Meet your guide at your Beijing hotel, and travel by private, air-conditioned vehicle into the beautiful surrounding countryside. Admire the mountain scenery of the Mentougou District, and after your travel, arrive at Cuandixia, a mountainside village whose name translates as ‘stove.’ Dating to between 1403 and 1424 during China’s Ming era, this well-preserved village centers on around 70 courtyard homes housing about 30 families. On arrival, stroll around the timeworn streets to experience Cuandixia’s old-time charm and folk architecture. View the quadrangle dwellings, many with ornate gate piers, screen walls, and carvings, and hear about the village’s past from your guide.

Following a typical Chinese farmhouse lunch at one of Cuandixia’s best restaurants, return to Beijing and visit Liulichang Street, famous for its Qing-style stone houses and antique shops. Admire the elaborate architecture and discover shops selling antiquarian books, paintings, ink stones, and calligraphy. Along the way, watch demonstrations of calligraphy and painting.