Ditou Ancient Village

Ditou Ancient Village

Ditou Ancient Village is located within Daruoyan Town. Historically known as Daidu or Digu, the terrain slopes from west to east, resembling the shape of a boat—hence its nickname, the “boat-shaped land.”

Built in the late Yuan Dynasty, the village lies against Jiuluo Mountain with its red cliffs dyed in rich hues, and faces Wushan Mountain, lush and towering. It is a bloodline-based settlement of the Chen clan, currently home to over 1,400 residents.

The core area of Ditou Ancient Village extends from the Chen Clan Ancestral Hall to Wolonggang, featuring ancient structures such as the Chen Clan Ancestral Hall, Jicui Ancestral Hall, Mozhao Pond, Mozhao Shengxiang, Yuhou Ancestral Hall, and Qu Lu. These buildings are built along the mountain slope, scattered in a well-spaced and layered layout.

Among them, Huazhu Ancestral Hall (also called Luban Ancestral Hall) and Songfeng Shuiyue are the most renowned. Here, visitors can experience the profound cultural heritage of scholarly ethos and family traditions rooted in agriculture and education.

The spatial composition formed by Huazhu Ancestral Hall, Songfeng Shuiyue Residence, Yuhou Ancestral Hall, and Wolonggang is free-spirited and enduring, with rich layering. Human landscapes complement the natural scenery. Towering ancient camphor trees, quaint wells, and elegant bamboo groves make it a place people linger in.

Opposite the village on Wushan Mountain lies a vast forest known as Bird-Seeded Forest. Legend has it that the ancestors of Ditou attracted birds by offering food to beautify the barren mountain. The bird droppings containing tree seeds eventually grew into this forest. Lush fields spread out at the foot of the mountain like a painting.