Longchuan Scenic Area

Longchuan Scenic Area

Longchuan Scenic Area is a national scenic area and a AAAAA-level tourist attraction.

Longchuan was the ancient name of Kengkou Village. In front of the village lies Longxu Mountain, and a small stream (called "chuan") runs through the village, which was historically known as Longchuan. Later generations believed that the small stream (also called "keng") flowed out into the larger Dengyuan River, allowing dragons to swim freely, hence the name was changed to Kengkou. This legend is still passed down among the local people.

Located about 10 kilometers from Jixi County, it is an ancient Huizhou village. Due to its unique geographical environment and long-standing historical and cultural heritage, it has formed distinctive natural and human landscapes, and is now a historical and cultural reserve of Anhui Province.

Longchuan not only has a long history but is also surrounded by mountains and water, boasting beautiful scenery. The terrain of Longchuan Village resembles a boat moored to the shore, with Longxu Mountain rising to the east, closely bordering the Dengyuan River, the Longchuan stream converging to the south, Fengguan Peak embracing it to the west, and towering mountains standing to the north, giving it a unique character. During the Eastern Jin Dynasty, Hu Yan, a Cavalier Attendant-in-Ordinary, was stationed in Shezhou and was captivated by its feng shui, relocating his entire family here in the third year of Xiankang (337 AD).

The Hu family of Longchuan has produced talents across generations, making it a renowned "Jinshi Village" in Huizhou. Particularly during the Ming Dynasty, the village reached its heyday, with over ten individuals becoming jinshi (successful imperial examination candidates), the most famous being Hu Fu, who passed the imperial exam in the 14th year of Chenghua (1478 AD), became a Zhuangyuan in the Wu Xu examination class, and later served as the Vice Tutor of the Crown Prince and the Minister of Revenue in Nanjing; and 60 years later, Hu Zongxian, who became a Zhuangyuan in the Wu Xu examination class in the 17th year of Jiajing (1538 AD) and later served as the Minister of War and Vice Tutor of the Crown Prince. The village currently houses the "Longchuan Hu Clan Ancestral Hall" (a national cultural heritage site), the "Yishi Shangshu Archway" (a provincial cultural heritage site), the "Huizhou Merchant Hu Bingheng Residence," and the "Hu Zongxian Former Residence" (county-level cultural heritage sites). To the east of the village lies Longxu Mountain, named for its abundant production of Longxu grass, a raw material for papermaking. The mountain features peculiar pines, strange rocks, rare birds and animals, steep ridges, rugged ancient paths, and cascading waterfalls. It includes attractions such as Dragon Terrace Cliff, Stone Gate Cave Heaven, Immortal Stone House, Cloud Cliff Stone Stairs, the Dragon Peak Chan Monastery on the western ridge, the Ancient Woodcutter Hermitage, as well as the Mountain Hermitage, Zongxian Tomb, and Hu Fu Tomb on the western foothills, making it an excellent destination for cultural, ecological, and religious tourism.

Kengkou Village quietly lies in a small basin surrounded by mountains. The clear and sweet Dengyuan ancient stream winds its way from the north to the south along the eastern side of the village. According to the "Longchuan Hu Clan Genealogy," the founding ancestor Hu Yan originally lived in Puyang, Qingzhou, Shandong (now part of Henan). In the fourth year of Daxing (318 AD) during the Eastern Jin Dynasty, he was appointed as a Cavalier Attendant-in-Ordinary and Central Army Commander, accompanying Emperor Yuan to the south and stationed in Shezhou (now Shexian). Later, in January of the first year of Xiankang (335 AD), he married Lady Wang of Huayang, Jixi, and two years later relocated to this place. Kengkou Village is described as having "Longfeng Mountain rising to the east, Chicken Crown Mountain standing to the west, the Heavenly Horse galloping upward to the south, and the Long Stream (Dengyuan River) meandering in from the north. Admiring the beautiful landscape, they chose to settle at Jinglinli at the mouth of Longchuan and gathered their clan there."

After more than 1,600 years, it has passed down to the current "Jin" generation, spanning 48 generations. Speaking of the ancient architecture of Kengkou Village, one must start with the ancestral hall. The Longchuan Hu Clan Ancestral Hall is listed as a national key cultural relics protection unit and has been praised by experts as a unique masterpiece among ancient Chinese ancestral halls. Visitors to the area all come to admire it.

The Longchuan Hu Clan Ancestral Hall was initially built during the Song Dynasty and underwent major renovations during the Jiajing era of the Ming Dynasty. Facing south, it consists of three sections, comprising nine main parts: the screen wall, terrace, gate tower, courtyard, corridors, main hall, side rooms, bedroom, and special memorial shrine. The ancestral hall adopts a symmetrical architectural layout along the central axis. It gives visitors a sense of grandeur and magnificence.

Its wood carvings are truly unique. Passing through the large courtyard of the ancient hall leads to the middle section (the main hall), which is where the clan leader holds sacrificial ceremonies. It is supported by 14 ginkgo wood pillars with a diameter of 166 centimeters, with column bases carved from date wood in the shape of lotus petals, holding 54 winter melon-shaped beams. The structure combines raised beam and piercing dougong techniques, appearing majestic and spectacular. Each roof beam of the main hall has oval-shaped beam supports at both ends, carved with colorful clouds and ribbons, with dragons, phoenixes, and tigers intricately carved in the middle. The rafters are inlaid with carved floral designs, and even the beam hooks are engraved with coiled dragons, peacocks, narcissus flowers, and evergreen plants. Looking up, the delicate and unique carvings are a feast for the eyes. The floral carvings on the sides and upper sections of the main hall are even more distinctive. Each of the 10 floor-length window doors on both sides features the lotus flower, symbolizing "rising unstained from the mud," with flowers in various shapes—some in bud, some just blooming, some standing tall and swaying in the wind, some lying flat on the water surface like paintings, none alike. Even more delightful is the way flowers blend with objects and scenes. Lotus flowers ripple in the pond, amid gentle waves or splashing water, with birds soaring in the sky, fish swimming underwater, ducks playing on the green waves, frogs leaping in the lotus pond, and mandarin ducks necking, creating a vivid, lifelike, and amusing scene.

Longchuan Village: Longchuan Village is located 11 kilometers east of Jixi County, Xuancheng City, Anhui Province. The village enjoys convenient transportation, with the "Ji-Hu Highway" passing through it. Currently, the Hua-Long Highway is undergoing widening and renovation and is classified as a provincial second-class road. It was formed by merging the former three villages of Kengkou, Huli, and Hengchuan. It now governs seven villager groups, with 731 households and a population of 2,316. The village covers an area of 19 square kilometers, including 22,600 mu of forest land, 1,396 mu of paddy fields, and 620 mu of tea plantations. Longchuan Village enjoys convenient transportation, with the "Ji-Hu Highway" passing through it. Currently, the Hua-Long Highway is undergoing widening and renovation and is classified as a provincial second-class road... Detailed information about Longchuan Village++

Further Reading:

· Ninth Batch of National Scenic Areas