Guodong Ancient Ecological Village

Guodong Ancient Ecological Village

Nestled among secluded mountain ridges about 10 kilometers from Wuyi County, it gets its name from the mountains that encircle it like a wall (“Guo”) and the deep valleys that resemble a cave (“Dong”). Within its approximately 5-square-kilometer scenic area, rolling peaks, lush bamboo and trees create a serene and pleasant atmosphere.

“The scenery beyond the wall rivals the North Star in grandeur, while the beauty within the cave reflects the southern hills” — this ancient verse aptly depicts the Guodong Scenic Area.

History: The people of Guodong are not surnamed Guo but He. Their ancestors can be traced back to He Zhizhong, a prime minister of the Song Dynasty. His descendant, He Shouzhi, identified Guodong as “a place not deep in mountains yet rich in bamboo and wood, not large in water bodies yet full of misty charm — an everlasting land.” He relocated his entire family here, undertook major construction, and built the ancestral hall of the He family. Other families gradually disappeared, while the He clan flourished.

Today, the descendants of the He family living in and around Guodong number over 4,000. The villagers are known for their good health and longevity, and have produced many notable individuals. During the Ming and Qing dynasties alone, there were 114 scholars, 32 tribute students, and juren (successful candidates in the imperial examinations).

Tip: Guodong and Yuyuan are in two different directions — you must return to the city first before taking another bus. Yuyuan, Liuxiulong, and Qingfengzhai are on the same route, so they can be visited together.

Introduction

Aofeng Pagoda

Located atop Aoyu Mountain outside Guodong Village, Aofeng Pagoda stands 14.5 meters tall and was built in the 43rd year of the Qianlong reign during the Qing Dynasty (1778 AD). The water entrance of Guodong, which gathers the beauty of the landscape and strange scenery, is surrounded by over 80 ancient trees planted during the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty, densely lining both inside and outside the ancient city walls, exuding a profound historical aura.

HuiLong Bridge

The first thing you see upon entering the village is HuiLong Bridge. Originally built during the Yuan Dynasty and reconstructed during the Longqing reign of the Ming Dynasty (1567–1572), this stone bridge features a pavilion and marks the water entrance of Guodong. To the east of the bridge, at the foot of Longshan Mountain, lies the late-Ming-era Hailin Temple, which houses a statue of Guan Yu and murals.

Longshan Mountain

Cross HuiLong Bridge, and you’ll step onto Longshan Mountain. Here, towering peaks pierce the clouds, and ancient forests cover hundreds of acres amid swirling mists — a truly magical sight. The mountain is covered with towering trees that are 600 to 700 years old. There is a wide variety of ancient tree species, including the national first-class rare species such as the southern yew. The forest is rich in negative oxygen ions, making it a rare natural oxygen bar and forest bathing spot.

Baoquan Rock

Located south of the village, Baoquan Rock is one of the famous “Ten Scenes of Wuyang” in Wuyi. When you climb to the top of Lion Head Mountain and gaze upon the spectacular peaks, you’ll feel a refreshing breeze on your shoulders, as if you’re wandering through a celestial realm.

Baoquan Temple

Baoquan Temple, situated on Baoquan Rock, was first built during the Ming Dynasty. It is not only a sacred site where Buddhists from dozens of nearby areas come to worship and chant scriptures, but it also served as a campsite for the Red Army’s Wuyi South Battalion in the past. The Baoquan spring at the summit of Baoquan Rock and the Zhangquan spring at the foot of Hu Mountain — neither drying up in drought nor overflowing in flood, remaining cool in summer and warm in winter — have been celebrated in poetry since ancient times.

He Family Ancestral Hall

As a representative of Guodong’s over 20 Ming and Qing dynasty ancient buildings, it is grand and imposing. The ancient stage inside the hall is elegant and rustic, and the plaques covering the beams demonstrate the area’s history of outstanding people. In the backyard, a podocarpus tree — the same age as the ancestral hall — boasts a large, beautifully shaped crown and is a rare ancient tree treasure in the province.

Ticket & Opening Hours

40 yuan

Admission

Take a bus from Chengdong Bus Station at the bridgehead on Wenquan Road to Guodong every 20 minutes. The ticket is 3 yuan.

Food · Accommodation · Shopping

In Guodong, you can try locally prepared bamboo tube rice

and chicken casserole (60 yuan), though it takes some time to cook. It’s recommended to contact the restaurant before entering the scenic area so it’s ready when you leave.

Restaurants in the Guodong Scenic Area include Qingyuan Restaurant (13806775125), HuiLong Restaurant (0579-7736002), and Shanshui Renjia (13857926777).

The most distinctive restaurant in Guodong is Renlan Hall, also known as “HuiLong Restaurant,” located in a small alley at the village exit. The building is an old house from the late Ming Dynasty, and the dining tables are set up in the living room and courtyard. The business is very bustling.