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Fresh rural air not so far away

By Steve Hubrecht (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-12-13 08:39

The name "Beijing" conjures up images of a sprawling city, miles of concrete and snarling traffic.

To be sure, the capital is all of those things. But, like most Chinese municipalities, the boundaries of Beijing stretch many kilometers beyond its urban area.

Although an overwhelming number Beijingers are urbanites living in the city's downtown area and its fast-growing suburbs, in terms of geographical area, most of municipal Beijing is rural, filled with farms, villages and craggy mountains.

Beijingers who feel frazzled by the constant grind of city life - who are always on the go, constantly checking their cell phones, forever stuck in traffic - should keep in mind that they can leave these urban hassles behind without actually leaving Beijing.

There are plenty of options for those who want to escape the city but still stay in Beijing.

To the west of the city, there are several fantastic traditional villages, which are a great place to unwind and relax. The houses in these villages are generally traditional Chinese courtyard houses and made of stone. Many village residents are not only welcoming, but have realized the economic boon that urban visitors can provide and have turned their courtyard homes into restaurants or guesthouses.

Most of these villages are easily accessed from downtown Beijing by a combination of subway and bus or taxi, so you can visit in a day, but making a weekend trip and staying overnight is a great experience. You can wander the villages' stone pathways to your heart's content, sit around a table in a family courtyard home and eat your fill of delicious country-style food and then fall asleep to the sound of the wind whistling past your window, rather than the sound of honking cars.

Those looking for a little bit more exercise can head out to the north of the city, where the Great Wall stretches across rugged mountain ranges. There are so many hiking spots on Beijing's sections of the Great Wall that every hiker can find what he or she is looking for. There are totally developed, completely restored parts of the Great Wall, where you can amble into a coffee shop, buy a latte, zoom up to the Wall on a cable car, stroll around and then ride back down on a zip line.

There are quieter, partially restored parts of the Wall, where you can hike between the watchtowers with a few other hikers and the occasional entrepreneurial vendor offering drinks and snacks. And there are wild, crumbling and overgrown parts of the Wall, which you'll have all to yourself and where you must watch your step.

If you want a relatively easy walk on a gently rolling part of the Wall, you can get it. If you want to go scrambling up the Wall on steep, rocky mountainsides, you can find that too. And if you want to spend a night out by the Great Wall, there a plenty of options, ranging from modern luxury rental homes to simple, but friendly family guesthouses.

Walking along the Wall, wherever you choose to do it, looking at stones underfoot and mountains all around, and breathing in fresh air seems a world away from urban Beijing, although in reality it's not much more than an hour or two away.

Those seeking a less rigorous antidote to urban Beijing can head out of the city in just about any direction - there are plenty of good walking trails or rural roads to cycle along everywhere. There is plenty of green vegetation and some surprisingly clear streams. Simply getting out into rural Beijing to sample local seasonal food is a great escape from the hustle and bustle of urban life. Buy some peaches, strawberries or persimmons from a village vendor and munch happily away.

Escaping urban Beijing for a taste of rural life, even just for an afternoon, is something you'll be glad you did, no matter what time of year you go or what you do when you get there.