Dushan Ancient Village

Dushan Ancient Village

Dushan Village is a well-known tourist destination in Lishui City, named after Tianma Mountain, which stands independently on the eastern bank of the Wuxi River. During the Shaoxing era of the Southern Song Dynasty, the Ye family, whose members served as Left Prime Minister in the Ministry of Personnel, migrated here from Songyang and slowly developed into a village. The village faces Tianma Mountain and backs onto the Wuxi River, covered in dense woods, and includes attractions such as Little Red Cliff, Qiling Rock, Chessboard Stone, and Yi’ai Pavilion. It is fortified at both the northern and southern ends with fortress walls, accessed through gateways, and features perilous terrain.

Around the time of Emperor Xiaozong of the Southern Song Dynasty (1163–1190), Ye Luan, the great-grandson of Ye Mengde, Left Prime Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, relocated from Maoshan in Songyang’s ancient market to Dushan, establishing the village. During the Yuan and Ming dynasties, the Zhu, Ye, Zhou, and Shao clans lived here together. In the Jiajing era of the Ming Dynasty, Ye Yifan ranked 19th among the second-class scholars in the imperial examination and was appointed as an External Official of the Construction and Maintenance Division of the Ministry of Works. For a time, literary culture flourished, notable figures emerged, historical sites expanded, and the village prospered greatly.

Dushan Village still retains its quaint appearance today. Within the village are ancient structures such as the Ye Clan Ancestral Hall and Baoshou Shrine, rebuilt during the Kangxi era of the Qing Dynasty; ancient wells from the Zhengtong and Longqing eras of the Ming Dynasty; the Longqing Stone Memorial Archway from the Longqing era of the Ming Dynasty; and fortress walls built during the Jiajing era of the Ming Dynasty. The entire village architecture is distinctive, with cobblestone foundations and pathways that are uniform and full of charm. A 200-meter-long street stretching from the Ye Clan Ancestral Hall to the memorial archway perfectly preserves the architectural style and layout of the Ming Dynasty, earning it the reputation of the “Ming Dynasty Street.” The village is fortified at both the northern and southern ends by fortress walls, referred to by locals as “city walls.”

The fortress gates and walls are located in the north and south, built with large stones. The northern fortress wall connects closely with Tianma Mountain, Shitifei Peak, Bifeng Peak, and other peaks, forming a sturdy barrier that combines natural and man-made elements. The southern fortress gate has a stone arched entrance in the front and a wooden multi-story structure in the back, with a couplet that reads: “Virtue and righteousness take precedence, which can then widely influence the region; benevolence in the neighborhood is beautiful, further teaching joy to all people.” The northern fortress wall begins at the cliff of Tianma Mountain and slopes gently southward to the foot of the mountain. Research suggests it was constructed in the 20th year of the Jiajing era of the Ming Dynasty (1541) funded by Ye Xian, boasting a history of 452 years.

The Ye Clan Grand Ancestral Hall was first built in the late Yuan and early Ming Dynasties. It has three bays and three sections, a flush-gable roof, fire-prevention gables, and interlocking clay tiles. It features a mixed structure of raised beams and penetrating dougong, with eight large square-section stone pillars in the center. Most of the foundation is made of lime-soil mixture, with some brick-paved areas, and the surroundings are edged with step stones. The upper parts of the main and secondary halls inside the shrine are exquisitely carved. The stone-framed main gate, brick gate wall, and hip-and-gable roof with fish-tail ridge ornaments and upturned wing corners feature double-layered cornices with protruding rhombus patterns. There are also side gates on either side of the main gate. Outside the gate, a platform is flanked by a pair of prominently carved stone lions, representing unique Ming Dynasty stone carving artistry. The second bay of the ancestral hall is the Baoben Hall. Additionally, there are a pair of large bluestone flagpole bases erected in the winter of 1890, during the 16th year of the Guangxu reign. Descending the central steps from the large outdoor platform outside the gate, about ten meters ahead, there is a latticed window screen wall. On the wall of the performance room under the main hall of the grand ancestral shrine, slogans written during the 1930s by Su Yu and Liu Ying—leaders of the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army Advance Detachment who established a guerrilla base in western Zhejiang—remain to this day: “Arm the masses and drive out the enemy!”

The Baoshou Shrine, located to the left of the Ye Clan Grand Ancestral Hall, was also built in the late Yuan and early Ming Dynasties. Originally consisting of three bays, only two remain as the first bay has collapsed. In the spring of 1984, villagers pooled funds to renovate both the grand ancestral hall and the Baoshou Shrine. The village club and township cultural center of Dushan are housed in this shrine.

Today, Dushan is a well-known model village. A road connects the county town to Dushan, with buses running daily, attracting many visitors. Guests from all over who come to tour the area never fail to praise the village’s ancient architectural complex, beautiful scenery, and the rare “Ming Dynasty Street.”

Transportation:

From 6:30 to 18:40, buses depart every hour from Lishui West Bus Station to Suichang County, with a fare of 36 yuan. From Suichang to Wangcunkou, there is a bus every hour. Dushan Village is located eight minutes past Jiaotan and roughly a 20-minute drive from the fork in the road. When returning, you can get off at the bridge at the entrance of the village and flag down a bus on the main road.