Evan_Miller

Hello - we are looking to visit some traditional hamlets/villages within a day's drive outside of Beijing. We're very interested in seeing what rural life in China is like, juxtasposed against Beijing. Please provide any recommendations. Thank you!

wwwoktripscom

Most of villages around Beijing were difficult to find rural life, You can drive north of Beijing way to Ming tombs(Huai rou county)find the villages and taste the farm's food.
Go west of Beijing ,Cuan Di Xia village is the only one in Beijing as “historical and cultural village”. you can discover actual Chinese ancient life style,it is known for its well preserved 500 Ming and Qing dynasty-style courtyard houses owned by 70 families, ancient but unsophisticated

kja

Cuandixia is frequently mentioned, and can (or at least once could) even be reached from Beijing by public transportation!

jobin

R u looking for 'ancient' village life or contemporary rural chinese life? Now of course many motorbikes and cars in every village but also small courtyard houses, the preferred style of life, with pigs in the pen with the outhouse over the pig pen. Still cooking with dried corn cobs in kitchens with mud floors but electric water heaters for showers. It's a combination of poverty and mod. Most hired guides will not want to take you to such places as it reflects poorly on the govt notion of 'modern china', and public toilets can be 'out of this world', if u squeamish. But u can go yourself. How much time do u have?

JPDeM

I don't think one can go easily to Cuandixia via public transportation. It is 2 to 3 hours by car so quite long by bus , that is if you can figure out the bus system. It is an ancient village but not really rural life. It is mostly a tourist attraction.
You can only go so far on a day trip. Remember that you cannot drive in China unless you have a local driver's license.
If you get a driver you can just head out for the countryside. Not much to see though.