Piaoshen Village

Piaoshen Village

Taking a boat from the dam of Wan’an Hydropower Station (Wan’an Lake) and traveling upstream for about five li, you’ll reach

Piaoshen Shoal, one of the “Eighteen Shoals” of the Gan River.

The village is surrounded by green mountains, lush woods, and meandering river branches. It has four mountain gullies—Jiangkeng, Chakeng, Wangjia’keng, and Hulikeng—and is inhabited by people with eleven surnames: Xiao, You, Wang, Guo, Weng, Liu, Luo, Wu, Zhang, Liao, and Ye. There are 67 households and 246 residents, with 230 mu of paddy fields. Living by the mountain and water, forestry and aquaculture are the main livelihoods, with local specialties such as camellia tea, bamboo shoots, and ginger. The forested area spans 18,000 mu, with vast stretches of bamboo, fir, pine, camphor, and oak trees shading the riverside hamlet. Wild animals such as wild boars, leopards, deer, mountain goats, antelopes, and pangolins roam unpredictably. Entering the village, you’ll be greeted by waterside pavilions, houses, water bodies, bays, and shaded woods. You’ll marvel at how the green of the hills and plains fills your vision, with peaceful homes nestled under radiant peaks, emerald mountains connecting with clear waters, and refreshing breezes accompanied by bright moonlight.

By the water’s edge lies Hanshin Temple, also known as Gaogiu Temple, which means “high appeals are sure to be answered,” with “gaogiu” being a homophone for “gaoqiu” (high appeal). Piaoshen Shoal got its name from a Buddha statue that floated downstream. Legend has it that during a summer flood in the Song Dynasty, a fisherman casting his net by the river repeatedly caught nothing, until he noticed a glimmering object floating up and down without being carried away by the current. Intrigued, he hauled it in and found it was a wooden Buddha statue. The fisherman prayed: if the statue helped him catch big fish, he would build a small temple to enshrine it. Sure enough, he soon caught several nets full of big fish. On the back of the statue were engraved the characters “Han Xin,” the famous general and founding hero of the Han Dynasty. To honor Han Xin, the villagers worked together to build a temple by the river. When the Wan’an Hydropower Station was completed and the reservoir filled, the temple site was submerged, so the “Hanxin Temple” was relocated to an empty residential house. In ancient times, the statue floated down the river and was enshrined at the center of the temple, with divine eyes gleaming and an imposing presence. Han Xin ascended the altar and was revered as a deity, renowned for his boundless powers and fame throughout the “Eighteen Shoals,” spawning numerous myths and legends. Even today, worshippers flock to pay homage to Han Xin, especially on his birthday, when devotees come from far and wide. A couplet at the temple gate reads: “Might shakes heaven and earth, merit overshadows rivers and mountains.” A “Commander” flag flutters atop a tall pole in front of the temple...

　The waters of “Bashen Shoal” are vast and the scenery stunning. Boating on the river makes the horizon appear distant, with the blue sky merging with the water and the towering cliffs on both banks creating a magnificent sight. The tea of Shen Shoal has long enjoyed a fine reputation. Legend has it that in the past, a high-ranking official from Guangdong stayed overnight at the Piaoshen Village post station while traveling north by boat. The magistrate of Wan’an accompanied him, and the official requested to drink local tea. The magistrate obtained some mountain tea from a local family, and after tasting it, the official praised it highly, suggesting it could be offered as tribute to the imperial court. The magistrate readily agreed, and Shen Shoal Tea won the acclaim of the imperial palace. Thus, it became a tribute tea. The *Wan’an County Annals* record that during the Xuande era (1426–1435) of the Ming Dynasty, Magistrate Wen Hou of Wan’an composed a poem: “Fragrant tea grows on both shores, lush and abundant in countless plants; early spring buds, picked in full, are sent as tribute to the capital.”

The village is rich in Hakka culture and has simple, honest folkways. The villagers are honest, hardworking, warm, and hospitable, serving guests with fragrant tea and Hakka cuisine. The mountain vegetables are elegant and nourishing. Local herbal medicines are said to have special efficacy in treating rheumatism, arthritis, and back pain. The ancestral secret remedy of the local couple Xiao Ruihua and Guo Yuxiang gained attention through media coverage, drawing many outsiders seeking their medicine. Xiao Ruihua is a kind-hearted villager. In the 1980s, when a boat capsized in the river, he fearlessly jumped in to save lives. Thanks to his swimming skills and quick actions, no one on the boat was injured or killed. For his bravery, Xiao Ruihua was commended by the provincial government and military district.

Piaoshen Village boasts enchanting landscapes, divine natural beauty, rich Shen Shoal culture, and strong Hakka flavors. Summers here are cool—no need for fans during the day, yet blankets at night. It’s a tranquil, refreshing riverside village. “The wise find joy in mountains, the benevolent in water.” Visiting Piaoshen Village allows you to enjoy both, making it a perfect eco-tourism destination. Here, you can admire the scenic views along both sides of the Wan’an Hydropower Station, enjoy summer retreats, and find a rare riverside haven. Surrounded by green mountains and clear waters, your heart will soar with delight.