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September 28, 2016

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Home » City specials » Hangzhou

Ancient villages where traditions live on

By Wu Huixin | September 28, 2016, Wednesday | Print Edition

EAST China’s Zhejiang Province is dotted with many centuries-old villages that boast picturesque scenery and distinctive folk traditions. Over the years though, many of the province’s oldest villages have been renovated and redeveloped in the name of promoting tourism.

Typically, this has meant pulling down antique structures and replacing them with antique-looking replicas, while also encouraging local residents to relocate. Crowds of sightseers have brought revenue to local governments and business owners, but at the expense of the original ambience.

However, untouched ancient villages can still be found in mountains and out-of-the-way corners of the province. Today, Shanghai Daily looks at three hamlets that still retain their original rustic charm.

Xikeng Village

This village is located at the border of Jinyun and Songyang counties. In olden times, the ancient Songxuan Road was the main path connecting Songyang and Wuyi counties. Merchants used the road to transport a variety of goods. The road wound through Xikeng and brought streams of visitors to this small village.

Although the road is no longer in use as a trading route, it still takes travelers past lofty trees, pristine creeks, tranquil valleys, waterfalls, quirky stones and fragrant herbs. Hiking along the beautiful road gives the impression of walking into a Chinese ink painting.

Throughout dynasties, villagers surnamed Ye and Ding have dominated the village. Their ancestors left more than 20 buildings dating to the Ming (1369-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties and 40 folk houses built in the Republic of China era (1912-1949). Today, these antique buildings are still in use, and some play the role of ancestral halls for worshipping forefathers.

Lush bamboo forests cover these ancient buildings and provide locals with raw material for crafts. Bamboo-woven knickknacks, daily necessities and utensils that display sophisticated knitting techniques and simple designs can be found throughout the village, where most residents are skilled in the art of braiding bamboo.

Since the village sits at the bottom of valley, mists shroud it throughout the year. Morning is an ideal time for shutterbugs to capture the village as it’s shrouded in the ethereal haze.

How to get there: G2501 Expressway — G60 Expressway — G25 Expressway — 220 Provincial Road

Rangchuan Village

This village is home to the ethnic She people. Since the days of the Qianlong Emperor in the Qing Dynasty, they have retained their unique customs and traditions, as well as an ancestral hall and memorial gateways in the village.

The best times to experience the local culture are during festivals. On the third day of every lunar March, the She people prepare colorful bowls of rice dyed with herbal juices as part of festivities to honor ancestors.

During Spring Festival, the She also cook sweet glutinous rice dumplings, visit neighbors, sing their ethnic songs and pray to their gods for happiness and good fortune.

The She people are also highly skilled at bamboo weaving and embroidery. The bamboo weaving tradition relies on the abundance of bamboo that grows on the rolling mountains that surround the village.

Most of their sophisticated, colorful folk costumes are handmade. In recent years, their woven apparel, handicrafts and knickknacks have gained wide attention thanks to their exquisite craftsmanship.

How to get there: G2501 Expressway — G60 Expressway — S26 Expressway — S10 Expressway — G15 Expressway — 330 Provincial Road — 303 Provincial Road

Daxiagu Village

Zhexi Canyon has been dubbed “Hangzhou’s back garden” by virtue of its abundance of lush bamboo forests, ponds, lakes and fresh air. It also has an average temperature below 22 degrees Celsius due to its geography and forest cover.

The village is situated on a mountain slope covered by lush vegetation. This provides ample shade for those exploring the area’s trails, streams and waterfalls. Hikers can take paths laid with stones or pick their own way through the forest.

The lingering sweet scent of osmanthus blooms, together with golden, red and orange autumn tints are an irresistible combination for visitors to the village this time of year. Leaves cover sidewalks, rustle in the wind and produce a pleasant cracking sound when crunched underfoot.

As for food and accommodation, family-run guesthouses offer homey rooms and authentic local cuisine. Visitors can also experience how to cook authentic tongguo (copper pot) rice with local residents.

Villagers favor cooking their meals outdoors. Using brick stoves, they often stew rice with potatoes, preserved meat, bamboo shoots and green beans.

How to get there: G56 Expressway — 102 Provincial Road — 209 Provincial Road

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