Just thirty minutes away from Beijing by high-speed railway, Huailai (怀来) is a small town halfway between the capital and Zhangjiakou. The local government is promoting the numerous vineyards in the area, but there is also a still-hidden gem to be discovered: Jimingyi (鸡鸣驿), a walled former post station. Its name means ‘rooster’s crow post station’ and its main claim to fame is that Emperor Guangxu and his aunt Cixi sheltered there for a night as they fled the Eight Nation Alliance during the Boxer Rebellion in 1900. It makes a nice day out from Beijing, especially if you want to see an ancient town that hasn’t become a tourist trap.
Read on to find out more!
Continue reading “TRAVEL: Jimingyi, a walled town near Beijing that we bet you’ve never heard of!”
