Canghai Village

Canghai Village

Canghai She Ethnic Village is located in the southeastern part of Yong’an City, 43 kilometers from downtown Yong’an and 1 kilometer from Qingshui Town. Adjacent to County Road 711, it enjoys convenient transportation and is the premier scenic area in the Qingshui She Ethnic Cultural Tourism Plan. The entire village is situated in a high-mountain region on hilly terrain, with an average elevation of over 725 meters, featuring a typical subtropical maritime monsoon climate of South China, with vegetation consisting mostly of forests, bamboo groves, and evergreen broad-leaved forests. It is known for its saying, “One mountain has four seasons, ten miles have different weather.”

Canghai She Ethnic Village has a long history. In its early days, it was primarily inhabited by four major surnames: Tian, Kong, Yang, and Cai. Later, the Yang family prospered and sought ways to alter the course of the creek, resulting in the creek turning into fields and the fields into creeks, allowing boats to navigate through, creating a vast water-like landscape, hence the name “Canghai” (meaning “Vast Sea”). Since then, Canghai has been praised as having “ten miles of clear river flowing down, a stretch of emerald Wuyi waters.” The She ethnic Zhong family now residing in Canghai migrated here around 240 years ago during the 20th year of the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty, branching out from Yu’an Ban in Tianhai, Qingshui, and Chenglou Cuo in Jitou, settling in the Jiqing Ancestral Hall in Canghai.

With its long history, the villagers of Canghai are known for their simplicity and are a hub of relatively concentrated folk culture. The walls of some ancient houses are covered with slogans left by the Red Army during the Long March when they passed through the area. The village also has a “Sunset Glow” Seven-Star Drum Band composed of elders aged 50 and above, whose repertoire is entirely performed with traditional She ethnic musical instruments, serving as a traditional folk activity to honor ancestors. There is also a “Fighting the Black Lion” performance troupe that represented Yong’an City in a national exhibition to promote its charm. Their performance incorporates traditional She martial arts and includes eighteen types of weapons such as copper halberds, iron rulers, double whips, double hooks, steel knives, clubs, spears, golden hoop rings, and lion drums. This is a commemorative recreational activity to honor ancestors and celebrate the virtues of forebears, with a history of over 540 years. This program has become a member of Fujian Province’s folk art organizations.

Source: Fujian Provincial Tourism Development Commission