[Photo from visitbeijing.com.cn]

However, a recent increase in popularity has lead to the village embracing its old tradition of hospitality and the locals are once again throwing their doors open to travelers wanting a bed for the night or a hearty meal.

Almost all of Cuandixia's courtyard houses operate as guesthouses, and double rooms for the night can be arranged for around 50 yuan.

Despite its recent rise to prominence as a tourist hot spot, the village still retains a rustic, lived-in air and hasn't succumbed to gentrification.

"These days, so many Chinese and foreign tourists know about Cuandixia and in the past few years there has been an increase in tourism," said Han Yongbin, whose courtyard house (the Xiangyao Guesthouse) has been in his family for 16 generations.

"However, we don't want Cuandixia to change too much and any houses that build extensions or are repaired must be done in the old style."

Organizing accommodation should be about as complicated as your plans get in Cuandixia. Strolls down the meandering lanes, exploring courtyards and peeping over the shoulders of art students sketching away should occupy the rest of your time.

The surrounding area also offers some simple yet satisfying walks. The mountain trail that wraps up and around the peak to the south of the village provides a dizzying view of Cuandixia and its surrounding jagged mountain range, which resemble slumbering dragons.

If you follow the pass further into the hills, after a few hundred meters the asphalt turns into a dirt road and runs through a cavernous chasm in the mountains. The hollowed-out gully looks like it served as a gateway to another world and reminds you of how imposing nature can be.

The temperature in Cuandixia is lower than in central Beijing and it drops sharply at night, so bring a coat. Night-time in the town is best spent sipping beer on a veranda, gazing up at the mountainous silhouettes.

As the village offers you the chance to see a clear night sky with little light pollution, wandering out to a spot without street lights is well worth it.

Beijing is making a headlong dash toward modernity and it's easy to forget that outside the urban environment lays a different world. A moment away in Cuandixia will leave you restored and refreshed, so you can happily return to the hectic pace of the city.