"Scholars' Village" in Jiuzhen Old Town

"Scholars' Village" in Jiuzhen Old Town

Shiniuwei Village, located upstream of the Wujian River in Jiuzhen Town, Zhangpu County, is an ancient and magnificent residential complex from the Qing Dynasty — known as the "Scholars' Village."

It is said that during the Ming and Qing dynasties, this village produced 81 scholars, including Lin Shizhang, who ranked third in the imperial examinations during the Jiajing era of the Ming Dynasty and later served as the Minister of Rites in Nanjing; Lin Yixin, a successful candidate in the imperial examinations during the Jiajing era of the Ming Dynasty and later appointed as an official of the Yunnan Provincial Surveillance Commission; Lin Gongmao, a successful candidate in the imperial examinations during the Jiajing era of the Ming Dynasty and later appointed as the Surveillance Commissioner of Guangxi. When these "scholars" returned to their hometowns to bring honor to their ancestors, they undertook large-scale construction projects, building houses and estates that gradually formed a sizable and unique village at the time — hence the name "Scholars' Village."　

The buildings in the "Scholars' Village" are all made of wood and earth. The well-preserved main structures consist of three rows of single-story houses enclosing two sets of three-courtyard complexes. Each row of single-story houses has five rooms, totaling 15. The front two courtyards of both sets feature the "official hall" architectural style — each courtyard consists of one central hall and two side rooms, with two wing rooms on either side between the courtyards. The rear courtyards are all multi-story buildings. The right building has one central hall and two side rooms on each floor, flanked by two single-story rooms on either side; the left building also has one central hall and two side rooms on each floor, with two rows of multi-story buildings on either side, each with four rooms per floor. It is said that these buildings were where noble ladies and young maidens lived, thus earning them the nickname "Dressing Rooms." Currently, over 30 households still reside in the "Scholars' Village."　

The "Scholars' Village" faces the river, is flanked by lychee orchards, and backed by layered mountains. With its lush greenery and picturesque waters set against the backdrop of lychee trees, this historic ink-and-brush village appears even more enchanting and charming.