Hanqian Village

Hanqian Village

Hanqian Village in Anjie Township, Changting County, is located in the northeastern part of Changting, situated at the source of the Ting River — the Mother River of the Hakka people. It lies within Anjie Township, a national-level ecological village and a national nature reserve. The village is 30 kilometers from the county seat and comprises 12 natural villages, 14 villager groups, 520 households, and a population of 2,208.

The village has a total of 720 mu of arable land and 13,000 mu of forested land, including 1,750 mu of bamboo forests, 850 mu of Longmen black tea plantations, and 135 mu of Jianxuan-35 eco-lotus fields. In 2011, it was recognized as a provincial-level ecological village, a provincial model residential area for new rural housing, a provincial model village for rural waste management, a municipal model village for new rural construction, and a municipal comprehensive model site for Party building. In March 2013, it was listed as one of the first batch of provincial-level "Beautiful Villages" demonstration sites. On April 11, 2013, it passed the acceptance inspection for being a national-level ecological village, and in November 2013, the Longmen Farmhouse was rated as a three-star rural tourism business.

Hanqian Village features the iconic and mystical landscape of the Ting River Source — the Longmen, which is widely acknowledged by the global Hakka community. Known for the phrase “Only my Longmen spans the Ting River,” it is hailed as the “Source of the Hakka People, an Ecological Village, and a Tourist Destination.”

The Longmen consists of three parts: the Longmen Gorge Cave, karst caves, and a stone forest. Approaching Hanqian from the mountain’s edge, one is greeted by a towering, steep mountain that seems to descend from the clouds, presenting a majestic sight. Beneath the hundred-zhang cliffs lies a massive cave shaped like a crescent gate. The cave walls, riddled with cracks and vibrant colors, strikingly resemble a dragon’s head, horns, eyes, and claws, while the dragon’s body winds along the mountain. The Ting River flows forth from within the cave. On the back wall of the Longmen Cave are engraved two seal script characters “Longmen” (Dragon Gate), which have become faint over time due to years of wind and rain erosion. The Longmen connects to the azure Longmen Pool, with stone steps leading up to the mountaintop. Along the way, there is a large karst cave known as the “Tiger Tongue,” and at the summit stands the “Shennong Temple,” built during the Song Dynasty. The hillside also features a spectacular stone forest.

Qing Dynasty’s Inner Cabinet scribe Kang Yong once wrote a poem: “Since when was this cave carved? The river roars ceaselessly. Twin cliffs shut out sun and moon, a lone isle divides shade and light. Dragons slumber at the pool’s bottom, thunder startles the mountaintop. In ancient times, cold sweat would flood, all for naught on the journey east.” “All the waters of the surrounding mountains converge into one stream,” which flows to Hanqian, passes through the Longmen Gorge, and continues down to Changting City. In addition to the Longmen scenic area, Hanqian Village also includes the Tiger Cave scenic area, the ancient Hakka villages of Zhenxia and Santangbei, and the Tanzhili Taiji Island scenic area in Anbali.

The area boasts beautiful ecological surroundings and enchanting pastoral scenery. Here, visitors can take in the magical natural beauty of the Ting River Source, savor uniquely flavored Hakka cuisine, enjoy authentic Longmen black tea, participate in local traditional farming activities, shop for green and eco-friendly farm produce, and experience tranquil rural life.

Source: Fujian Provincial Tourism Development Commission