Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
To get to Língshuǐ, turn right out of Exit D of Pingguoyuan subway station and walk 200m to a bus stop.
Take bus 829 to Jūnxiǎng ( ¥12, 1½ hours, 6.30am to 5.30pm) from where you can take a taxi (¥10 to ¥20) for
the final 5km.
Shuǐyù
This is one of Běijīng's most attractive ancient villages (entrance ¥20). Head to the west side of the more mod-
ern half of town for your fix of charming cobblestone alleys and Ming- and Qing-dynasty
courtyards
(there are
more than 100 old courtyards). Hunt down the weathered Goddess Temple (Niángniáng Miào) - yes, this vil-
lage has one too! - and keep an eye out for the numerous Qing-dynasty
millstones
dotted around the place. Try
not to miss the traditional flagpole ceremony carried out each morning and afternoon by women of the village.
To get to Shuǐyù, take bus 836 from Tiānqiáo long-distance bus station
OFFLINE MAP
(
Tiānqiáo Chángtú
Qìchēzhàn) to Fangshan Gouwu Zhongxin bus stop ( ¥11, 1½ hours, 5.40am to 8pm) then cross the road to find
Fangshan bus station ( Fángshān Kèyùnzhàn) and take bus 23
(fáng èrshísān)
to Shuǐyù Cūn (¥11, two hours).
Returning, the last 23 bus leaves Shuǐyù at 4.20pm.
Gǔyájū
Gǔyájū (admission ¥40) is an enigma - an ancient abandoned cave village of unknown origin that pokes out
from rocks in the water-starved hills of Yánqìng District and is the stuff of storybook legends. More than a
dozen cave dwellings, spanning five or six levels of an open rock face, look out over the surrounding barren
landscape. Steps carved into the rock allow you to climb up and explore the pleasingly cool caves. Some of the
caves on the upper levels have been cordoned off, but there's still plenty to explore. Pack some food, and picnic
in one of the strangest spots in Běijīng.
To reach Gǔyájū, take bus 919 (¥12, two hours, 6am to 6pm) from Déshèngmén gateway (
OFFLINE MAP
) to
Yánqìng Dōngguān then take bus 920 (¥5, 40 minutes, 6am to 6pm) to Dōngményíng, which is about a 2km
walk from Gǔyájū. The last bus 919 back to Déshèngmén leaves Yánqìng Dōngguān at 5.30pm.
Tánzhè Temple & Jiètái Temple
Explore
These two ancient temples, around 10km apart, make a peaceful, Buddhist-inspired city-
centre escape, and can easily be visited in a half-day trip.
