Zhangjiakou, a city in Hebei Province about 200 kilometers northwest of Beijing, has long been known for its mountains and outdoor culture, boosted by the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. But a new season of CGTN's Village Voyage takes viewers beyond the city's famous landmarks and into its countryside, where international travelers discover a rural China that is anything but static.
The third season features CGTN host Julian Waghann from the United States and Mexican traveler Juan Carlos Cheang Guzmán as they journey across Zhangjiakou, getting their hands in the soil, learning traditional crafts, and sharing meals with residents. Their experiences reveal how the land and its people are creating new possibilities for rural life, offering a more nuanced picture of a region often defined by a single image.
In Chongli, the mountains that hosted the 2022 Winter Olympics are no longer just a winter destination. Once best known for snow-covered slopes, they are increasingly becoming a year-round playground for outdoor activities. "Winter is for skiing, but summer opens up a whole new world," said a local outdoor guide. Since the Olympics, residents have unlocked the hills' year-round potential: mountain biking, trail running, hiking, and camping. Julian and Juan pedal along forest trails and stand at the starting line of the Chongli 168 Ultra-Trail Race, where thousands of runners surge forward. For Juan, the scene strikes a familiar chord. "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."
In Yugouliang Village, on a high plateau in northern Zhangjiakou, a distinctive form of outdoor yoga has grown naturally out of village life. "Our yoga comes from farm work," one villager explained. "It is part of how we live." Between planting and harvesting, residents stretch and breathe, finding stillness in open fields. Julian and Juan first experienced another part of village life by making youmian, a local staple made from oats, before practicing 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."
In Yuxian, known for its historic settlements and folk arts, ancient buildings have reached new audiences through popular culture. Some of its architecture inspired locations in Black Myth: Wukong, the hit Chinese action role-playing game. Yuxian paper-cutting is one of its best-known traditions. "Paper-cutting came from everyday people," said a master of the craft. "It used to decorate farmhouse windows. Now it reaches the wider world." Julian and Juan tried their hand at paper-cutting, fumbling with scissors but briefly feeling what it means to make art out of ordinary life.
In Desheng Village, rural communities are looking toward the future. Rows of 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," one villager said. "Now technology and sunlight give us new hope." Julian and Juan picked ripe tomatoes and crisp cucumbers, tasting a harvest that no longer depends on luck. They saw how clean energy revenue flows back into the community, funding schools, roads, and public spaces. As night fell, they joined a bonfire gathering in the village square, where music and laughter filled the evening air.
For a new generation of travelers, immersive experiences 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 folk crafts alive; and Desheng shows how clean energy and modern agriculture can create new opportunities. Here, tradition and innovation coexist, where ancient skills find new audiences and modern technology takes root in centuries-old communities. Visitors may come for the scenery, but by stepping into village life, they leave with a closer understanding of the people who live on this land, the traditions they carry forward, and the future they are building together.
