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Head out to ‘model villages’ for relaxing weekends
THE Zhejiang Province government has come up with a list of 20 Leisure Tourism Model Villages, known for their picturesque settings, quality infrastructures and cultural heritage. They are spread all over the province but two of them are in Hangzhou.
The local and Zhejiang governments plan to help the villages with financial aid, help them promote the places in tourism market, attract investment and provide more land and space for development.
Shanghai Daily picks four villages that are worth a visit.
Qianwu Village 前吴村
It is smaller in size but has splendid views and plenty of folk customs. It used to be an ordinary place where residents lived off the land, but, in order to make it stand out, local authorities planted sunflowers to decorate their homes.
A large field of sunflowers gives a feeling of hope and vigor. Such late summer vistas are common in southern France and Italy. But the sunflowers in Qianwu grow on terraced fields. They were integrated with local folk houses, creating a poetic ambience with layered surroundings.
Villagers have a tradition of making their own noodles and tofu skins for festivals and celebration. Every household grinds wheat, kneads dough and stretches the noodles. Noodles hang from ceilings, roofs and racks. Locally sourced soybeans are ground into soybean milk, and then heated until it congeals. A sheet of tofu skin is picked up and then dried.
How to get there: Hangzhou-Ningbo Expressway — Shanghai-Kunming Expressway — Pujiang Exit
Shangougou Village 山沟沟村
The village is situated at Hangzhou’s Yuhang District and boasts the highest mountain in the city. It is dubbed “home to sweet pear” in Zhejiang.
Shangougou literally means “ravine and gully” in Chinese, and features idyllic landscapes filled with lush vegetation, water, gullies and hills. The whole village is divided into three segments, namely Tangkeng, Maotang and Huaguo Hill.
Tangkeng boasts canyon landform with 18 waterfalls, Maotang is mountainous landscape with an ancient hamlet, while Huaguo Hill is characterized by agriculture and outdoor activities. Visitors can pick fruits and vegetables.
The vegetation cover of the village is 95 percent, and therefore summer temperatures are usually several degrees lower than in concrete jungles. The cooler environment makes it a popular getaway in summer.
How to get there: Hangzhou-Changxing Expressway — Baizhang Exit
Luci Village 芦茨村
Luci is an ideal destination for those who like outdoors. It boasts pastoral landscape filled with lush bamboos and pine trees. Visitors can hike through the forest. Fishing, boating and rafting trips are also available. In summer, they can also take a dip in Luci Bay, which is about 1.5 meters deep and features bluish-green clear water.
Luci is also famous for poet Fang Gan, who lived during the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907). During the Song Dynasty (960-1279), Fang’s family had as many as 18 scholars. Today, the village is a treasure trove of ancient architecture, streets, temples, ancestral halls and residential buildings.
Don’t worry about food and accommodation in the village. Local family-run guesthouses serve great meals. Local produce like chicken, lettuce, bamboo, frog and fish dishes are highly recommended. People can even pick vegetables and try to catch fish.
How to get there: Shanghai-Kunming Expressway — Changchun-Shenzhen Expressway — Tonglu Exit
Xiashan Village 霞山村
The village is located on the border of Zhejiang, Anhui and Jiangxi provinces. Largely influenced by Anhui Province, the village features Hui-style folklore and architecture. Today, it boasts more than 360 Hui-style ancient buildings from the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. There are lush, centuries-old forests and vast flower fields that bloom in spring.
Unlike other old towns that were developed commercially to cash in on tourism, Xiashan still has preserved its original appearance and idyllic life style.
Most villagers here are surnamed Zheng and Wang — descendants of General Zheng Ping of the Three Kingdoms Period (AD 220-280) and Chancellor Wang Hua of the Tang Dynasty. Even now, residents follow ancient customs and worship their ancestors.
One of the ancient customs is the folk performance that combines stilts with a hobbyhorse, known locally as gaoqiao zhuma. The hobbyhorse is made of bamboo, while the stilts were used to catch fish. During the Tang Dynasty, villagers integrated the bamboo horse with the stilts.
At the beginning, the dance was simple and comprised only a few easy moves. Later in the Ming Dynasty, it developed further and added more complicated steps. The villagers perform the dance during festivals.
How to get there: Shanghai-Kunming Expressway — Hangzhou-Jinhua-Quzhou Expressway — Changchun-Shenzhen Expressway — Longyou-Lishui-Wenzhou Expressway — Majin Exit
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