Kaoting Zhu Xi Cultural Tourism Area

Kaoting Zhu Xi Cultural Tourism Area

Kaoting Village is located in the western suburbs of our city, about 3 kilometers from the urban area. Nestled against Yuzhen Peak and facing Maxi Stream, it is surrounded by mountains and clear flowing waters, presenting a picturesque rural mountain scenery. The village currently has a population of about 1,200, with 270 households, covering 5 natural villages and 7 villager groups. It boasts over 1,300 mu of farmland and more than 15,300 mu of mountainous land. Grapes are the village’s main specialty industry, with 1,300+ mu of contiguous grape plantations yielding over 4 million jin annually and generating approximately 6 million yuan in output value. It is hailed as the “No. 1 Grape Village in Fujian.” This is the place where Zhu Xi, the renowned Song Dynasty philosopher, settled in his later years to teach, spread knowledge, and eventually passed away. Here, he founded the famous “Kaoting Academy,” attracting numerous disciples and establishing the influential and rigorous “Kaoting School,” which is revered as the “Origin of Min School Thought.” The surviving “Kaoting Academy” memorial archway, built in the 10th year of the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty (1531 AD), and the modern commemorative structure “Wen Gong Shrine” are located here. Kaoting Academy has become a pilgrimage site for descendants of Zhu Xi from around the world.

In addition, Kaoting features the natural attraction known as the “Thousand-Year-Old Camphor Tree Embracing the Buddha,” acclaimed as “a thousand-year-old tree nurturing a thousand-year-old educational legacy.” This ancient tree has been listed by Chinese National Geography magazine as one of China’s 46 notable ancient and famous trees, known as a “unique wonder of China.” Other scenic spots such as Youyan Mountain Scenic Area, Yuangxin Temple, and Taibao Temple also attract numerous visitors each year.

Kaoting Village was the first in our province to introduce Japan’s Kyoho grapes, achieving success in 1984. The grapes here are plump, sweet, and delightfully flavorful, earning the village the title of “No. 1 Grape Village in Fujian.” Kaoting is also the birthplace of Wuyi oranges and pomelos. The village cultivates 3,000–4,000 mu of high-quality fruits such as grapes, oranges, pomelos, and citrus, integrating research, demonstration, promotion, and eco-tourism. It has been recommended by the National Environmental Protection Bureau as a potential UNESCO “Global 500” ecological model site. The reservoir area of the Ximen Hydropower Station has created a water surface stretching over 10 kilometers through the village, making Kaoting river delicacies famous throughout the province and beyond. Kaoting has become a popular holiday destination for leisure, recreation, and fishing. In 2006, Kaoting Village participated in the “Most Beautiful Villages in Fujian” competition and won an “Excellence Award.” It has been included in the province’s “5155” key tourism village development plan during the 11th Five-Year Plan period.

The origin of the name “Kaoting” dates back to the Xiantong era of the Tang Dynasty (860–870). Legend has it that during the Southern Tang period, Huang Zileng buried his father here and built a hut on the opposite bank of the river to observe mourning, naming it “Wangkaoting” (Looking-at-Kaoting Pavilion). Over time, the pavilion’s name evolved into the village’s current name.

Kaoting Village still preserves historical sites such as the “Kaoting Academy” memorial archway, ecological orchards, the thousand-year-old “Camphor Tree Embracing the Buddha,” a pontoon bridge, ancient temples, Youyan Mountain Temple, and Yuangxin Temple.

In addition, the village offers various fruits such as oranges, pomelos, peaches, and younai, as well as river delicacies. It is a great holiday destination for leisure, recreation, and fishing.

Kaoting Academy, nestled against Yuzhen Mountain and facing Maxi Stream, enjoys a tranquil environment and beautiful scenery. It was the place where the famous Song Dynasty

philosopher and educator Zhu Xi settled in his later years and eventually passed away. Here, Zhu Xi founded the renowned “Kaoting Academy,” where he wrote, taught, and spread knowledge, forming the extensive “Kaoting School.” Later generations revered this as the “Min School.” Due to the passage of time and natural erosion, only the stone memorial archway built in the 10th year of the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty (1531 AD) by Fujian Censor Jiang Zhao remains today (designated as a municipal cultural relics protection unit). The four characters “Kaoting Academy” on the archway are said to have been written by Emperor Lizong of the Song Dynasty. In 1998, the Jianyang City Government and descendants of Zhu Xi from South Korea jointly funded the reconstruction of the “Wen Gong Shrine.” Kaoting Academy has become a pilgrimage site for Zhu Xi’s descendants worldwide.

Thousand-Year-Old Camphor Tree Embracing the Buddha About 3 kilometers west of Kaoting Academy lies Poshi Natural Village, where the Thousand-Year-Old Camphor Tree Embracing the Buddha site is located by the Maxi Stream. The highlight of this site is a large Buddha statue standing inside a massive ancient camphor tree. Authorities have confirmed that the camphor tree is over a thousand years old. Legend has it that after Zhu Xi’s death, people created a statue of him inside the tree trunk to honor his profound philosophy and express reverence for his legacy. Over time, the cracks in the tree healed, forming this unique spectacle. The ancient tree has been listed among China’s 46 notable ancient and famous trees and is known as a “unique wonder of China.”

Youyan Mountain Scenic Area About 2 kilometers south of Kaoting Academy lies the Youyan Mountain Scenic Area. This area features unique landforms and stunning natural scenery. Legend says that Zhu Xi often hiked here during the Song Dynasty to relax and compose poetry. Today, it houses the Three Sovereigns Yuanjun Hall, several leisure pavilions, and 18 scenic spots including Ox Hoof, Little Heavenly Lake, and Monkey Head Rock.

Kaoting Agricultural High-Quality Orchard Demonstration Farm Established in the 1980s and located in the Xinxing and Poshi Natural Villages of Kaoting, this farm spans over 1,000 mu. It is an agricultural enterprise integrating research, demonstration, promotion, and eco-tourism, and has been recommended by the National Environmental Protection Bureau as a potential UNESCO “Global 500” ecological model site. In recent years, it has introduced and developed over 100 varieties, mainly including Tantian oranges, American navel oranges, Kyoho grapes, mandarins, nai fruits, plums, and peaches, all with high economic and sightseeing value.

In addition, Kaoting Village features historical sites such as the Qing Dynasty-era Taibao Temple and General Temple, the pontoon bridge built in the 1980s, the Ximen Hydropower Station reservoir area (with a 10-kilometer water surface), and the newly built Yuangxin Temple. As one of the important tourism areas in northern Fujian, Kaoting Village attracts tens of thousands of domestic and international tourists every year and has been listed as one of the province’s key scenic areas under the 11th Five-Year Plan.

Travel Tips:

Transportation: Public buses in Jianyang City provide direct service to Kaoting Village (about a 10-minute ride).

Food & Accommodation: Kaoting Village offers several agritainment hotels, with fish feasts being the most distinctive.

Information Source: People’s Government of Jianyang District