feast, and retrace the Long March route in a century-old village at the foot of the Great Wall

Number of days: 2 days
Time: September
Average cost: 500 yuan
With whom: and friends
Tour kinds: self-driving, cultural tours, hiking, weekend tours
The author went to these places: Great Wall Beijing Guanting Reservoir
Updated: 2022.07.02

Autumn's crisp, clear skies are perfect for mountain hiking. Listen to community opera at the foot of the Great Wall, enjoy a pig's trotter feast, visit the Beijing-Hebei boundary marker, gaze at the reservoir and the ancient Great Wall, and even retrace a brief walk along the Long March route—doesn't that sound appealing? We recommend taking a weekend off to visit Lang'eryu Village and Changyucheng Village, two century-old villages in Changping, Beijing, for a unique Beijing suburb experience!

A century-old village at the foot of the Great Wall that preserves the tradition of community opera.

Changyucheng, a border fortress and military stronghold since ancient times, is a unique village at the foot of the Great Wall. What's most remarkable is that it still maintains the tradition of community opera. Besides community opera, it's also a revolutionary village.

Mountain hiking: The most beautiful hiking trail in western Beijing, and check in at the Beijing-Hebei boundary marker.

Living in the village, you can look up and see a sky full of stars at night. The next morning, we headed north from Changyucheng Village, following the wooden plank path uphill for a mountain hike that captured the beauty of autumn. First, we followed the wooden plank path, then a gravel road. The entire hike was about 8 kilometers, and there was no need to backtrack. From the start to the return to Changyucheng Village, it took about 4 hours, making it a relatively moderate hike. Because the entire hike will take you along wooden plank roads, strolling through birch forests and passing through forest paths, you can also check out the boundary markers marking the dividing line between Beijing and Hebei Province. You can also overlook the ruins of the Great Wall beacon towers. This is the highest and oldest section of the Yan Great Wall in Beijing. The beacon towers are the remains of the battle against the Japanese invaders. On the broken walls of the high-rise beacon towers, 108 bullet holes bear witness to the tragic Battle of Nankou 80 years ago.

Tips for a Mini-Walk of the Long March Route in Lang'eryu Village

1. Lang'eryu Folk Resort is located in Liucun Town, Changping District, 70 kilometers from downtown Beijing.

2. Lang'eryu Village is rich in walnuts; you can enjoy healthy and nutritious walnut porridge at a village farm.

2. The Mini-Walk of the Long March Route is approximately 2.5 kilometers long and involves mountain hiking. Outdoor sports equipment is recommended.

3. The village offers day trips directly to the Lang'eryu Village Tourism Reception Center, which is also a patriotic red-themed education center and offers special group accommodations.

Two-Day Changping Itinerary

1. Changyucheng Village and Lang'eryu Village are a one-hour drive apart. Since the two villages are not adjacent, separate itineraries are recommended.

2. Compared to Changyucheng Village, Lang'eryu Village is more primitive and lacks many commercial facilities, so if you're looking for simple accommodations, stay in Changyucheng Village. However, the current accommodations are relatively more farmhouse-style, so if you're looking for a more convenient place to stay, consider shortening your itinerary and combining it into a one-day trip.

Two-Day Tour Route

Day 1: In the morning, enjoy the Lang'eryu Village Red Tourism (visit the museum and revisit the Long March route), then in the afternoon, visit Changyucheng Village for sightseeing and enjoy a pig's trotter feast for dinner. In the evening, listen to the Changyucheng opera and stay in a Changyucheng Village farmhouse.

Day 2: Hike the Changyucheng Hiking Trail, visit the Beijing-Hebei Boundary Monument, and see the Great Wall's beacon towers and enemy towers before returning.