Tiger Village

Tiger Village

Tiger Village is located in Dalong Township, Taining County, Fujian Province. The entire village is built against a cliff. Legend has it that its founding ancestor was Liang Guojue, the prefect of Ganzhou during the reign of Emperor Shenzong of the Song Dynasty. He encountered military conflict on his way home after retiring and eventually settled here. With a history of over 600 years, the village is known for its unique architectural style and is called the "stilt houses of Taining."

The name of Tiger Village is naturally related to tigers and has an interesting backstory. Historical research shows that during the Southern Song Dynasty, a Liang family prefect from Ganzhou encountered warfare on his way home after retirement. After wandering, he discovered this hidden paradise and led his family to build a fortified settlement here. Because the village is backed by Longwang Rock and tigers were frequently spotted in the area, it was originally named "Longhu Ji" (Dragon-Tiger Settlement). Later, villagers felt that the imagery of dragons and tigers clashing was inauspicious, and since the tiger, being closer to the mountain, seemed more powerful, they renamed it Tiger Village, a name that has been used ever since.

The path leading into the village is made up of stone steps. Standing at the foot of the mountain and looking up, you can see the overall look of Tiger Village. Weeds stubbornly grow out of cracks, and in some places, they almost cover the stone slabs. The steps are neatly laid out, winding their way up the mountain, giving the whole village a secluded and lonely atmosphere.

The houses here are evenly sized, scattered yet well arranged, mostly two-story wooden structures built on higher ground. One side is against the mountain, while the other side is cantilevered. The cantilevered parts are supported by two to five fir logs. These tall supporting pillars easily remind people of the stilt houses of ethnic minority villages. “Folk experts call our houses the stilt houses of Taining,” say locals.

The main structure of the stilt houses built against the mountain largely dates back to the late Qing Dynasty. In previous years, elderly villagers still commonly wore traditional Chinese attire—men in buttoned jackets and women in cross-collared robes. Elderly women styled their hair in buns adorned with ancestral silver or jade hairpins. At a glance, the entire village exuded an authentic Qing Dynasty rural charm.

As an ancient village, what makes Tiger Village most intriguing is its unique marriage customs. On the wedding day, the bride must wear specially made black bridal attire and don a protective amulet made of an ancient bronze mirror, almanac, triangular talisman, and red thread. She is then carried out of the house by her maternal uncle and seated in the village’s only sedan chair. For the groom’s side, the wedding follows the “Six Rites of Proper Marriage,” which include the six formal procedures: betrothal gifts, name inquiry, divination for good fortune, betrothal presents, setting the wedding date, and the wedding procession.

The couplets on the doors and windows are faded, and if you randomly push open a door, you’ll find kitchen utensils scattered about. When you turn on the tap, the spring water that flows out is still crystal clear. The bedroom still has a relatively complete set of furniture, though it is covered in dust and cobwebs. Everything seems to faintly retain the traces of daily life, but the creaky, unstable floorboards quickly bring you back to reality — the village is now deserted and dilapidated.

Due to the changes of time, most villagers have moved away or relocated to more convenient areas. Today, this century-old ancient village is uninhabited, becoming a lost Shangri-La. Though as beautiful as a hidden paradise, it is slowly being forgotten by the world.

By Car:

From Taining County to the Dajin Lake Scenic Area, cross the Jinhu Suspension Bridge, head to Dalong Township, and drive for 20 minutes to reach Tiger Village. The total distance is 60 kilometers, taking approximately 2 hours. Alternatively, you can take a ferry from the “Guanjing Ferry” downstream of Dajin Lake to the “Tiger Village Ancient Ferry,” then walk for 10 minutes to get there.