The Red Era: Living in Seclusion in a Siheyuan as a Boss

Chapter 630 Li Zekai’s trip to western Beijing!!!

The western Beijing area, especially the Liujiazhuang area, is located in the foothills of Taihang and Yanshan Mountains. The mountainous terrain has created a unique natural landscape.

Not only are there many ancient villages with a long history preserved here, but there are also a large number of scenic spots and historical sites with profound cultural heritage. It can be called a natural "open-air museum".

Benefiting from the unique natural and cultural resources, Liujiazhuang area has assessed the situation and established "cultural tourism industry" as a key direction of regional development.

Over the years, Liujiazhuang has developed its cultural and tourism industry by deeply exploring cultural connotations and improving tourism supporting facilities. It has now become the third largest pillar industry after light industry and the electronics industry, injecting new vitality into local economic development.

"Withered vines, old trees, crows, small bridges, flowing water, and people's homes, ancient roads, west wind, and thin horses", Ma Zhiyuan of the Yuan Dynasty used only a few strokes to outline the beautiful scenery of the ancient road;
The sound of camel bells rang out, and merchants came and went. In Mr. Lao She's writing, Xiangzi also passed by here.

This is the ancient Jingxi Road located in Liujiazhuang area of ​​Xishan in Yanjing. It winds its way westward from Yanjing City, connecting Beihe, Xishan, Beimeng and other places, and connecting with the Grassland Silk Road.

As an important historical carrier of the Xishan Yongding River culture and the Great Wall culture, the Western Beijing Ancient Road has assumed multiple functions such as ethnic integration, military defense, trade and logistics, religious activities, and urban supply since ancient times. It is an important symbol of ancient civilization in the western Beijing region.

In the first national cultural relics survey, the Ancient Road of Western Beijing was ranked first among the “100 major new discoveries”.

"Thousands of years of ancient rhyme, new sound today."

This year, on August 8, Liujiazhuang district, in conjunction with the "Beijing West Cultural Tourism Group", the General Administration of Tourism and other units, held a "Cultural and Natural Heritage Day" event for the first time.

The "Ancient Road Relics" intangible cultural heritage experience route was launched, combining scenic spots and intangible cultural heritage projects along the Western Beijing Ancient Road, allowing tourists to experience the charm of intangible cultural heritage while enjoying the natural scenery.

Li Zekai and his four companions drove downstream along the Yongding River. Behind them, the high-rise buildings in Liujiazhuang area were gradually replaced by mountains.

Slowly, the mountains in the distance came closer and closer, and the looming mountain scenery became very clear.

This is Shuizi Village at the foot of Miaofeng Mountain, known as the "No. 1 Village on the Ancient Road of Western Beijing". It is located on the banks of the Yongding River, and the Ancient Road of Western Beijing is on the mountain behind the village.

"In ancient times, almost all goods shipped from the northwest had to be transported to Beijing via this ancient road, which became an important road supporting Yanjing at that time.

Therefore, similar to the Great Wall culture and the Grand Canal culture, the ancient road culture also has a very important historical significance." Liu Xiaomin, an employee of the Cultural Tourism Group who was accompanying them, introduced it to Li Zekai and the other two.

Contrary to popular belief, the Jingxi Ancient Road is not just one route, but a network of roads consisting of multiple interconnected routes with different functions.
It connects to Yanjing in the east and can go south to the Grand Canal; it connects to Zhangjiakou in the west and can be connected to the Grassland Silk Road. It covers the western Beijing plain, the western mountains of Yanjing, and parts of Zhuolu, Huailai, etc., with an area of ​​nearly 10,000 square kilometers.

Currently, there are 38 sections of ancient roads in Liujiazhuang area, with a total length of about 684 kilometers.

“The North Road is the most primitive route; the Middle Road is now also called the Yuhe Ancient Road, and its main function is to transport coal;

The southern route would pass through Tanzhe Temple and enter Beijing from Moshikou or Guang'anmen."

At the Ancient Road Museum, Liu Xiaomin pointed to the sand table and introduced some important points along the Jingxi Ancient Road to Li Zekai. "In ancient times, the goods transported to the capital through this ancient road included coal, salt, fur, tea and a large number of goods from the west."

Li Zekai and his party entered the Jingxi Ancient Road Scenic Area, where the historical atmosphere hit them in the face. What came into view was a steep stone road, winding and spreading out through the deep mountains.

As you walk along, you can see that the once rough stone slabs have been polished to be shiny and smooth, and hoof prints of different sizes and depths appear in groups.

Li Zekai heard from Liu Xiaomin that this was because in the early years, there were always caravans in the Western Mountains, and the iron hooves of the livestock stepped out many deep and shallow hoof prints on the hard stone surface. Because of the difference in strength between the front and back of the soles of the feet, the depth and shape of the hoof prints were different.

Today, there are many remains of these hoof prints on the ancient trail, which have become important witnesses of the ancient trail’s former prosperity.

“Since the Liao and Jin dynasties, a large amount of building materials, fuel, and grain from the Yongding River basin were transported to the capital, and the Jingxi Ancient Road developed rapidly;
By the Ming and Qing Dynasties and the Minguo Period, the Jingxi Ancient Road had become an important channel for the energy supply of the capital, with merchants coming and going and caravans constantly passing through, making it a busy scene. "Liu Xiaomin is worthy of being an excellent tour guide of the "Jingxi Cultural Tourism Group". She knows the origins of every scenic spot.

As they walked, Liu Xiaomin told Li Zekai and others about the prosperity of the thousand-year-old Beijing West Ancient Road in the past.

As they were talking, the statues of livestock on the roadside attracted the attention of Li Zekai and his four companions.

This is not the expected Camel Bell Trail dominated by camel statues, but mostly mules and donkeys.

"Hey, why are these sculptures mules and donkeys? Shouldn't they be camels?" Li Zekai asked with some confusion.

Liu Xiaomin explained: "Camels were indeed important transport animals at the time, but because camels were not good at traveling in the mountains, the pack teams in the Western Mountains mostly used mules and donkeys, and only switched to camels after leaving the mountains."

Along the ancient road, there are attractions such as blacksmith shops and tea stalls, as well as scenes of mules and horses carrying loads, passers-by taking a rest and drinking.

Li Zekai's thoughts seemed to go back to that era, seeing the ancient people traveling back and forth on this road, and mules and horses carrying goods passing through here to go to other places.

"Look at this blacksmith shop, it was equivalent to the 4S store at that time, replacing and repairing spare parts used by the caravans." Liu Xiaomin explained humorously, bringing Li Zekai back to reality.

Here, not far away you can see the Niujiaoling Pass, which has stood for hundreds of years.

During the Ming Dynasty, Niujiaoling Pass, as the first pass on the northern route of the Xishan Road, was guarded by officials who collected customs duties from passing merchants and travelers. The mule and horse hoof prints here are clear and eye-catching, and are spectacular.

According to Liu Xiaomin, the significance of the Western Beijing Ancient Road lies not only in the transportation of goods, but also in the humanistic exchange and cultural collision.

There are four incense trail settlements on the ancient Beijing West Road: Miaofeng Mountain, Tanzhe Temple, Baihua Mountain, and Jiulong Mountain.

Among them, Jinding Miaofeng is known as the top of the five peaks in Beijing. The Miaofeng Mountain Temple Fair related to it began in the Ming Dynasty, flourished in the Qing Dynasty, and flourished in Minguo. It is now a national intangible cultural heritage list item;
The Qianjuntai village banner meeting, Jingxi Taiping drum, and colored glaze firing techniques along the ancient road also paint a unique picture of folk customs on the Jingxi Ancient Road.

Therefore, the Ancient Road to the West of Beijing is not only a commercial route and a military route, but also a perfume route.

At present, modern roads extend in all directions in the Liujiazhuang area, and the "Ancient Road of Western Beijing" that was once bustling with traffic has long been abandoned.

The once prosperous commercial and travel post roads have become a place for people to explore and visit ancient sites, and the "Beijing West Cultural Tourism Group" is also revitalizing the ancient road resources through various means to attract more tourists to come and listen to the echoes of history in the ancient road footprints.

The tourist route of the Jingxi Ancient Road scenic area section in Shuiyuzui Village is deeply loved by foreign tourists like Li Zekai for its gentle slope, moderate length and complete relics.

This May Day, the tour to explore the ancient roads in western Beijing will be launched here.

As soon as tourists enter the scenic area, they can change into Hanfu for free, as if they have traveled through time and space and returned to ancient times.

In front of the city gate tower, tourists can receive a "pass" and enter the ancient road and stroll among the mountains.

When I walked into the blacksmith's shop, I saw a blacksmith in cloth clothes forging iron while shouting: "Sir, look at the fine horseshoes..."

Walking along the ancient road, tourists will meet tea stall waiters and be warmly invited to have tea and rest by the roadside.

When you arrive at Niujiaoling Pass, you will see mighty patrolling soldiers in red robes, which brings a unique visual experience to tourists.

Here, tourists had a dialogue with the ancients across time and space, and felt the unique charm of the ancient road culture.

"Utilization is the best protection for the Ancient Road of Western Beijing. Traditional culture can be passed on through use and developed through innovation." Liu Bencheng said to Li Zekai.

With the concerted efforts and development and protection of various departments of the "Beijing West Cultural Tourism Group", the value of the cultural relics and resources of the ancient road has been reflected in many aspects.

Today, many routes of the Western Beijing Ancient Road have become a popular choice for hiking enthusiasts in the Yanjing area.

This not only gives new vitality to the ancient trail, but also effectively avoids the hidden danger of being damaged by weeds and trees due to long-term lack of people walking on it.

"Well, it's great! Hiking here is not only interesting, but also allows you to enjoy the charming scenery." Li Zekai, who loves outdoor sports, said sincerely.

With the rapid development of the domestic economy, people's living standards are gradually improving, and outdoor sports are gradually flourishing in big cities. Recently, the "Beijing West Cultural Tourism Group" is planning to hold a "hiking conference" to attract many domestic and foreign hiking enthusiasts to come and experience it.

As the best-preserved cultural relic-level ancient road in the suburbs of Beijing, the Jingxi Ancient Road is the closest place for hiking.

Liu Zhen, deputy director of the Liujiazhuang Culture and Tourism Bureau, who accompanied Li Zekai on the tour, said: "The Jingxi Ancient Road combines different ancient road resources and cultural endowments to successively establish scenic spots with different cultural characteristics.

As an important commercial route, military route and pilgrimage route in the past, the Ancient Road of Western Beijing has now evolved into a number of unique tourist destinations.

The Jingxi Ancient Road Scenic Area for business roads, the Cuanbai Scenic Area for military roads, and the Miaofeng Mountain Scenic Area for incense roads are all vivid heritages of the ancient road culture.”

Among them, Miaofeng Mountain Incense Festival is one of the important cultural protection contents.

Every year from the first to the fifteenth day of the fourth lunar month, the Miaofeng Mountain Temple Fair, a national intangible cultural heritage project, is very lively. On the mountain road, there is an endless stream of people, and tourists gather towards the temple fair on the top of the mountain.
In the scenic area, long queues formed in front of porridge stalls and steamed bun stalls, providing delicious food for tourists and pilgrims. In front of the Niangniang Temple, many traditional folk flower fair activities such as stilt yangko, lion dance, and Zhongfan were performed brilliantly, with deafening drums and bustling voices.

In addition to hosting special activities in the scenic area, the Western Beijing Ancient Road Museum is also an important carrier for the use and protection of ancient road culture.

Here, you can appreciate the historical heritage of the ancient road, recall the prosperity of business and travel, experience the rich and colorful folk customs, and listen to the historical footsteps of ancient civilization.

The interactive installations on the wall showcase specialties unique to the Western Beijing Ancient Road, such as the Prince's Tomb Apples and Longquan Wuxiang White Apricots. The big drums in the exhibition hall allow visitors to appreciate the local folk art culture.

The exhibition hall is only 200 square meters, but it is the first thematic museum in Beijing that mainly introduces the Ancient Road of Western Beijing.

In order to develop the tourism industry in the western Beijing area, Liujiazhuang area and the "Western Beijing Cultural Tourism Group" jointly with the School of Urban and Environmental Studies of Yenching University have protected, developed and repaired the scenic spots and historical sites in Liujiazhuang area.

In May of this year, teachers from the School of Urban and Environmental Studies of Yenching University brought dozens of professional students to Shuiyuzui Village to conduct a systematic group investigation of the Jingxi Ancient Road Scenic Area, guiding Yenching University students to provide suggestions for the further development and improvement of the scenic area.

In addition, many teams from domestic universities with relevant majors came to the Western Beijing Ancient Road for field investigation and research.

After months of competition, the final of the Liujiazhuang Challenge Cup "Qinghui Jingcai" Cultural Tourism and Creative Special Competition has just come to an end.

These participating college student teams contributed unique creative ideas to the innovative development of the Western Beijing Ancient Road.

For example, we selected the mule and horse images of the mule and horse team of merchants on the Jingxi Ancient Road, combined with the characteristics of the ancient road, mountains and rivers, to create a series of original emoticons of "Mule Xiaoxi", develop cultural and creative products, and revitalize the cultural heritage of the ancient road;
Use existing homestays to build scenes such as "play in the courtyard" and ancient road script-killing, develop and perform ancient road dramas, and carry out intangible cultural heritage handmade experience and other activities...

Liu Zhen, deputy director of the Culture and Tourism Bureau, said: "Participating in the Challenge Cup competition is an attempt for us to connect with universities in the capital, let young students join in, gather talents, and light up the road to the revitalization of the ancient road with cultural creativity."

Nowadays, the development of the Western Beijing Ancient Road is no longer just about emphasizing its practical value and creating a charming scenic spot, but taking the culture of the Western Beijing Ancient Road as the core, using creative forms, and integrating contemporary elements to create a unique "Western Beijing Ancient Road IP image" to pass on the traditional charm in a vivid and innovative way.

In addition to collaborating with universities and cultural research institutions, in order to promote the cultural development of the Western Beijing Ancient Road and tell the story of the ancient road well, the Liujiazhuang area also uses culture to empower industries, and uses industries to drive the protection and development of culture, so that the natural scenery of the ancient road where "the hoof prints and camel sounds are still there" can be perfectly integrated with cultural and tourism projects.

In addition, the "Beijing West Culture and Tourism Group" is also working hard to carry out the "Small Courtyard +" series of actions for boutique homestays, so that "the small courtyard has drama", "the small courtyard has entertainment", "the small courtyard has learning", "the small courtyard has friends" and "the small courtyard has tea".

Liu Xiaomin introduced: "We have also built boutique homestays such as 'Gudao Shanju, Miaofeng Xiaozhu, Cuanshe, Guanxiang, and Dongma Shanjia'. At the same time, we use the platform of 'Xiaoyuan Youxi' to implant the intangible cultural heritage of Gudao into the homestays."

After a whole day of touring the ancient trail, Li Zekai and his three companions tried to stay overnight in a homestay, which was a different experience.

The next day, Liu Xiaomin took everyone into Cuandixia Village to continue the tour.

When you come to Cuandixia Village, the main purpose is of course to visit the ancient buildings here.

Cuan Dixia Village, also known as Chuandixia Village, is 90 kilometers away from the capital and only 3 kilometers away from Liujiazhuang Zhaitang Town. It is an ancient village from the Ming and Qing dynasties that is relatively well preserved in the northern region.

Cuandixia Village has a history of more than 400 years. Although it has been baptized by time, there are still 74 courtyards and more than 680 buildings preserved today. It can be said that its scale is relatively large in the country.

The Ming and Qing Dynasty buildings in Cuandixia Village are mainly a combination of mountain courtyards and plain courtyards.

Like the Siheyuan in Yanjing, it is mainly composed of the main house, the back house, and the left and right wing rooms.

However, due to the influence of the geographical environment, the courtyard houses of Cuandixia Village also incorporate the compact and flexible characteristics of the courtyard houses of Xishan Province;
It can be said that the courtyard houses of Cuandixia Village absorbed the advantages of the courtyard houses of Yanjing and Xishan Province, and formed its own unique style.

Cuandixia Village is a relatively well-preserved ancient mountain village building complex discovered in the Xia Dynasty. It has a reasonable layout and rigorous structure. Therefore, it was praised by Mr. Luo, a famous ancient building expert: it is a pearl among the classical architectural treasures of the Xia Dynasty.

Legend has it that this small mountain village has a connection with Emperor Kangxi. The authenticity of the story cannot be verified, so just listen to it as a story.

According to legend, during the reign of Emperor Kangxi in the Qing Dynasty, he suffered from a strange disease that even the imperial doctors in the palace were helpless to treat.

So Kangxi went to the temple to burn incense and pray, and vowed that if he recovered from his illness, he would abdicate the throne.

Unexpectedly, Kangxi's illness was really cured soon after. However, as an emperor who was used to a life of fine clothes and delicious food and a luxurious life, how could he bear the strict rules and regulations of the temple?

How could I not fulfill the promise I made before the Buddha?

This made Emperor Kangxi very worried. What should he do?

Just when he was full of confidence, the advisers around him gave Kangxi an idea, which was to find someone who looked similar to him to become a monk on his behalf.

So Kangxi sent people to look for him everywhere. After searching for many days, a candidate from Cuandixia village who was going to Beijing to take the imperial examination caught the attention of the officials.

This man was named Han Shoude. Not only did he look very similar to Kangxi, but most importantly, he was very happy to accept this assignment. So Han Shoude went to Mount Wutai to become a monk on behalf of Emperor Kangxi.

After Han Shoude went to Mount Wutai to become a monk, Emperor Kangxi rewarded the villagers of Cuandixia Village with a large amount of property to express his gratitude. Not only that, he also exempted the village from official taxes.

This is the story of Cuandixia Village and Kangxi that is widely circulated among the people. Does it sound interesting to you?
Not far from Cuandixia Village, there is a place called "One Line of Sky", which is a typical fault landscape.

A long and narrow rift valley is more than 150 meters long, and the road in the canyon was once an important post road in the Ming and Qing Dynasties.

Today, Cuandixia Village has long become a famous cultural and tourist attraction in Liujiazhuang area.

Here you can not only see many hundreds of years old buildings, but you can even live in these old buildings.

At present, many ancient courtyards in Cuandixia Village have been converted into characteristic homestays. When tourists walk among the old buildings in the village, or drink tea and chat in the homestays, they always feel like they are traveling through time.

"First there was Tanzhe Temple, then there was Yanjing City."

After staying one more night in Cuandixia Village, Liu Xiaomin, Li Zekai and the other two came to the famous Tanzhe Temple in western Beijing the next day.

Tanzhe Temple is located at the foot of Tanzhe Mountain in Liujiazhuang area, which is surrounded by mountains and has beautiful natural scenery. It is an ancient temple with a long history.

It was first built in the first year of Yongjia in the Western Jin Dynasty (307 AD). The temple was originally named "Jiafu Temple". It is the earliest temple built after Buddhism was introduced into the Yanjing area.

Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty named it "Xiuyun Temple", but because there is a dragon pond behind the temple and mulberry trees on the mountain, people have always called it "Tanzhe Temple".

Because of its long history, there is a saying that "Tanzhe Temple came first, and Yanjing City came later".

When he arrived at this ancient temple, Li Zekai felt that his body and mind were surrounded by the ancient and tranquil atmosphere.

(End of this chapter)