Xiadang Village

Xiadang Village

Xiadang Village was the only village in Shouning County to be included in the third batch of China’s Traditional Villages in 2014. Nestled against the hills and facing the Xiuzhuzhi Stream, the village is terraced in layout, with houses stacked layer upon layer in an orderly, staggered arrangement. Towering green mountains and meandering blue waters frame the scene, where a wooden arch bridge spans the stream, creating a picturesque view of “bridge, flowing water, and village homes.”

The Luanning Bridge is the iconic landmark of Xiadang and a testament to the hard work and wisdom of its ancient villagers. Originally built during the Ming Dynasty and reconstructed in the fifth year of the Jiaqing reign in the Qing Dynasty (1800), it is the world’s largest known single-span wooden arch covered bridge. “In both form and essence, it possesses deeply moving artistic charm and practical value.” The Xiadang Stream, like a beautiful necklace, connects the scattered ancient villages around the Luanning Bridge—each exuding the aura of precious gems—with cultural heritage sites such as the Wenchang Pavilion, the Wang Family Ancestral Hall, the Longkengxi Stone Arch Bridge, the Fushan Guanyin Hall, and the Mazhen Palace. These structures are nestled within deep valleys, lush forests, and verdant streams, forming an endlessly enchanting landscape.

The Wenchang Pavilion is an educational structure in Xiadang Village, where in the old days, the Wang family’s children studied diligently by the cold window. The three-story pavilion faces south and was built during the Qing Dynasty’s Daoguang era. It features an octagonal, double-eaved spire roof and a post-and-lintel wooden frame. In the late 1980s, Xi Jinping, then Party Secretary of the Ningde Prefectural Committee, hiked to Xiadang Township twice to conduct research. He visited these two historic buildings and even worked, dined, and took a nap on the Luanning Bridge, personally participating in the development of the township.

On the opposite bank of the village stands a rock, over 20 meters tall, rising perpendicularly from the pool and clinging to the mountain. Its white striations are evenly distributed in three horizontal bands. The rock is hollow inside, resembling a rice steamer, and the locals call it the “Rice Steamer Rock.” During torrential rains, when the surging water crashes against the rock, mist billows from its hollow core, reminiscent of steam rising from cooking rice. Legend has it that this stone is imbued with spiritual power and foretells a thriving population. Historically, Xiadang once had a household where “a hundred people lived together under one roof.”

In the early years of the Qing Dynasty’s Daoguang reign, Wang Guozhen of Xiadang Village was a student at the Imperial College. He had six brothers and fathered eleven sons, extending through five generations, all of whom were alive at the same time, totaling 100 members. When Zheng Jialin, the prefect of Funing Prefecture, heard of this, he personally visited the Wang residence in Xiadang Village in the sixth year of Daoguang (1826). Upon confirming that five generations truly lived together under one roof and that Madam Wang was virtuous, Zheng reported the case to higher authorities. The imperial court approved the recognition, granting a plaque and an archway in honor of the family, enshrining their story in provincial records for eternal glory. The plaques read “A Hundred Living Together,” “Five Generations Under One Roof,” “Wang Guozhen and His Eleven Sons, January of the Year of Dinghai, Daoguang Era (1827),” and to this day, the Wang Family Ancestral Hall still houses four plaques inscribed with “A Hundred Living Together,” “Five Generations Under One Roof,” “Merit to Family and Country,” and “Hall of the Three Sophoras.”

Stepping into the ancient village, rows of traditional houses with black tiles and yellow walls stand closely yet neatly arranged, with winding stone paths meandering through. Surrounded by the landscape of mountains, rivers, fields, and gardens, the village exudes a rustic and profound charm. “When extravagance fades, true simplicity shines.” Xiadang is a place that brings tranquility and clarity to the heart. Wandering through it feels like traveling back in time, far removed from the mundane world.

In recent years, Xiadang has gained widespread fame, receiving high attention and strong support from departments and leaders at the central, provincial, municipal, and county levels. In November 2014, it was included in the third batch of China’s Traditional Villages; in August 2015, it was selected as one of China’s first national-level rural tourism brands; and in 2015, it was listed among Ningde City’s Top Ten Featured Tourism Villages and Top Ten Premium Tourism Routes. Currently, Xiadang Village is actively preparing to apply for the status of a National 3A-level Tourist Attraction, striving to become a comprehensive tourism destination that integrates red culture, the Mass Line culture, covered bridge culture, and folk culture.

(Image source: Official website of Xiadang Village Government)

Information source: Fujian Provincial Tourism Development Commission