Lingshui Village

Lingshui Village in Mengtougou District of Beijing, is about 80 kilometers ( 50 miles) or 2 hours’ driving to the northwest of downtown. It is an ancient village full of tradtional rural residences built in the Ming (1368 - 1644 AD) and Qing (1644 - 1911 AD) dynasties, historical temples and precious ancient trees. During the prevalence of the Chinese imperial examination system, many villagers gained a pass in the exam. They were then known as “Ju Ren”, the title awarded to a successful candidate at the provincial level. Therefore, Lingshui Village is also called “Ju Ren Village”.
 On a mountain near Lingshui Village a tall stone man overlooks the village. One of his hand is raised, as though he is a teacher engaged in writing. The villagers say that it is related to the emergence of Ju Ren in the Village.
 This is to the west of the village and also called Dushan, which literally means Lonely Hill. Seen from outside the village, it stands alone, resembling a blooming lotus flower. The top of the mountain is covered with greenery and the scenery is very beautiful.
 The layout of Lingshui Village is shaped like a giant turtle; with the head to the south and the  tail to the north. Three east-west alleys and south-west hutongs form the textures on its back. The Southern Hill is the best view point from which to observe this special layout.
 There is a hill in the north of Lingshui Village. A thousand-year-old cypress stands on the hill and resembles a large lucid ganoderma [tree fungus]. There are no other trees around it, so it appears as if it is enjoying the spirit of Heaven and Earth.
 Two thousand-year-old cypresses grow in the village’s South China Sea Fire Dragon King Temple. Each has grown multiple trunks. One has a large elm growing between them; while the other has a mulberry and an artemisia between its trunks. Together they present a very strange and rare sight.
 In the courtyard of the Lingquan Temple, there are two tall ginkgo trees that are several hundred years old. These trees were originally male, but strangely, the ginkgo on the west side has a female branch fruiting every year.
 Lingshui Village has a number of Ju Rens’ houses. Most of these houses have high steps, large gates, large halls, carved beams, thick walls, simple but exquisite bricks, and floral decorations. The architectural style is literary and elegant and is a vital part of the eight scenes.
 There are seventeen temple sites of Buddhist, Confucian, Taoist and other folk beliefs. Although with the passage of time, most of the temples in Lingshui Village have gone, the existing ruins of Lingquan Temple, Nanhai Fire Dragon Temple, and Temple of Immortals still cause people look back to the past, and experience the lively smoky atmosphere of incense and pilgrims.
 Take the subway line 1 to Pinguoyuan station, change to bus line 892 or M11 to Junxiang station, and then take the bus line M21 and get off at Lingshui Village.
 In Lingshui Village, the villagers’ agritainment offers small bed and breakfast services for tourists. Staying at a farmstead is the best way to experience the customs of Beijing’s traditional village.
 

Admission Fee	Free
Opening Hours	All day

 Nearby Attractions:
 Housangyu Village Church: It is the oldest church in Beijing. In the Yuan Dynasty(1271 - 1368 AD), foreign missionaries had practiced medicine as well as preaching here.
 East Hulin Ruins: East Hulin Ruins are important early Neolithic sites dating back some 10,000 years.