Zhejiang's Lesser-Known Millennium-Old Ancient Village: Afraid It Will Get Too Popular, But More Afraid It Won't!

When I went to Xianju in Jinyun this time, I searched for attractions in Jinyun and discovered this super off-the-beaten-path ancient village. I didn't expect Zhejiang to still have such a hidden gem of an ancient village. This is Heyang Ancient Residences, about a dozen kilometers from Xianju. This small ancient village is truly stunning! 🌼 Heyang Ancient Residences have a very long history and rich content! ✅ Founded during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period of the Wu Yue Kingdom, the village features the Song Dynasty ancient temple Fuchang Temple, the Yuan Dynasty Eight Scholars Gate, a rare stone gifted by Zhu Yuanzhang, and quaint folk activities. ✅ The existing Yuan Dynasty "One Creek Two Pits" and "Four Vertical Five Horizontal" checkerboard layout of Ming and Qing Dynasty ancient buildings includes 15 ancestral halls, 83 siheyuan courtyards, and over 1,500 ancient residences. It fully preserves the Yuan Dynasty village water system and street features, with a scale rarely seen nationwide. ✅ Also home to the Heyang window paper-cutting, considered a masterpiece of Chinese folk art. ✅ Over 94% of the villagers share the surname Zhu. At the village entrance is the Fish Scale Dam. The area boasts clear mountains and waters, simple folk customs, clan-based living, and a tradition of farming and studying, making it a rare living fossil of ancient villages in Jiangnan. 🌳 Must-see spots here‼️ 🌱 Six Major Ancestral Halls: Xuzhu Ancestral Hall, Wenhan Ancestral Hall, He Gongte Ancestral Hall, Qiru Ancestral Hall, Zhu Main Ancestral Hall, Gui'er Ancestral Hall (under renovation) 👉 Xuzhu Ancestral Hall: Built in the 8th year of the Xianfeng reign in the Qing Dynasty by the son of Zhu Xuzhu, the 33rd ancestor of the Zhu family and the richest man in Jinyun at the time. Highlights include wood and brick carvings. 👉 Wenhan Ancestral Hall: Late Qing Dynasty architecture. 👉 He Gongte Ancestral Hall: Built in the 32nd year of Guangxu in the Qing Dynasty, it is the ancestral hall of the filial son Zhu Desan, also known as the Filial Son Hall. 👉 Qiru Ancestral Hall: Built in the 19th year of the Republic of China to honor Qiru Gong, with a total of 21 side rooms. 👉 Zhu Main Ancestral Hall: The main ancestral hall of the Heyang Zhu clan, built in the 2nd year of Tongzhi in the Qing Dynasty. It served as the clan’s grand ancestral temple and ran a school for a century. 👉 Gui'er Ancestral Hall: Originally built in the Ming Dynasty and rebuilt in the 8th year of Guangxu in the Qing Dynasty, it is the ancestral hall of the 21st ancestor of the Zhu family, Gui'er Gong. 🌱 Eight Scholars Gate: Named because eight scholars from the Song and Yuan Dynasties passed the imperial exams. This gate is the main entrance to Heyang Village and has excellent feng shui, so villagers pass through it for weddings and funerals. 🌱 Circular Moon Reflection: A stunning photo spot, built during the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty. The round gate is built in the style of Suzhou gardens, with four mysterious characters on the gate called "Farming and Studying Family Tradition." 🌱 Horse Head Walls: The most beautiful part of Heyang Ancient Residences, featuring 32 horse head walls in various shapes arranged in an orderly yet staggered manner, rivaling Huizhou architecture. 🌱 Farming and Carving Legacy: The Eighteen-Room Daoist Altar was built during the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty. The siheyuan courtyards celebrate the Lunar New Year and were featured on the 2015 Spring Festival Gala. 🌱 Gongji Bridge: Built by Zhu clan members who raised funds in the 3rd year of Xianfeng in the Qing Dynasty. This five-arch stone bridge is magnificent and was once the main thoroughfare of western Jinyun. 🌈 Tips: ✔️ Pet-friendly 🗒️ Heyang Ancient Residences 📍 Heyang Village, Xinjian Town, Jinyun County, Lishui City 🕒 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM 💰 40 RMB 🌸 Recommended visit time: 2-3 hours