In Beijing, after making your obligatory pilgrimage to the highlights such as the Great Wall of China, Ming Tombs, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace etc, you may venture the off-the-beaten-path excursions to the outskirts of Beijing, where more than half the Beijingers live.
Here we’d like to introduce to you the best local food cooked by local families or restaurants at Beijing suburban farms or villages. Each recipe showcases the local heirloom produce, local vegetables, fruits or meat. We hope you try some of the local food on your Beijing Suburban Excursions.
1. Tongzhou Mushroom Feast 通州蘑菇宴
Tongzhou Mushrooms are mainly cultivated in the Edible Mushroom Farm Park at Yongledian Town (永乐店镇食用菌产业园) in Tongzhou District, about 50km to the southeast of Beijing city center. The mushroom park has an area of 1000 mu (approx. 666,666m2), a modern and comprehensive model park dedicated to the cultivation and promotion of edible fungi.
Edible mushrooms are a kind of low fat food with high protein, rich vitamin and minerals. The edible fungi also have medicinal properties. The mushroom park takes the lead in the mushroom cultivation in the surrounding area in Yongledian Town of Tongzhou District.
In the farm park, you have the chance to taste the local famous mushroom feast with dozens of mushroom recipes, old and innovative ways of fungi cooking, from the local high-quality fungi ingredients.
How to get to Edible Mushroom Farm Park at Yongledian Town 永乐店镇
Tel: 80553725
Self-drive: Drive along Jingjin Highway, branches off at Zhangcai Road and drive down south along Zhangcai Road（张采路), then enter east-west Tongfang Road (通房路), drive on your left side ( east direction), soon you will reach the Edible Mushroom Farm Park at Yongledian Town.
2. Tongzhou Jinfu Yuhui All Fish Feast 通州金福鱼汇的全鱼宴
The Tongzhou Taihu Jinfu Wetland Fish Farm Park is located just next to Hujiafa Village (胡家垡村) in Taihu Town (台湖镇) at Tongzhou District, about 27km to the southeast of Beijing city center. It is the first fish themed park in Beijing with an area of 680mu (453,333m2). The fish park is mainly composed of Fish View Ponds, Fish Restaurant, fish ponds, eco-wetland and fishing and barbecue and other functions.
The fish park has a good environment, ponds, flowers and grasses, attracting myriad migrant birds; wooden boardwalks connect the outdoor ponds, creating an eco-wetland that showcases the harmonious match among people, animals and plants. The restaurant in the park known as Yudao Restaurant (鱼道餐厅) cooks an all fish feast. The restaurant inherit the China’s fish culture, where people enjoy the all fish feast, immersed in the rich China fish culture while tasting the delicious food.
Add: Hujiafa Village 通州区胡家垡村
Tel: 010 -61537878
Self-drive: Drive along Jingjin Highway, get off at the exit of Tongma Road (通马路), then continue to drive along Tongma Road, soon you will get to Tongzhou Taihu Jinfu Wetland Fish Farm Park.
3. Yanxi Rainbow Trout Feast 怀柔雁栖镇虹鳟宴
Yanxi Town at Huairou District in Beijing is well known for the cultivation of rainbow trout. The town is rife with cold running creaks and streams below the surrounding mountains suitable for trout to live.
There are numerous outlets and restaurants in Yanxi Town where you may relax, drinking, having a bite of cooked trout, barbecued or eat raw coupled with local vegetable produce.
Yanxi Nightless Valley is considered the place to savor the local trout dishes. The nightless is about 15 km long lined with different kinds of restaurants, bars and resorts. Choose a restaurant, sit down, order a handful local farm dishes, a bottle of wine and of course, barbecued trout and sliced raw trout with mustard.
How to get to the Yanxi Nightless Valley 雁栖不夜谷
The Yanxi Nightless Valley is on the west of Huirou District, about 70 km north of Beijing city center. You either take the Bus 916 from Dongzzhimen Transport Hub, the change for the local bus or self driving to Huairou District and continue for the valley.
4. Chaoliangzi Village Rabbit Feast 怀柔宝山镇超梁子村兔宴
Chaoliangzi Village is located deep in the mountainous areas at Baoshan Town, north of Huairou District, about 125 km north of Beijing city center.
Chaoliangzi Village is surrounded by mountains on four sides with fresh air, green mountains and clear water. The village also looks orderly, neat and clean, with all wall surface uniformly painted faint yellow and decorated with vivid labor-themed frescos conveying a strong farmhouse atmosphere.
Almost all the household raises rabbits. What is the unique feature that sets the village different from other rabbit raisers is that they feed the rabbits with the feed containing a kind of herbal medicine. Its rabbit feast is alluring to all visitors. The rabbits are cooked in various ways including barbecue, hot and pepper and deep-fried.
How to get to Chaoliangzi Village 超梁子村
Public Bus: take Bus Line 916 at Dongzhimen along the Beijing-Chengde Expressway,get off at Huairou Yujiayuan and change to the bus towards Tanghekou and get off at Chaoliangzi Station.
Self-drive: Drive along the Beijing-Chengde Expressway and exit Huairou; continue to drive for 2km and enter the Entrance 3 at the Open Roundabout along the No. 111 National Highway; – get to the Tanghekou Bus Station and turn left, and then drive forwards to see a sighnboard. After that, drive to the Baonian Road, and continue driving for about four kilometers. (“Rabbit Feast” sign on the left side of the road).
5. Liugou Tofo Feast 柳沟豆腐宴
Liugou Village ( Liugou Cun 柳沟村) is located in Jingzhen Township, 15km southeast of downtown Yanqing County and 92km north of Beijing city proper. “Liugou” literally means “willow ditch”. Liugou Village lies on a spacious north-south ditch (valley). But unlike the name of Willow Ditch, Liugou Village doesn’t have many willow trees, instead Chinese scholar tree are easily seen growing on both sides of the roads in the village.
There are over 100 households in Liugou Village, a large village in the countryside around Beijing. Liugou Village has been developed into a folk culture village offering the well known “Tofu Feast” or “Bean Curd Banquet” and farmhouse inn service for urban residents and oversea travelers. Almost all the households in the village are specialised in making Tofu Banquet.
How to get there:
1) Public Bus： Take Bus 877 from Deshengmen and connect Bus Y08 for Liugou Village.
2) Self-drive: Drive on Jingzhang Express (Badaling Great Wall expressway) and exit at Yanqing Exit, drive past the downtown Yanqing; continue to drive in the direction of Yongning Township. On the way, you will see the signboard pointing to Liugou Village.
6. Miyun Fish Head Dishes 密云鱼头宴|
Miyun County, about 110 km northeast of Beijing city center, is well known for its Miyun Reservoir with the same name. The Miyun Reservoir is one of Beijing’s main sources of potable water.
Beijing Miyun ReserviorIt was built in September,1960, and is the largest reservoir in Beijing area. Two main rivers, Chaohe and Baihe, flow into Miyun Reservoir.
The panoramic surrounding as well as the peaceful atmosphere around Miyun Reservoir has attracted thousands of visitors as at the same time enable it to be one of the most attractive scenic areas of Northeastern Beijing.
The reservoir fish are the big draw for all visitors coming to Miyun. Its reservoir fish head recipes are much sought after. Fresh fish heads are stewed with condiments like ginger, garlic, onion, and salt. The fish is tender and delicious.
7. Court Chicken at Yufa Town大兴榆垡镇宫廷鸡
Beijing You Chickens are also known as China Court Yellow Chickens, a rare and old species originated in Beijing’s suburbs with a history of over 300 years. Historically, the chickens were once used court chickens, favored very much by Dawger Cixi, hence the name of Court Chickens.
Beijing Court Chicken ( Youji)
Beijing Court Chicken ( Youji)
Research shows Court Chickens are both nutrient and delicious due to some unique elements contained in their bodies. Many villagers in Yufa Town in Daxing District raise Court Chickens. Chickens raising has increased their income and enrich the dishes of the urban residents. Their chickens are warmly welcome by the supermarkets around Beijing. The temptation to come to Yufa Town is always great and many local resident would come to Yufa Town in Daxing to savor the delicious chickens made by the local restaurants.
8. Daxing Watermelon Feast 大兴西瓜宴
Panggezhuang Town is located in Daxing District, about 45km to the south of Beijing city center. Daxing is well known for its cultivation of watermelon. Daxing Annual Watermelon Festival is hosted by the district government, which enables visitors to taste and buy watermelons.
Watermelon is not only a seasonal fruit in summer, it is nutrient with rich vitamins and protein. Recipes with the ingredient of watermelons are nutrient, cooling off, appetizing and diuretic effect.
Daxing’s watermelon feast contains 16 courses of dishes cooked with the ingredients of watermelon’ flesh and rind. They have a handful tastes – sour, sweet, salty, and spicy. After savoring the watermelon feast, you may walk to Daxing Watermelon Museum for some knowledge of watermelon culture.
How to get there
Bus Route: Take bus 842 or 937 and alight at Pangezhuang.
9. Walnut Dishes at Lingshi Village 门头沟灵水村核桃宴
Lingshui Village is located in Zhaitang Town, Mentougou District, about 90km in the west of Beijing city center. It is an ancient village with over-1000 year history. With a lower profile compared to its neighbor of Cuandixia Village, Lingshui Village is no less charming with its ancient trees and plants, dappled bricks and tiles, ancient pillars and temples.
Many local villagers offer food and accommodation. Among other, walnut is the most famous specialty in Lingshui Village. Walnut dishes are welcomed by visitors coming to the village. Its medicinal nutrition meets the demand of the people in the modern time. The dishes with the walnut ingredients are favored by the visitors to the village.
How to get there
Take bus No.929 and alight at Junxiang Lukou
10. Zhengde Spring Pancake Feast 昌平正德春饼宴
Kangling Village ( 康陵村) is located to the northwest of Changling Township, Changping District, about 60 kms north of downtown Beijing. Kangling Village is named after one of the 13 Ming Tombs of the 13 emperors in Ming Dynasty ( 1368 – 1644 ) – Kangling Tomb. “Ling” here means “Tomb”.
Zhengde Emperor ascended the throne at the age of 15 and died in 1521 at the age of 30. He was an emperor in dispute. Some say Zhengde was not interested in all state affairs. His actions have been thought as reckless, foolish. In many cases he showed a lack of responsibility. However, some modern historians agree to view his rule in a new light and argue that his actions similar to that of his successors such as Wanli was a direct response to the bureaucratic network that the Ming Dynasty was set in its later half.
For local villagers in Kangling Village, they show great leniency to Zhengde Emperor. As the tomb keepers of Kangling, they are more interested in the positive stories and mysteries surrounding Zhengde Emperor. One thing that still benefits Kangling Village people is the famous spring pancakes named “Zhendge Spring Pancake”. Kangling Village is well known for making the best spring pancakes in Beijing. Spring pancakes originated in the southern China. The making of spring pancakes was brought back by Zhengde Emperor on his military epxpedition to the south of China. Many urban residents of Beijing come to Kangling Village to savour the yummy pancakes.
How to get there
Take Bus 886 at Deshengmen Bus Terminal, get off at the stop of Xiguan Huandao (西关环岛) of Changping, then connect Bus Chang 35 (昌35）and alight at Yanzikou 燕子口.
Planning your Beijing tour? Visiting a local village and having a bite of the local food is an interesting experience.
Tip: Hassle-free Beijing Guided Tours
If you don’t want to go the do-it-yourself route and prefer the hassle-free escorted tours, here are some options for Beijing guided tours:
Beijing Day Tour
Beijing Tour Packages
Beijing Winter Tour
Beijing Autumn Tour
Great Wall Tour
Car Rental in Beijing
Beijing Tours
China City Tours
China Tour
Further Readings
Best Time to Visit Beijing
How to plan a trip to Beijing
Top 10 Attractions in Beijing
How to Visit Forbidden City
How to Visit Temple of Heaven
How to Visit Summer Palace
How to Visit Ming Tombs
How to Visit the Great Wall of China
How to Visit Tiananmen Square
How to Visit Hutongs
How to Visit Olympic Sites
Top 10 Markets in Beijing
Top 10 Shopping Malls in Beijing
Beijing Shopping
Wangfujing Walking Street
Qianmen Commercial Street
Gui Jie ( Ghost Street) Food Street
Any questions, just drop a line.
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