Zhangjiakou, a city in Hebei Province some 200 kilometers northwest of Beijing, has long been known for its mountains and outdoor culture, boosted by the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. But the third season of CGTN's Village Voyage takes viewers beyond the famous slopes and into the countryside, where international travelers Julian Waghann and Juan Carlos Cheang Guzmán discover a rural China that is far more dynamic than any single image suggests. The series matters because it captures a critical shift: rural communities are not frozen in the past but are actively forging new identities, with implications for how the world understands China's countryside and its future.
In Chongli, the mountains that hosted 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. Residents have unlocked the hills' potential for mountain biking, trail running, hiking, and camping. 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 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." This evolution shows how Olympic infrastructure can seed lasting economic and cultural vitality beyond a single season.
Yugouliang Village, on a high plateau, offers a different rhythm. Its outdoor yoga, practiced among fields, grew naturally from farm work. "Our yoga comes from farm work," a villager explains. "It is part of how we live." Julian and Juan make youmian, a local oat staple, then practice yoga with residents. Juan reflects, "No matter where we are, people want the same things – health, peace, security and a life that feels full." The village presents a model of well-being rooted in place, challenging urban-centric notions of wellness.
In Yuxian, heritage remains part of daily life. The area's historic architecture inspired locations in the hit game Black Myth: Wukong, and its paper-cutting tradition, once used to decorate farmhouse windows, now reaches wider audiences. "Paper-cutting came from everyday people," a master says. "Now it reaches the wider world." Julian and Juan try their hand at the craft, experiencing how art emerges from ordinary life. This integration of heritage into contemporary culture highlights a sustainable path for rural revitalization.
Desheng Village demonstrates how clean energy meets modern farming. Solar panels stretch across the land, powering temperature-controlled greenhouses. "We used to depend heavily on the weather," a villager says. "Now technology and sunlight give us new hope." Julian and Juan pick ripe tomatoes and cucumbers, seeing how energy revenue funds schools, roads, and public spaces. A bonfire gathering reveals a community changing with the times while preserving its close-knit spirit. For more on CGTN's programming, visit CGTN.
These stories matter because they show rural China not as a monolith but as a mosaic of innovation and tradition. As travelers seek immersive experiences, Zhangjiakou offers a template for how ancient skills and modern technology can coexist, and how rural communities can shape their own futures. The implications extend beyond China: they challenge global assumptions about rural decline and point to a more diverse, hopeful vision of countryside life.
