If you are looking for a change of scenery during weekend holiday but don't wish to stray too far from Beijing, follow your compass west out to the Ming Dynasty village of Cuandixia.

Tucked into the curved base of a mountain range, sitting some 90 km west of Beijing, Cuandixia offers a snapshot of history - a romantic vision of China that seems a world away from the skyscrapers, glitzy malls and deadlocked streets.[China.org.cn/Photo by Dong Nianlong]