Photos in the town square at Nuanquanzhen.

We did a walking tour in the old town at Nuanquanzhen.

Outside one of the big gates in the old city walls.

Checking out some papercut artwork.

During Chinese New Year there are a lot of performances, including opera.

Touring a temple in the town.

In an old courtyard.

A view of the lanes of the old town at Nuanquanzhen.

A photo with a little friend.

On the way to a performance.

We stopped to buy some fresh zongzi.

A dragon dance in the town square.

The old city gates, where the original dashuhua performances were done. The staining above the gate is where the molten iron stuck.

We walked up to see more temples.

Looking down towards the town.

Nuanquanzhen from above.

In one of the lanes in the town.

Here we’re about to go see the dashuhua performance.

Here it is!

Molten iron is scooped and flung against a wall to create a shower of sparks.

The old city walls of Yuxian.

As part of a walking tour of Yuxian we visited a temple on the old city walls.

We were a bit early so had to come in through the side gate.

Up to the temple.

Yuhuang Temple.

We walked around for a look.

After the walking tour we headed out to the countryside for a walk around a tiny farming village.

We hiked out of the village and into the fields.

The rammed earth walls used to surround the village.

An old roller.

Walking through the village.

We hiked further out.

Climbing out of a gully.

Great views here.

Nice!

On the way back to Beijing we stopped at Jimingyi, a town surrounded by high walls that was previously a Ming Dynasty-era postal relay station.

Checking out a courtyard in Jimingyi.