Pingshan Village: A Forgotten Paradise, a Perfect Combination of History and Beauty

🌟Under the fame of Hongcun and Xidi, the treasured ancient towns around it seem to be overshadowed by their beauty. This time I set foot in Pingshan Village and discovered this forgotten paradise. It was a rare travel experience. Compared with Hongcun and Xidi, the door carvings and stone carvings in Pingshan are more exquisite and gorgeous, giving us a glimpse of the former wealth and prosperity of this place. It is definitely worth a visit. ❤In addition, Pingshan Village is located on the mountain and close to the water, which is graceful and elegant, showing the unique charm of the Jiangnan water town. The Jiyang River winds through the village with many twists and turns, and a stone bridge connects the black and white tiles on both sides of the river. There are currently more than 400 complete residential buildings in the village, including more than 200 buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties. Traces of the passing years can be seen everywhere. In winter, the shops here close their doors, adding a rustic and quiet charm. Here, I found the long-lost tranquility, away from the hustle and bustle, listening to the gurgling sound of the stream, and playing with the lazy cat. There are many cats in Pingshan Village. They will come over to rub against you in a friendly manner, and their calls are gentle and sweet. If you like cats, this is a cat lover's paradise. It turns out that Pingshan is an important silkworm breeding base in southern Anhui. In order to deal with mice, every household raises cats, which has become a major feature of the village. Regarding the origin of Pingshan Village, it was named after a high mountain that looks like a screen in the north of the village. It is also the place where people with the surname Shu live, so it is also called Shu Village. It has been more than 1,100 years since the ancestors of the Shu family moved here. In the past, the clan society attached great importance to patriarchal order, and the ancestral halls were built grandly and exquisitely. It is currently under renovation and you won't be able to see it for the time being. 📍Detailed address: Hongcun Town, Yi County, Huangshan City, Anhui Province ✅Tickets: Free (1.1-3.31) 🕙Time: 7:30-17:30 ✅Check-in tips: 1️⃣ Sangu Temple: It is rare to see a temple with such local characteristics, it is worth a visit. It was first built in the 17th year of Shaoxing in the Southern Song Dynasty. It was built after the three daughters of Shu Zhen, a minister of the Western Han Dynasty, were recommended by local sages and transformed into carp and became immortals and were canonized as the Three Holy Dragon Girls by Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty. It was originally named Xianji Temple and was inscribed by Emperor Gaozong of the Southern Song Dynasty, meaning to show their saintliness and save the world. 2️⃣Shu Guangyu Hall: The Huizhou three-carving art on the gatehouse is breathtaking. It uses colorful glazed carvings and has more than 300 figure carvings on it. It is a rare colored gatehouse. The word "Enrong" and the soaring dragon at the top show the emperor's grace and the family's social status. The second layer is carved with hundreds of civil and military officials, and the third layer is engraved with "the best in the imperial examinations for generations", showing that the family has a glorious history of passing the imperial examinations and bringing honor to the ancestors. The fourth layer features carvings of jubilant lions and young lion protectors, highlighting the family rules and expectations for their descendants. The fourth layer of pine and crane represents the auspicious symbol of longevity for the elders. 3️⃣The memorial archway of the Imperial Guard on the wall: Because of Shu Jin's meritorious service in saving the emperor, Yongzheng bestowed the title of Imperial Guard on him and also granted Shu Jin a nine-eaved ancestral hall. Later, due to years of disrepair, the ancestral hall was severely damaged, leaving only the facade. Currently it is a cafe. 4️⃣ Pingshan Gongzhi: It is actually a memorial archway with the four characters "Pingshan Gongzhi" written on it. People who come here always take photos with it. ❤️This trip to Pingshan Village made me deeply feel the unique charm of this forgotten paradise. The beauty of the mountains and rivers, the rich history, and the warmth of the humanities here are all unforgettable. If you also yearn to find inner peace and traces of history, you might as well take a walk in Pingshan Village. You may gain unexpected gains and be moved.