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 city's famous landmarks and into the countryside, where international travelers discover a rural China that is far more diverse and dynamic than any single image can capture. The season matters because it challenges outdated perceptions of rural life, showing how communities are actively shaping their own futures by blending tradition with innovation.
Host Julian Waghann from the United States and Mexican traveler Juan Carlos Cheang Guzmán journey across Zhangjiakou, getting their hands in the soil, learning traditional crafts, and sharing meals with residents. In Chongli, the mountains that hosted the Winter Olympics are being transformed into a year-round destination for outdoor activities. "Winter is for skiing, but summer opens up a whole new world," said a local outdoor guide. Since the Games, residents have unlocked the hills' year-round potential: from mountain biking and trail running to 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." Julian and Juan first made youmian, a local staple made from oats, then practiced yoga alongside residents in the fields. "This feels familiar," Juan reflected. "No matter where we are, people want the same things – health, peace, security and a life that feels full." Yugouliang offers a different picture of rural China: not a place frozen in the past, but a community that has found its own rhythm and a new sense of well-being amid the fields.
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 to produce something far from perfect – but they feel, briefly, what it means to make art out of ordinary life. Here, heritage isn't sealed behind glass; it's passed from hand to hand.
Desheng Village, in the highland farming region, shows how 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, where music, laughter, and conversation filled the evening air. Around the fire, the visitors saw another side of rural development: a village changing with the times while maintaining the close-knit community spirit that has long defined local life.
For a new generation of travelers, immersive experiences are offering a more complete picture of rural China. In Zhangjiakou, 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, and by stepping into village life, visitors 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.
