Longxian Ancient Village

Longxian Ancient Village

China's Rice Fish Village—Longxian Village in Fangshan Township is a distinctive settlement in Qingtian County rich in rice fish culture, known for its agritainment tourism centered around raising and eating rice field fish. Located in the southeastern part of Qingtian, the village is surrounded by mountains on three sides and lies on a gentle slope transitioning from the Fangshan Basin to Qiyun Mountain. At the entrance of the village, the five large characters reading "China's Rice Fish Village" were inscribed in October 1999 by Fei Xiaotong, former Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, specifically for Longxian Village in Fangshan Township. With over 650 villagers residing in 24 countries around the world, it is one of the birthplaces of Qingtian’s overseas Chinese community. The village boasts a history of over 600 years of rice field fish farming. A local folk song goes, “Where there’s water and paddy fields, there are fish; where there’s a home, there are overseas Chinese; we plow without ropes and enjoy mosquito-free seasons all year round”—a true reflection of life here. The village faces northwest, with the Longyuan Stream running through it. Residential houses are built along the mountains to the southeast and have a history of over 730 years. The village has a total population of more than 1,300 across 300-plus households, over 140 ponds, and more than 120 acres of farmland. Ponds and fields are scattered throughout, and wherever there is water—whether in front of homes, behind houses, or in fields and paddies—there are fish, giving the impression of stepping into a world of fish. Longxian Village is also a scenic spot abundant in cultural relics and home to many overseas Chinese. Attractions include Qiyun Mountain, Longxian Eighteen Pools, Lovers’ Pine, Mandarin Duck Pool, Dragon Egg Stone, Yanling Old House, Wu Family Ancestral Hall, Qiankui Ling Ancestral Hall, and Julong Mountain Villa. Among these, Yanling Old House and Julong Mountain Villa are particularly notable for their distinctive architecture.