Zhinanzhai Mountain

Zhinanzhai Mountain

On Zhinanzhai Mountain, situated at an altitude of over 500 meters in the northwest of Lin’an City, at the foot of the eastern Tianmu Mountain and by the Nanxiao Stream, the source of Taihu Lake, there is an ancient village with a history of over a thousand years called Zhinanzhai Village.

When autumn arrives, the many ancient trees in the village burst into vibrant colors. As it remains largely undeveloped and sees few visitors, it has become a hidden paradise frequently visited by seasoned backpackers and photographers.

Introduction

The village is home to ancient trees that are over a thousand years old, with more than 20 species. Several hundred ancient trees encircle the entire ancient village, including ginkgo, red maple, ironwood, chestnut, Masson pine, golden larch, and poplar.

There are also ancient surnames, ponds, tombs, relics, and temples dating back over a thousand years. The Mo Family Temple has a history of more than 1,200 years, and stone tablets from a 700-year-old temple site still remain.

The village originally had four ancient ponds, which have now been merged into one Tianchi (Heavenly Pond), covering a lake surface of about 1,000 square meters. Ancient tombs in the village have also yielded bronze ware and coins dating back over 5,000 and 3,000 years respectively.