Hangzhou Lin'an · Daxiagu Village
A secluded canyon village with a strong rural flavor, Daxiagu Village boasts a unique canyon geography that makes the village surrounded by lush mountains and shrouded in mist all year round, with a babbling stream at its doorstep. Each season in the village has its own charm: spring brings a mountain full of flowers and grass, summer offers cool streams for playing, autumn features red leaves and wild mountain fruits, and winter is marked by snow and traditional New Year flavors. Strolling through the winding ten-mile-long valley of Baisha Village, every step reveals a new scenic view, with breathtaking landscapes everywhere.
Wenzhou Yongjia · Cangpo Village
Ink and brush create peaks and ridges, farming and studying pass down through generations. Located by the Nanxi River, Cangpo Village has a history of over 800 years. Despite nearly a millennium of vicissitudes, it has retained its old appearance, with Song Dynasty walls, ancient paths, and old houses still preserved, exuding an ancient charm. The village is planned according to the Five Elements theory and the 'Four Treasures of the Study,' adding a touch of mystery. In front of Renji Temple, several towering ancient cypresses have stood quietly for over 800 years, witnessing the changes in the village's fortunes.
Huzhou Wuxing·Yiyanshan Village
The original tranquility of Jiangnan. Looking up at the mountain, you see lush green pines; looking down, the lake sparkles with rippling blue waves. Yiyanshan Village is nestled in this picturesque setting where water and sky meet. Although not widely known, and its name may even sound a bit awkward at first, this small village boasts a history of over a thousand years, leaving it with a unique charm that is the mark of time passing, a snapshot of Jiangnan. Named after the mountain, to the south of Yiyanshan Village lies a vast lake, with the gentle flow of the Tiao River passing through. The lake is clear, with rippling blue waves. There are several islands of various shapes in the lake, with lakes within islands and islands within lakes, creating a myriad of scenes. Whether drifting on a boat or strolling through the old streets and alleys, in this village full of poetic and picturesque charm, one can find the original purity and tranquility of Jiangnan.
Jiaxing Tongxiang · Maming Village
Move the boat and dock at the misty islet. With a thousand acres of paddy fields, mist rising over the vast expanse, Maming Village, surrounded by water on all sides, is a perfect place reminiscent of Meng Haoran's poem 'Move the boat and dock at the misty islet.' The small village, though not large, retains the typical characteristics of a Jiangnan water town: traditional shops and workshops, secluded alleys, and winding rivers crisscrossing the area, with stone arch bridges connecting the ancient village's long history.
Shaoxing Zhuji · Sizhai Village
Tracing the footsteps of Eileen Chang. Horsehead walls, small green tiles, Ming walls with carved stone windows... Because it is located in the deep mountains of Kuaiji, surrounded by mountains and rivers, it is little known. Sizhai Village has silently witnessed the vicissitudes of time. The typical large-scale architectural complex of Jiangnan from the Qing Dynasty is well-preserved here. The Qianzhu House, built by the mountains and rivers, and the Huaguo Gong Villa hidden in the deep mountains, as well as the beautifully carved and painted Xiaxin House, have all withstood the test of time and remain well-preserved. One wonders if Eileen Chang felt a sense of stepping back into the Ming and Qing dynasties when she walked into this ancient architectural complex.
Jinhua Yiwu · Hesilu Village
There is a Provence at your doorstep. Zhejiang has many ancient villages, but this small village with towering ancient trees and beautiful fragrant grass is crisscrossed with paths and isolated from the world, like the utopia described by Tao Yuanming. Hesilu Village is laid out like the Big Dipper, with ancient Ming Dynasty houses, the picturesque Woniu Hill, a rippling reservoir, the solemn He Family Ancestral Hall, and rustic restaurants that seem to fish for clouds and the moon. Along the roadside white walls, ink paintings of varying shades depict the thousand-year history and weather of this place.
Taizhou Linhai · Linggen Village
Stepping into Linggen Village, this piece of untainted land has yet to be touched by commercialism. The mottled earthen walls bear the deep marks of time. Linggen Village is rich in natural resources, and the villagers are hardworking and simple, living a self-sufficient, primitive yet healthy lifestyle. Perhaps because of this, the elderly in the village are particularly long-lived. The village once housed the longest-living person in Zhejiang: during the Qing Dynasty, Wang Shifang, who lived to the age of 140, had seven generations living under one roof, a rarity throughout history. He attended the 'Banquet of a Thousand Elders' hosted by Emperor Qianlong three times, and Qianlong even specially built the 'Centenarian Archway' and personally inscribed the plaque 'Shengping Renrui'.
Lishui Jinyun · Sanxi Village
Here lies a simple and rustic lifestyle. Hidden in the valley of Kua'cang Mountain in the eastern part of Jinyun is an ancient village with a history of a thousand years, named 'Sanxi'. Mr. Jia Pingwa once lamented in 'Jingxu Village': 'Nowadays, it is easy to find bustling places, but hard to find quiet ones; easy to find prosperous places, but hard to find simple and rustic ones, especially near big cities, it is even more difficult.' Walking into Sanxi Village, you won't see the usual hustle and bustle, but instead, you will be greeted by lush greenery, with the clean village paths connecting various parts of the small village.
Lishui Songyang·Xikeng Village
A mountain village shrouded in poetic mist. Located at the border of Songyang and Jinyun, Xikeng Village in the high mountains of Songyang sits at an altitude of 640 meters, forming a bowl-like shape. Due to the abundant rainfall throughout the year, you can always see the village enveloped in mist. The village still preserves 21 ancient residences from the Qing Dynasty, ancestral halls, community temples, incense halls, and other ancient buildings, as well as more than 40 residences from the Republic of China era to the 1970s. These buildings blend harmoniously with ancient trees and bamboo, lying in the mountains and forming a vivid and beautiful picture. The village's traditional customs are still passed down to this day. Men and women, young and old, continue to make agricultural and daily life tools and small crafts such as sieves, bamboo mats, bamboo baskets, and drying mats, just as they did in the past. Those who love retro styles can freely explore and find treasures.
Lishui Songyang · Hengkeng Village
Quietly residing in the remote wild, enjoying a piece of tranquility. The small stream is called 'keng' in the local dialect. The people of Hengkeng seem particularly 'stingy' with names: peaks are called Front Mountain and Back Mountain, without any embellishment or praise. Perhaps this reflects the character of the Hengkeng people, quietly guarding the remote mountain village, living peacefully. When you step into the stilted houses that are not very tall but rich in ancient colors, when you step on the stone steps that are not very even and somewhat slanted, when you walk into the narrow and winding alleys... the rustling footsteps echo in the secluded paths. Although you have entered the homes of those who 'plow in sunny weather and read in rainy weather,' your thoughts still linger in the genealogy of the Ye ancestors...
