Zhanqi Village: A Thousand-Year-Old Village with a Fish Lantern Legend

📍Address: Zhanqi Fish Lantern Parade, Zhanqi Village, Beian Town, Shexian County, Huangshan City, Anhui Province. Zhanqi Village is not only one of the birthplaces of Huizhou fish lanterns, but also a cultural link for young people returning home, thanks to the perseverance and innovation of intangible cultural heritage inheritor Zheng Dongjiao, who has breathed new life into traditional New Year customs. 🚗Transportation: Self-driving: About 40 km and 50 minutes from downtown Huangshan City, exit at Shexian County, and drive along Provincial Highway S324. Public transportation: Take a high-speed train to Shexian North Railway Station, then take a taxi for about 20 minutes. Huangshan City Bus Terminal: Take an intercity bus to Shexian Bus Station, then transfer to a bus to Beian Town. If you plan a multi-day trip, you can visit Huizhou Ancient City, Yuliang Ancient Town, and Xucun Village. 👍️Must-visit attractions: 1. Zhanqi Fish Lantern Night Tour The core experience is during the first lunar month (usually from New Year's Eve to the Lantern Festival), when giant fish lanterns "swim" out of the ancestral hall, accompanied by the sound of gongs and drums, and performers shout "One play, the carp wags its tail; two plays, the fish leaps a thousand miles," with light and shadow intermingling with ancient buildings. 2. Zhanqi Ancient Ancestral Hall Complex The village has well-preserved Ming and Qing dynasty ancestral halls, such as Dunben Hall and Jiushitong Hall, with carved beams and painted rafters that tell the story of the rise and fall of Huizhou merchant families. The fish lantern parade at night often starts here. 3. Bluestone Alley and Horsehead Wall Stroll through the 800-year-old streets and alleys, touch the mottled Huizhou-style walls, and encounter ham and bamboo lanterns hanging out to dry at the corner, feeling the uncommercialized atmosphere of the original village. 4. Intangible Cultural Heritage Workshop Experience Participate in fish lantern making, learn to make bamboo skeletons and cloth skins, and light up colorful bulbs with modern techniques. You can also take home mini fish lantern pendants and other cultural and creative products. 5. Ancient Camphor Tree and Viewing Platform The thousand-year-old camphor tree is a landmark in the village, and the slightly elevated viewing platform offers a panoramic view of the fish lantern parade, making it the best spot for panoramic photography. 🎟️Tickets: Zhanqi Village is open for free, and there is no extra charge for the fish lantern performance, which is a spontaneous activity by the villagers. 💗Other tips: The best time to watch the Zhanqi fish lanterns is from the third to the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, from 18:30 to 21:00 every night. Try to avoid the peak crowds on New Year's Eve and the first day of the lunar month, and choose to watch after the fifth day.