Local Architecture in Wanhou Village

Local Architecture in Wanhou Village

The local architecture of Wanhou Village is a cultural heritage site protected by Zhejiang Province.

The local architecture of Wanhou Village is located in Qiaodun Town, Cangnan County, and dates back to the Qing Dynasty.

The ancient village of Wanhou is located in Qiaodun Town, Cangnan County, Wenzhou City, Zhejiang Province, about 20 kilometers from the county seat of Cangnan. In the third year of the Wanli reign during the Ming Dynasty (1575), a man from Liancheng County, Tingzhou Prefecture, Fujian Province, known as Wu Ren (also referred to as 'Heiren Lao'), began building kilns here to produce ceramics. By the mid-to-late Qing Dynasty, at its peak, there were 18 dragon kilns, hundreds of workshops, and a population of over ten thousand. In 1958, due to the construction of a reservoir, most villagers relocated to Qiaodun. In 2010, there were 40 households and 76 people within the protected area. Nestled against mountains and by the water, the ancient village of Wanhou integrates Ming and Qing dynasty residential buildings, ancient temples, and an old opera stage, while also preserving a relatively complete ancient ceramic production line, making it a "living museum of handicraft ceramic production from the Ming and Qing periods."

The ancient village of Wanhou is situated between Leishihu Mountain and Cheshuigong Mountain at the southern foot of the Yucang Mountain Range. The village faces south, with the shimmering waters of Qiaodun Reservoir—Yulong Lake—in front, offering picturesque mountain and water scenery. On the western side, a three-tiered waterfall cascades with impressive grandeur.

The ancient village of Wanhou used water as the power source for ceramic production. Built along the mountain ridges and streams, it forms a settlement pattern of “mountain, water, and village.” Water channels flow down from above, meandering through the village, passing by residences and water-powered mills, serving the triple purposes of production, daily life, and fire prevention.

The ancient village of Wanhou was originally divided into three parts: Dingyao (Upper Kiln), Xiayao (Lower Kiln), and Banling (Half Ridge). The Lower Kiln was submerged after the construction of Qiaodun Reservoir following the liberation.

The ancient village of Wanhou consists of traditional residences, temples, ancestral halls, workshops, dragon kilns, ancient kiln sites, and natural landscapes such as mountains, water, and trees. As of 2010, the village still preserved over 30 ceramic firing workshops, more than 300 rooms, and covered an area of over 5,000 square meters. Walking up the stone-paved path in the center of the village, one can see traditional houses, workshops, and water mills arranged in a charming, staggered layout that complements each other beautifully.

The ancient village of Wanhou serves as a living textbook for studying the local culture, vernacular architecture, and the history of ceramic development in southern Zhejiang, possessing high historical, artistic, and scientific value.

On January 7, 2011, it was designated as part of the sixth batch of cultural heritage sites protected by Zhejiang Province.

Qiaodun Town: Qiaodun Town is a centuries-old town located at the southern gateway of Zhejiang Province, at the junction of three counties across Zhejiang and Fujian. It serves as the political, economic, and cultural center of western Cangnan County. It is both a former revolutionary base area and a mountainous region with poverty issues. The town covers an area of 80.4 square kilometers, comprising 4 sub-district offices, 34 administrative villages, and 6 residential areas, with a total population of 45,000. Historically, Qiaodun has been a vital transportation hub between Zhejiang and Fujian. National Highway 104 and the Wenzhou–Fuzhou Expressway run through it, and the planned Wenzhou–Fuzhou Railway will include a station here. The town enjoys a uniquely advantageous location and is known as the “Southern Gateway of Zhejiang” and the “…Qiaodun Town detailed information++

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of Cultural Heritage Sites Protected by Zhejiang Province