Goulan Yao Village in the Mist

👍🏻Recommendation: This village boasts a 600-year-old defense system. Walking along the ancient streets feels like traveling back to a bustling market 700 years ago. It's perfect for those who love off-the-beaten-path attractions and photography! 🗺Attraction Introduction: Goulan Yao Village was built during the Hongwu period of the Ming Dynasty. After the Goulan Yao people were pacified and registered by the imperial court, they built this defensive, castle-like village in the mountains. Standing outside the village, the complete defense system is clearly visible, giving a strong sense of history. Entering the village, the "main street," no more than two meters wide, is a sight to behold. Ancestral halls, opera stages, county government offices, and shops are all present. Although the original central area of the Yao village is now deserted, some building introductions remain for visitors to explore its past prosperity. The stream under the covered bridge is still where villagers wash their clothes. Here, you can see elderly people with kind faces holding rice bowls, and the marks left by woodcutters sharpening their knives on pillars over 700 years, all bearing the imprint of life. Occasionally, when you look up, you might meet the gaze of bats hanging from the beams; when you look down, the village's orange cat might be lying at your feet, acting cute, and the dog might be playing hide-and-seek with your skirt behind you, full of fun😉 🚗Transportation: Navigate directly to Goulan Yao Village. Note that when you arrive at the visitor center, don't park yet, as it's still far from the village. Continue driving along the road and find a place to park after you see the village. This will save you a lot of walking🚗 🗺Tour Route: There's no fixed route; just stroll around as you please. First, admire the overall defense system from outside the village and feel its grandeur. Then, enter the village and walk along the "main street" to visit various buildings and learn about the history of the Yao village. Next, go to the covered bridge to see the babbling stream and the villagers washing clothes. Finally, you can wander around the village, interact with the cute animals, and enjoy a leisurely time🐶 🍱Food Recommendations: Currently, the village has a low level of commercialization. I only saw one farmhouse restaurant where you can try local specialties and experience the authentic taste of the countryside🥗. However, the choices are limited, so those with high culinary expectations should be prepared. 💰Cost: Here's the highlight: it's free! What a bargain💸 📌Other Tips: The entire village is almost undeveloped commercially, with few people, making it perfect for taking photos. The photogenic rate is super high, so photography lovers can unleash your skills📸. I only saw one shop renting Yao costumes, so those who want to experience Yao clothing for photos can also arrange it. The dividing line between the old and new villages is not very obvious. The outskirts of the old village have a strong atmosphere of daily life, even more so than Shanggantang Village. Goulan Yao Village and Shanggantang Village are very close, but their architectural styles and history are completely different. I highly recommend visiting both to experience the charm of two different ancient villages🏡