Humei Village

Humei Village

Willows cast a soft reflection, small bridges arch over flowing streams, tree-shaded homes evoke a scene straight out of the Jiangnan region.

Humei Village in Zhangtang Town is located beside the main Xitong Highway of Dongshan County, on the picturesque shores of Jinluan Bay. It administers four natural villages, with a total population of 2,177 and 550 households. Since last year, the village has seized the opportunity of being designated as a provincial-level “Beautiful Countryside” model village to leverage its unique resources — including “ancient trees, ancient water sources, ancient wells, ancient ancestral halls, and ancient temples.” Guided by the philosophy of “seeing the mountains, seeing the water, and remembering the nostalgia for home,” the village has effectively excavated, protected, and restored these features. It has also integrated elements of ancient architecture, farming culture, and revolutionary history. With an investment of over 7 million yuan, more than 10 supporting infrastructure projects have been completed, including roads, public toilets, greening, lighting, and beautification efforts, painting a beautiful picture of rural revitalization.

At the entrance of Xiashanqian, one of the natural villages, stands an ancient banyan tree over 200 years old. The tree stands over ten meters tall, with a canopy nearly ten meters wide. Its thick, sturdy trunk and winding roots form three naturally shaped tree gates of varying sizes, symbolizing “prosperity, beauty, and harmony.” Significant funds have been invested to build the Rongyun Park, themed around the “ancient tree,” creating a scenic attraction.

In 1962, Dongshan County suffered from a severe drought. Gu Wenchang, then the county party secretary, led the people in a determined fight against the drought, declaring: “If there’s no rain from the sky, we’ll find it on the ground; if there’s no water on the surface, we’ll dig for it underground.” This effort led to the discovery of abundant underground water sources in the sandy areas around Humei Village. Later, the village used this ancient water source as a foundation and collected artifacts from the groundwater construction project to establish the Gu Wenchang Spirit Cultural Education Park. This park showcases the spirit and dedication of Secretary Gu Wenchang, known as the “Four-Haves” secretary, who governed for the people and strove through hardship. It serves as an educational site for Party members and officials to practice the “Three Stricts and Three Honests” principles, and has become a red tourism destination.

Under the shade of trees lies the “Octagonal Well,” carved during the mid-Ming Dynasty, exuding a strong sense of antiquity. Built with blue bricks, the well is eight meters deep, with an elegantly shaped octagonal rim. The village’s ancestral temple, Ciji Palace, covers an area of about 500 square meters and was first built during the Qing Dynasty’s Qianlong era. On the annual temple festival held on the 15th day of the third lunar month, villagers gather here for solemn ceremonies to pray for peace, making it a well-known local folk tradition. Located at the foot of Hulu Mountain, the Humei Ancestral Hall — Guangyuan Hall — was built during the Ming Dynasty. It features the distinctive flag-tower architectural style of southern Fujian, boasts a long history and profound cultural significance, and holds high value for research, sightseeing, and tourism. Currently, the ancestral hall is complemented by the construction of Xutan Park, where grand ancestor worship ceremonies are held on the 10th days of the second and eighth lunar months, making it a highlight of local folk tourism.

Humei Village was also the site of the first battle in the Defense of Dongshan. The battlefield park still preserves four former military barracks covering a total of 2,500 square meters, approximately 15 bunkers, trenches stretching about 2 kilometers, and underground air-raid shelters covering around 2,200 square meters. Today, it features tourist attractions such as an underground air-raid shelter tour route, a trench combat experience zone, and an observation post on Hill 30.9.

Of course, beyond its beautiful rural scenery, Humei Village also boasts a 1,200-meter-long coastline with gentle sandy beaches. In summer, visitors can watch the traditional and ancient practice of “pulling the mountain net” for fishing. The seawater is clean and clear, perfect for swimming and bathing. The Jinluan Bay Scenic Area and Dongshan County’s first five-star hotel, currently under construction, are both located along our village’s shoreline. Together with 200 acres of woodland, they create a natural paradise of blue skies, green trees, and golden sands — a view that refreshes the mind and captivates the heart.

Source: Fujian Provincial Tourism Development Commission