Shilin Village

Shilin Village

Shilin Village is located in Yuyao City, Ningbo. The village gets its name from the abundance of "Diao Hong" persimmons grown there. Surrounded by mountains on all sides and covered with lush bamboo and trees on the slopes, Shilin Village boasts not only beautiful landscapes but also an ancient, pristine charm. In the village, there is an ancient well with clear and pure water, leading to the saying: “One village, one surname, one family; one ancient well quenches the thirst of the whole village.”

Shilin Village is a single-surname, blood-related clan settlement where everyone shares the same surname—Shen. According to records, they are descendants of King Wen of Zhou, who migrated here from Henan in ancient times. Moreover, the village is home to numerous cultural relics and historic sites, including the Shen Family Ancestral Hall and Chishui Bridge, both of which are protected cultural heritage sites of Yuyao City. The phrase “One village, one surname, one ancient well for thousands” aptly summarizes the characteristics of Shilin Village—a single Shen lineage living in seclusion in the mountains, self-sufficient, simple, and kind. Though uninterested in official careers, the villagers are well-educated and uphold the traditional family virtue of “farming and studying to pass down the family legacy.”

Historical records indicate: Ranzhi, the tenth son of King Wen of Zhou, was enfeoffed in Shen and is regarded as the founding ancestor of the Shen clan. His 45th-generation ancestor migrated to Shilin during the late Yuan and early Ming dynasties, becoming the progenitor of the Shen clan in Shilin—known as Tailong Gong. This area was once called “Shilin” due to its abundance of talented individuals, and “Zhiling” because of two facing mountain ridges. It is now named “Shilin” for its profusion of persimmons. The Tang Dynasty poet Li Bai wrote, “Three thousand li of Siming Mountains, where morning rises with the rosy clouds of Chicheng,” and a Ming Dynasty poet noted, “A home of immortals in the scarlet hills and red waters, where straw shoes and blue stockings make for a delightful journey.” The founding ancestor of Shilin Village, Shen Tailong, also praised the place: “What a marvelous paradise untouched by even a speck of worldly dust; the feng shui masters chose this place to live, where only white clouds drift over the ridge tops.”

In the southwest corner of Shilin Village lies an ancient architectural complex covering about one mu of land. With its whitewashed walls and black tiles, it stands solemn and dignified—this is the Shen Family Ancestral Hall. Originally built in the fourth year of the Daoguang reign during the Qing Dynasty (1824), it initially had only five rear main rooms. By the fifteenth year of Daoguang (1835), five front rooms were added, though neither section was completed at the time. In the second year of the Xianfeng reign (1852), the front and rear sections were renovated, and left and right wing rooms, steps, screen walls, and the entrance gate were added (it is said that ancestral hall screen walls are typically built in a straight line, but due to the fact that an ancestor of the Shen clan had attained the rank of Gongyuan, the wall was permitted to be built in a spread-wing shape). The project was then considered complete. Since then, the Shen Family Ancestral Hall has undergone several renovations, and the current structure was rebuilt in 1994.

Shilin has long upheld a tradition of valuing education. On the door lintels of Ming and Qing-era buildings that still stand today, phrases like “farming and studying to pass down the family legacy” can still be faintly seen. In the Shen Family Ancestral Hall at the village entrance hang plaques such as “Scholar-Gentry Family” and “Praised for Filial Piety and Chastity,” which the people of Shilin take pride in, awarded through the dynasties to honor the villagers. The village has many educated residents—nearly a hundred have been admitted to colleges and universities since the restoration of the college entrance examination. There is a standardized health clinic in the village, and every year, over 90% of the villagers participate in the New Rural Cooperative Medical Scheme. As early as 2002, Shilin invested 163,000 yuan in the former village school to build a new village cultural center, adding fitness equipment to enrich the spiritual and cultural life of the community.

In Shilin Village, there is also a legend—“Mengdong Weeping for Bamboo.” Mengdong was a very filial man. One winter, his elderly, blind mother suddenly craved bamboo shoots. At the time, heavy snow blanketed the mountains, and there were no bamboo shoots to be found. But the devoted Mengdong took a hoe and went up the mountain. After searching for a long time without success, he hugged a large bamboo stalk and began to cry. Strangely enough, at the very spot where his tears fell, bamboo shoots suddenly sprouted. Overjoyed, Mengdong quickly dug them up and took them home to cook a pot of bamboo shoot soup for his mother. From then on, bamboo shoots could also be found in the Siming Mountains during winter. To commemorate Mengdong, people call the bamboo shoots produced during this time “winter bamboo shoots.”

“Diao Hong” persimmons are a traditional and renowned fruit of Shilin Village, known for their bright color and soft flesh. They have a history of over 400 years. Starting in autumn, the fruits gradually ripen, turning from green to red as they hang on the tree, creating a beautiful sight—thus they are called “Diao Hong” (Hanging Red) in the Ningbo area. Currently, Shilin Village has over 200 acres of persimmon orchards, yielding more than 200,000 pounds of persimmons annually. In 2006, the “Diao Hong” persimmons were registered under the brand name “Yangchun Red.” These tempting red persimmons are not only popular agricultural products sought after by tourists but have also become a lucky fruit that helps the villagers of Shilin increase their income and achieve prosperity.

Shilin Village: [Village Overview] Shilin Village is situated in the southeastern part of Dalan Town, Yuyao City, Zhejiang Province. Built against the mountains with higher terrain in the west and lower in the east, the layout is well-arranged and compact. The winding village roads and serene alleys contribute to a culturally rich and structurally intact ancient village. Located on a highland plateau with an average elevation of 550 meters, the area enjoys abundant sunshine, plentiful rainfall, and distinct seasons. With beautiful scenery, fresh and clean air, and a wealth of unique local tourist resources—including the national 4A-level scenic area “Dan Mountain and Red Water”—the picturesque and distinctive locale was even chosen as a filming location for the movie “Dawn”... More detailed information about Shilin Village++