Ancient Residential Buildings of Heyang

Ancient Residential Buildings of Heyang

The Ancient Residential Buildings of Heyang are a national AAAA-level tourist attraction.

Heyang Village is a provincial-level historical and cultural reserve in Zhejiang Province, located in Xinjian Town within the Xiandu National Scenic Area in Jinyun County.

In 933 AD, brothers Zhu Qingyuan and his sibling, who served as secretaries in the Wuyue Kingdom, settled in Jinyun to escape the turmoil of the Five Dynasties period. As their ancestral home was in Xinyang, Henan, they named the place “Heyang.”

Heyang Village has a long and rich cultural history with deep cultural roots. Successive generations of the Zhu family valued both farming and scholarship, excelled in commerce, and produced many talented individuals, becoming wealthy and influential. During the Song and Yuan dynasties, eight scholars achieved the status of Jinshi (imperial examination graduates), giving rise to the “Yiyang Poetry School.”

The existing water system of one stream and two creeks, as well as the village layout of one main street and five lanes, were designed during the Yuan Dynasty. There are over ten ancient ancestral halls and around a hundred old residences totaling more than 1,500 rooms, most of which were built during the Ming and Qing dynasties, forming a clan-manor-style ancient residential architectural complex.

The village also features the Song Dynasty Buddhist temple “Fuchang Temple,” which integrates Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism, the Yuan Dynasty’s “Ba Shi Gate” (Gate of Eight Scholars), and the stone “Rare Treasure” bestowed by Emperor Taizu of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang, in front of the Ba Shi Gate. Ancient bridges, farming tools, furniture, murals, poems, plaques, carvings, as well as Heyang’s paper-cut window decorations—renowned as a unique gem of Chinese folk art—and remnants of peasant rebel groups from various dynasties, along with traditional folk activities, all contribute to making this village a rare thousand-year-old cultural gem in the Jiangnan region.

The Ancient Residential Buildings of Heyang are located in Jinyun County, Lishui City, Zhejiang Province, and are a national AAAA-level scenic area. It is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit, one of China’s First Batch of Traditional Villages, and a Famous Historical and Cultural Village of China.

According to site information, Heyang Village is a living, thousand-year-old ancient village formed around clan bloodlines. It currently has over 3,400 residents, more than 1,000 households, and 94% of families share the surname Zhu. The clan has lasted for 43 generations, with current villagers belonging to generations 35 to 43.

Heyang Village still retains 83 quadrangle courtyards, 15 ancient ancestral halls, 6 ancient temples, 1 ancient bridge, as well as the Song Dynasty’s Fuchang Temple, the Yuan Dynasty’s Ba Shi Gate, the Ming Dynasty’s stone “Rare Treasure,” and a large complex of Qing Dynasty residential architecture, truly offering a “full-course feast” of Ming and Qing architecture.

Address: Heyang Village, Jinyun County, Lishui City, Zhejiang Province

Type: Historic Sites / Ancient Towns / Ancient Villages

Recommended Visit Duration: About 1 hour

Opening Hours:

08:00–17:00

Ticket Information:

Gate Price: 40.0 RMB

Heyang Village: Since ancient times, the Jiangnan region of China has been prosperous, leaving behind countless ancient towns and villages. Among them are famous water towns like Zhouzhuang and Tongli, as well as lesser-known ancient villages that retain a simpler, quieter, and more authentic character. Heyang Village in Zhejiang is one such ancient and unique place.

Heyang wood carvings, as important decorations in the village’s ancient residences and clan buildings, reflect the architectural style of the Ming and Qing dynasties and the former grandeur of Heyang Village. Heyang wood carvings aim for simplicity and naturalness in their subject matter, with a touch of subtlety, showcasing a distinctive character. The carvings are mainly found... Heyyang Village Detailed Information++