Ancient Residential Buildings of Xiamei at Mount Wuyi

Ancient Residential Buildings of Xiamei at Mount Wuyi

The ancient residential buildings of Xiamei are situated in Xiamei Village, approximately 8 kilometers east of the Wuyi Mountain National Key Scenic Area and Tourist Resort. Spanning 9.6 square kilometers, the village has more than 600 households and over 2,800 residents. Recognized as a national-level historical and cultural village and the starting point of the Jin merchants’ 10,000-li tea road, it boasts over 70 well-preserved ancient homes from the Ming and Qing periods. With profound cultural heritage in both architecture and tea, this rare ancient village has become one of the new highlights of tourism in Mount Wuyi.

Ancient Residential Buildings of Xiamei

The area features beautiful mountains and clear waters with convenient transportation. As early as the Neolithic Age, humans inhabited Xiamei Village. By the first year of the Xianping era during the Northern Song Dynasty (998 AD), it had developed into an administrative region. During the Southern Song Dynasty, the Confucian scholar Zhu Xi lectured here. With the influence of sages and the enduring legacy of Confucian culture, the village has since produced numerous notable scholars, fostering a long-standing tradition of refined scholarship.

In the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, Xiamei Village was a hub for the export of Wuyi Rock Tea. According to local records, at its peak, over 300 bamboo rafts operated daily. More than 70 luxurious mansions were built, inhabited by prominent families. From the preserved ancient architecture, one can still sense the prosperity of Xiamei during the flourishing Kangxi and Qianlong eras. Among the most representative ancient residences are the Zou Family’s Doctorate Mansion, Zou Family Ancestral Hall, Cheng Family Hermit’s Residence, and Chen Family Confucian Hall complex. These structures feature meticulous layouts, including east pavilions, west wings, towers, and terraces, all protected by tall fire walls. The exquisite brick carvings, wood carvings, stone carvings, and painted decorations showcase the area’s cultural richness, forming part of the Mount Wuyi UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Each residence is adorned with intricate brick carvings at the entrance, reflecting the wealth and grandeur of its owners. Wood carvings are mainly found on windows, beams, brackets, and spandrels, often depicting elegant and auspicious motifs such as flora, fauna, and folk tales. Examples include patterns like “Five Blessings Descend Upon the Home,” “Twenty-Four Filial Exemplars,” and “A Egret for Success in Exams.” These highly skilled artworks carry moral teachings, embodying Confucian ideals such as “loyalty and filial piety in family life, scholarly pursuit in society, and rising to high office.” They inspire awe and admiration.

The villagers of Xiamei maintain simple and traditional customs. Local performances such as paper-cutting, dragon dancing, mountain songs, and suona music, along with exhibitions of traditional farming tools and household items, ancient workshops, wedding customs, and rustic farmhouse banquets, offer a glimpse into traditional rural life. The ceaselessly flowing Meixi and Dangxi streams, along with the old village, ancient streets, wells, docks, markets, and timeless customs, create the quintessential charm of a southern water town with its picturesque bridges and flowing waters.

Address: Xiamei Village, Mount Wuyi City, Nanping City

Type: Ancient Town/Village

Recommended Visiting Time: 1–2 hours

Tel: 0599-5206999; 0599-5206204

Official Website: http://www.wysxiamei.com/

Opening Hours:

7:30-17:30

Transportation

Bus:

1. The bus stop for Xiamei is at the downtown roundabout parking area. Taking this bus will take you directly to Xiamei.

2. You can take the bus from downtown to San’gu–Xingcun, get off at the Xiamei entrance next to a gas station, and then transfer to a passing vehicle to reach the site.

Self-Drive:

From Mount Wuyi Scenic Area to the Ancient Residential Buildings of Xiamei: Take S303 – make a U-turn after Shangpu – continue on S303 to enter Gongguan Bridge – stay on S303 – after 5.8 km, turn right – after 40 m, turn right again – drive 1.3 km – turn left – drive 140 m and turn left again – drive 2.2 km, then turn left – drive 130 m to reach the destination.

Ticket

Adult Ticket: 60 RMB.

Free Admission: 1. Active-duty military personnel (excluding reservists), retired cadres, and people with disabilities with valid ID.

2. Children aged 6 or below (inclusive) or under 1.2 meters (inclusive) in height.

3. Journalists holding press cards issued by the National Press and Publication Administration.

4. Tour guides with national guide certificates and interpreters with tour guide interpreter certificates issued by the Wuyishan Tourism Bureau.

5. Labor models and heroes holding labor model or hero certificates issued by provincial-level or higher governments.

6. Individuals holding the Travel Industry General Manager Qualification Certificate issued by the National Tourism Administration. Half-price ticket: Seniors aged 75 or above may enjoy a 50% discount with a senior citizen card or valid ID.

Mount Wuyi Scenic Area

Dahongpao Scenic Area

Da’anyuan Ecological Tourism Area

China Wuyishan Tea Expo Park

Nine Bend Stream (Jiuxi Stream)

Qinglong Waterfall

Wuyi Ziwei Self-Drive Theme Park

Wuyi Mountain Water Curtain Cave

Great King Peak (Dawang Peak)

Wuyi Mountain One-Line Sky (Yixiantian)

Wuyi Palace

Tiger Roaring Rock (Huxiao Rock)

Cloud Nest (Yunwo)

Wuyi Mountain Jade Valley

Imperial Tea Garden Ruins

Yulong Valley

Chengcun Han City Ruins

Liu Yong Memorial Hall