"Visit the secluded ancient villages in Jiangnan"
The ancient towns of Jiangnan are enchanting tourist destinations, their unique architectural style, water town charm, historical culture, and cuisine alluring visitors from around the globe. Only by setting foot in these ancient towns can one truly appreciate the traces of time etched into their fabric, the old buildings that seem to transport you back in time. The green bricks, black tiles, and swaying willow branches, all contribute to the essence of the "ink painting" that is Jiangnan, only truly understood when you leisurely stroll through these towns.
Shen'ao Village is located on the southern bank of the Fuchun River, belonging to Jiangnan Town, Tonglu County. It is situated 16.5 kilometers west of the county town, nestled in a hilly region, with a view of Tianzi Gang to the south and Huangshan to the east. The village is part of a string of five "traditional Chinese villages" including Qingyuan, Huanxi, Xubian, Shen'ao, and Dipu, with Shen'ao Village being a nationally recognized historical and cultural village.
Shen'ao ancient village was established during the Southern Song Dynasty, with its original village layout and appearance still preserved, making it a provincial historical and cultural conservation district. There are over 140 ancient buildings from the Ming and Qing Dynasties, and more than 60 from the Republic of China period, all of which are beautifully carved and well-preserved. The well-preserved ancient water system from the Ming Dynasty has significant scientific and cultural value, with some of the old canals and wells still in use today. The surrounding mountains are lush and the scenery is beautiful, with numerous natural landscapes and a close view of the Fuchun River.
The long-standing cultural tradition of Shen'ao Village originates from the founding of the village by the Shentu clan during the Southern Song Dynasty. As a bloodline village of the Shentu clan, over 95% of the villagers in Shen'ao Village bear the surname Shentu, with a minority bearing the surnames Zhou, Ying, and Zhu. During the Ming Dynasty, the village was planned with a complete underground water system, the source of which is spring water from the mountains. This water is sweet and refreshing, warm in winter and cool in summer, and is still a beloved source of water for the villagers. The water collection points have become unique cultural landmarks in Shen'ao Village. The word "ao" in the local dialect means "underground well", and the village was named Shen'ao, or "deep well", because of these wells.
Shen'ao Village is rectangular in shape, with an old street in the middle paved with cobblestones and an underground canal system. The majority of the villagers bear the double surname Shentu, their ancestors having migrated from Shentu Mountain in Fuyang during the early Southern Song Dynasty, and their descendants have since become a prominent clan.
Walking in Shen'ao is like "stepping" on water. The ancestors harnessed the natural water to create a water system that has lasted for hundreds to thousands of years, a feat that can be described as "man-made, yet seemingly natural".
Another scenic line in Shen'ao Village is the group of ancient residential buildings located above the underground water system, mainly consisting of buildings from the Ming, Qing, and Republic of China periods. These are generally distributed on both sides of the old street, which runs from north to south. The old street is about 200 meters long and only 3 meters wide. It was built at the end of the Yuan Dynasty and the beginning of the Ming Dynasty, and flourished during the Republic of China period. The buildings on both sides are from the middle and late Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China period, many of which were shops, earning it the reputation of "Little Shanghai". There are over 140 ancient buildings from the Ming and Qing Dynasties and more than 60 from the Republic of China period in the village, all of which are well preserved, whether they are individual buildings or the overall village form.
In addition to the above-ground and underground scenic spots, Shen'ao Village also preserves a provincial intangible cultural heritage - the traditional folk art of high-altitude lion dance. Every Lantern Festival and temple fair, the villagers use this art to add to the festive atmosphere.
If you are fond of ancient towns, only by stepping into Shen'ao can you truly appreciate its unique charm. Here, you will marvel at the traces of time on the weather-beaten walls, admire the wonderful sight of plants growing freely in the cracks. What's more surprising is that there is no sense of desolation here, but rather a vibrant atmosphere. As you stroll through the bluestone alleys, you will find the scenery breathtaking, and the entire village exudes a peaceful aura that puts one at ease. #AncientArchitecture
According to the address of the ancient village in Jiangnan, we went to the ancient village of Shen'ao first. Due to time constraints, we did not go to the other four villages. If it is not a weekend or weekend, there are not many tourists, so parking does not need to stop in the parking lot designated by the scenic spot, you can directly drive into the big archway of the ancient village, there is also a small parking lot inside, you can park more than a dozen cars. After entering the village, a large pond is a bit like Hongcun, but the surrounding buildings are a bit far away and basically newly built, so the overall landscape and Hongcun are still a little different. The buildings in the village are really quite old, most of them have a history of more than 100 years. The wooden buildings are mostly large families, and there are some ordinary houses with masonry structures. Even if the outer wall has fallen off, the house is still very strong. The layout of the village is surrounded by streams and canals. There is a small water collection point a few meters away, which is convenient for residents to use water. This is already a very advanced design. One is convenient for the people and the other is fire prevention, which is the wisdom of the people! The village is too quiet, there is only one small street and some commercial shops, most of which are closed on weekdays. No excessive commercialization is the best protection here. An hour walk across the village is enough. No tickets are charged and no parking fee!
There are many cultural relics and monuments in Shenzhen and Australia, including Shen Tu's Ancestral Hall (including the Falling Department), and 26 cultural relics protection sites such as Huaisutang, Gongsitang, Jingsongtang and Shangzhitang. The ancient buildings in Shenzhen and Australia are concentrated, with more than 100 traditional buildings, covering an area of nearly 40,000 square meters, of which there are more than 40 Qing Dynasty buildings. The interior is gorgeously carved, and the buildings are basically built in the middle and late Qing Dynasty, mostly residential houses, and some are temples, temples, stage and bridges. The architectural form is similar, mostly quadruple courtyards, houses can be connected to each other with corner doors, back doors, simple appearance, but beams, doors and windows wood carving is very particular. Important buildings include Youxutang, Shennongtang, Huaisutang, Gongsitang, Huaijingtang, etc. These buildings and the water system in the village constitute their own unique style and characteristics.
Shenao Village is rectangular. There are old streets, north and south, more than 500 meters long, about 3 meters wide, pebble paved, the next building of the spring dark canal (commonly known as Australia), Australia deep water, because of the famous village. There are 3 alleys on both sides of the street, which are shaped like "non"; in the 1980s, the new street and the old street were built on both sides of the north end road and became a "smoky" shape. It is the largest village in Sapporo. Free parking in the ancient town
Qingshi Qujing Taimen is far away, and the clear water canal is deep. The old things still have a simple appearance, and the ancient wind has not been changed for thousands of years.
Back to Shanghai, I went to the ancient village of Shen'ao. According to the navigation, it was very convenient to reach the parking lot in front of Dunmutang in the ancient village and went to the hall to see it. Then go to the pavilion on the opposite side of the pond, and gradually rain, the first time is not big, the pond is slightly ripple, just blur the reflection of the white wall and blue tiles in the water. Hold up the umbrella to continue to visit. Along the bluestone path, walking through the narrow old alley, the years condensed, the time stopped. The old things were mostly built in the Qing Dynasty, and many were uninhabited. Some were dangerous houses, and some had been invaded by green plants. A new building was erected between or stitched in. I saw Shentu's Temple, and the family was also quite prominent. Turn to see a 150-year-old banyan tree. The rain began to get big, busy to the eaves to avoid the rain, but the rain did not stop, but the bigger and bigger, the splash of rain wet shoes and socks and even knees. So sent people to rain to drive the car, and quickly fled.
#Travel with photographers# ~~ Shen'ao Ancient Village ~~ I always feel that the white wall with the head up is black tiles. The pebbles with the head down, the moss floor. The broken wall that I occasionally see at the corner is the red lantern that is printed into my eyes from time to time. This is "Jiangnan"! In fact, it doesn't seem to have much relationship with which village and place. "Jiangnan" is around! The relatives in the north, Spring, should be the next Jiangnan, right? Shen'ao Ancient Village, located in Jiangnan Town, Jixian County, Zhejiang Province. It is the blood village of Shentu family, the village has a long history, built in the Southern Song Dynasty, has been 900 years. The unique thing about the village is that at the beginning of the village construction before the millennium, the village first planned the water system, and then built the village. The water system is composed of a dual system for supply and drainage. The villagers can get water and water at home. It is very convenient and valuable. It is today. The water system still plays a huge role in the villagers' lives. The 800-meter-long dark canal runs through the village, and the vault is all made of pebbles. Every certain distance, a water raft is opened. The locals are called "Aokou". The name of Shenzhen is thus obtained. In 2006, it was selected as a national historical and cultural village.