Homegrown tour guides share local history

Located 90 km from downtown Beijing, Cuandixia, a village of unique architecture and natural beauty that goes back to ancient times, is emerging as a popular destination with artists, photographers and movie-makers.

On entering the village in mountainous Mentougou district, one can see a handful of old stone houses dotting the slopes. Red lanterns and yellow corn adorn every entrance. Political slogans of the "cultural revolution" (1966-76), scrawled in red paint and bleached by the sun, are still there on the walls.

"I realized the charm of this village before those artists," says Han Mengliang, the village head, pointing at a film production team.