Five Dynasties of Elegance, an Ancient Village Beyond the World: Qianyang in Gutian

Qianyang Village in Gutian is a national 3A-level tourist attraction, located in the northeast of Zhuoyang Township. It was founded in the third year of Qiande in the Northern Song Dynasty (965 AD), 46 kilometers away from Gutian County and 68 kilometers from Ningde City. Qianyang is a thousand-year-old village, a cultural village, and a revolutionary red village. The village has a beautiful ecological environment and a long history. There are more than 70 traditional buildings from the Yuan, Ming, Qing, and Republic of China periods, with a complete traditional layout and streets. The village mainly features ancient residential buildings and historical relics, showcasing the Min architectural style with high artistic and cultural value. Some describe it as 'Five dynasties in one village, a glance through a thousand years.' The mountains, water, fields, ancient houses, folk customs, and legends are ingeniously integrated here. Qianyang Village is nestled by the mountains and rivers, with ancient residential buildings from the Song, Yuan, Ming, Qing, and Republic of China periods arranged from north to south. The village exudes a rich ancient charm and Min architectural style, and has been recognized as a Fujian Provincial Ecological Village, a Chinese Traditional Village, a Chinese Historical and Cultural Town and Village, a Fujian Provincial Rural Revitalization Pilot Village, and a National Forest Village. Today, nearly 70 ancient residences from the Yuan, Ming, Qing, and Republic of China periods are well-preserved. The village is dotted with ancestral halls, ancient streets, watchtowers, covered bridges, stone bridges, and even relics from the Song and Yuan dynasties can be faintly seen. The Yu Family's ancient residence, built in the mid-Ming Dynasty, is one of the oldest residences in Qianyang Village. It features high walls and deep courtyards, a three-entry six-door structure, upturned eaves, and exquisitely carved doors and windows, exuding a rich ancient charm with a history of over 400 years. Wood carving, clay carving, and stone carving are collectively known as the 'Three Wonders of Qianyang.' Traces of the 'Three Wonders of Qianyang' can be seen everywhere in the courtyards. Wood carving art is applied to window lattices, door lintels, tables, and chairs, using various techniques such as relief, openwork, and hollow carving, which are elegant and magnificent. Clay carvings are generally found on the roofs of the houses, the walls of the hall doors, and the water-blocking walls on both sides, with a strong sense of three-dimensionality and lifelike appearance. Stone carvings are mostly used on the bases of columns, often depicting flowers, birds, insects, and fish, with simple and ancient shapes. In addition to the ancient residences, Qianyang also preserves various ancient relics. There are many Ming and Qing stone bridges, which are simple and sturdy, adding a lot of ancient charm to the small village. Under the bridges, the water flows gently, and the rice fields on both sides are green, exuding an indescribable freshness and elegance. In Qianyang Village, there is a thousand-year-old bitter oak tree that once split due to a lightning strike but remains lush and green to this day. The villagers of Qianyang believe that lightning-struck wood has the power to ward off evil spirits and often use a small piece of lightning-struck wood strung on a string, worn around the neck or wrist of children. Qianyang is a land where you can see green mountains and retain the nostalgia of the countryside. It is a grand garden of nostalgia that people cannot forget. Tips: It is recommended to drive by yourself. Route: Depart from Fuzhou - Fuzhou Airport Expressway - Fuzhou Ring Expressway - Jingtai Expressway - Guzheng Expressway - Provincial Highway 304 - Qianyang Village, Zhuoyang Township, Gutian County.