Shunchang - Yuankeng Ancient Town

Yuankeng Ancient Town is located 12 kilometers southwest of Shunchang County. Jinxi, one of the three major tributaries of the Min River, runs through the town. As early as the Ming and Qing dynasties, it was an important transportation hub in ancient northwest Fujian. The busy water transportation made it a famous commercial center at that time. The Ming Dynasty tribute tea 'Qianshan Tea' and the Qing Dynasty 'Tongshunxing' rough-edged paper were sold overseas from here, enjoying a good reputation in Southeast Asia. Yuankeng Ancient Town still preserves a large number of ancient buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties. The Xiao Family Ancestral Hall, covering an area of about 5,000 square meters, is the oldest, originally built during the Chongzhen period of the Ming Dynasty. It was rebuilt as the town and district office in the early Republic of China period, and only the main gate of the ancestral hall remains today. Most of the ancient residences in Yuankeng consist of several adjacent four-entry courtyards, with exquisitely carved doorways and beams, diverse shapes of crossbeams and moon beams, and tiles laid on the eaves boards. The layout style is simple and clear, fully reflecting the elegance of the noble residences of the time. Yuankeng Ancient Town also has many ancient covered bridges such as Dengyun Bridge, Wenchang Bridge, and Chaxi Bridge. The well-preserved Dengyun Bridge inherits the architectural features of the Ming and Qing dynasties, with its exquisite design and beautiful shape, making it of great scientific research and artistic appreciation value.