Zhangjiakou, a city in Hebei Province about 200 kilometers northwest of Beijing, has long been known for its mountains and outdoor culture, especially after hosting events for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. But a new season of the CGTN travel series Village Voyage is shining a light on a lesser-known story: how rural communities there are building new futures while holding onto their roots.
The third season of Village Voyage, hosted by CGTN's Julian Waghann from the United States and Mexican traveler Juan Carlos Cheang Guzmán, takes viewers beyond famous landmarks and into the countryside. The hosts immerse themselves in village life—planting, cooking, crafting, and sharing meals with residents—to discover a side of rural China that is dynamic, forward-looking, and deeply connected to the land.
In Chongli, the mountains that gained fame during the Winter Olympics are becoming a year-round destination. "Winter is for skiing, but summer opens up a whole new world," a local outdoor guide says. From mountain biking and trail running to hiking and camping, the hills are no longer dormant when the snow melts. The hosts pedal along forest trails and witness the Chongli 168 Ultra-Trail Race, where thousands of runners surge forward. For Juan, the scene resonates: "Mountains don't have borders. The urge to run and challenge yourself in the wild is something we share, whether in Latin America or here."
In Yugouliang Village, a high plateau community in northern Zhangjiakou, yoga has grown organically from farm work. "Our yoga comes from farm work," a villager explains. "It is part of how we live." Between planting and harvesting, residents stretch and breathe in the open fields. The hosts join in, first making youmian, a local oat staple, then practicing yoga alongside villagers. "No matter where we are, people want the same things—health, peace, security and a life that feels full," Juan reflects. Yugouliang offers a picture of rural China that is not frozen in the past but finding its own rhythm and well-being.
In Yuxian, historic settlements and folk arts are finding new audiences. The area's ancient architecture inspired locations in the hit game Black Myth: Wukong, and its paper-cutting tradition remains alive. "Paper-cutting came from everyday people," a master says. "It used to decorate farmhouse windows. Now it reaches the wider world." The hosts try their hand at the craft, fumbling with scissors but briefly feeling what it means to make art from ordinary life. Here, heritage is not sealed behind glass—it is passed from hand to hand.
Desheng Village shows how rural communities are looking forward. Solar panels stretch across the land, capturing sunlight that once only fed crops. Beneath them, modern greenhouses hum with temperature-controlled precision. "We used to depend heavily on the weather," a villager says. "Now technology and sunlight give us new hope." The hosts pick ripe tomatoes and cucumbers, tasting a harvest no longer dependent on luck. Clean energy revenue flows back into the community, funding schools, roads, and public spaces. As night falls, a bonfire gathering brings music, laughter, and conversation.
For a new generation of travelers, immersive experiences like those in Village Voyage offer a more complete picture of rural China. Zhangjiakou's countryside is not defined by a single landscape or way of life. Chongli's mountains pulse with year-round energy; Yugouliang's fields offer a slower rhythm; Yuxian's ancient villages keep traditions alive; and Desheng demonstrates how clean energy and modern agriculture can create new opportunities.
Visitors may come for the scenery, but by stepping into village life, they leave with a closer understanding of the people, traditions, and future being built together. As the series shows, rural China is more diverse, dynamic, and full of possibility than any single image can capture.
