Zhangjiakou, a city in Hebei Province some 200 kilometers northwest of Beijing, has emerged as a distinctive destination in northern China, boosted by the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. The third season of CGTN's Village Voyage follows host Julian Waghann and Mexican traveler Juan Carlos Cheang Guzmán as they journey across the region, exploring how its land and people are creating new possibilities for rural life. The series matters because it offers a nuanced view of rural China that counters stereotypes of decline, showing instead communities that are dynamic, innovative, and deeply connected to their heritage.
In Chongli, the mountains that hosted the Winter Olympics are being transformed into a year-round outdoor playground. Once known primarily for skiing, the area now attracts mountain bikers, trail runners, hikers, and campers. "Winter is for skiing, but summer opens up a whole new world," a local guide said. Since the Olympics, residents have unlocked the hills' year-round potential. Julian and Juan pedal along forest trails and witness the Chongli 168 Ultra-Trail Race, where thousands of runners surge forward. For Juan, the scene is familiar: "Mountains don't have borders," he said. "The urge to run and challenge yourself in the wild is something we share, whether in Latin America or here." This shift has implications for rural economies, demonstrating how global events can catalyze sustainable, diversified local development.
In Yugouliang Village, on a high plateau in northern Zhangjiakou, a distinctive form of outdoor yoga has grown naturally out of farm life. "Our yoga comes from farm work," a villager explained. "It is part of how we live." Julian and Juan made youmian, a local oat staple, and practiced yoga alongside residents. "This feels familiar," Juan reflected. "No matter where we are, people want the same things – health, peace, security and a life that feels full." The village presents a different picture of rural China: not frozen in the past, but a community that has found its own rhythm and a new sense of well-being. This matters because it shows that rural revitalization can be rooted in local traditions rather than imposed from outside.
In Yuxian, historic settlements, traditional architecture, and folk arts are reaching new audiences through popular culture. Some architecture inspired locations in Black Myth: Wukong, the hit Chinese action role-playing game. Yuxian paper-cutting, a well-known folk tradition, remains part of daily life. "Paper-cutting came from everyday people," a master said. "It used to decorate farmhouse windows. Now it reaches the wider world." Julian and Juan tried their hand at the craft, fumbling with scissors but feeling what it means to make art out of ordinary life. Here, heritage isn't sealed behind glass; it's passed from hand to hand. The implication is that cultural heritage can be both preserved and adapted, driving tourism and community pride.
In Desheng Village, modern agriculture and solar power are shaping the future. Rows of solar panels capture sunlight that once only fed crops, while beneath them, temperature-controlled greenhouses hum with precision. "We used to depend heavily on the weather," one villager said. "Now technology and sunlight give us new hope." Julian and Juan picked ripe tomatoes and crisp 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 fell, a bonfire gathering in the village square filled the air with music and laughter. This shows how rural development can integrate clean energy and modern farming while maintaining close-knit community spirit.
For a new generation of travelers, immersive experiences like those in Village Voyage offer a more complete picture of rural China. In Zhangjiakou, the 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 shows how clean energy and modern agriculture create new opportunities. Tradition and innovation coexist in the same villages, where ancient skills find new audiences and modern technology takes root in centuries-old communities. Every village has its own story. 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. This matters because it reveals a rural China that is diverse, dynamic, and full of possibility, challenging simplistic narratives and offering a model for sustainable rural development.
