Huagang Ancient Village

Huagang Ancient Village

Huagang Village is located in the central part of Dongtou County, Zhejiang Province, surrounded by mountains and water. The village buildings are scattered in an orderly fashion, featuring a unique style. The village mainly focuses on fishery production. Its architecture is predominantly built from stone, giving it a strong island charm.

The origin of the village is like a poem. Several hundred years ago, a few families from southern Fujian landed on the island and saw azaleas in full bloom covering the mountains. The flowers resembled the indigenous people—the generations of natives who had lived there. They stretched from the horizon to every nook and cranny of the hills. When they saw people arriving from the sea, they seemed to line up, tiptoeing and peeking out as if discussing, exploring, and observing. In that moment, the fishermen who had just landed felt as though long-lost fellow villagers had come to welcome them. The fishermen settled here and named their village “Huagang,” meaning “Flowers Covering the Hills.”

The village has over a hundred “tiger-skin” stone houses, most of which date back to the 1950s and 1960s. These stone houses have excellent insulation properties—warm in winter and cool in summer—and are simple yet practical. A clear mountain stream runs through the village, and golden sunlight spills onto the tiered alleys, adding to the tranquility and beauty of Huagang. But what truly strikes visitors hundreds of years after the village was named are the winding rows of weathered old houses. These are unique stone houses—their bones, eyebrows, window frames, and roofs all made of stone. Looking at the rugged stones on the roofs, one might think they are guardian deities protecting the homes. In reality, they serve to hold down the wild, violent winds. When typhoons strike, these storms rage and wreak havoc, but amidst the chaos, only stone stands firm.

As one of the first villages in Dongtou District to implement the “Garden Village” construction project, Huagang Village is beginning to take shape. Over a hundred old stone houses have been transformed into boutique high-end homestays, stylish bars, specialty restaurants, and folk craft workshops. The abandoned quarry will be turned into a water-friendly recreation area for activities such as sea fishing and angling.

In the process of building the “Garden Village,” Huagang Village focuses primarily on developing island-wide tourism projects, supplemented by initiatives such as burying utility lines underground and enhancing the overall environment through the “Eight Transformations.” These efforts strengthen the village’s infrastructure and project development, starting with “beautifying the village.” At the same time, leveraging the popularity and opportunities brought by these projects opens up endless possibilities for village industrial growth. For example, attracting innovators to invest in fishery culture-themed projects fosters new industry chains, creating jobs and boosting the village’s economy. This transforms the village from a mere “showpiece” to a true “garden,” striving to become a model “Garden Village” for the entire district.

Huagang Village is a purely fishing community, where generations have made their living from the sea. The village covers approximately 0.8 square kilometers of land and has a population of nearly 800. The residents mainly engage in fishery production, operating 26 small fishing boats and 3 cargo vessels. Blessed with natural beauty and a rustic charm, and with the villagers’ long-standing awareness of preservation, the village was designated as a protected ancient fishing settlement by the Dongtou County Government in 2003.

Nestled against the mountains and facing the sea, this is Huagang Village in Dongtou. Yet it is not lonely. Far behind it lies the boundless mainland, and in the distance visible from its shores stretches the vast ocean.

Transportation:

Huagang Village is connected to the south via the Dongtou Bridge and to the north via the Rainbow Bridge, making transportation very convenient. Take the local bus route 151 and get off at “Huagang Fishing Village.”