Gaoche New Village

Gaoche New Village

Gaoche New Village got its name from the "tall water wheel" (gaoche) that was installed in the Liuzi River to lift water for irrigating fields. The water wheel is just a few paddy fields away from National Highway 319. Looking at the village from afar, you might recall two lines of classical poetry from your school days: "Dogs bark in deep lanes, and cocks crow atop mulberry trees." This small mountain village, home to only forty or fifty households, surprises visitors with how closely it resembles the scenes described in those verses written 1,600 years ago during the Eastern Jin Dynasty. Nestled among green trees are two rows of ancient dwellings—neither a fortified mountain hamlet nor isolated cottages, but rather two orderly rows of houses featuring typical architectural styles of the Ming and Qing dynasties. Behind the houses lie lush woods, while in front and on both sides are paddy fields and orchards. This idyllic setting easily brings to mind four lines from Tao Yuanming’s "Returning to Live in the Country": "My house covers some ten acres, / With eight or nine thatched rooms. / Behind my house tall elms and willows grow, / And before it peach and plum trees bloom." In today’s urban life, many city dwellers venture to the countryside in search of a spiritual home. Isn’t this poetic Gaoche New Village the perfect destination? Perhaps this rural gem is exactly what you’ve been dreaming of.

Shuikeng Village: Overview of Shuikeng Village in Qiaotou Town, Taihe County

I. Basic Information

Shuikeng Village in Qiaotou Town is located in the western part of Taihe County, at the eastern foot of Jinggang Mountain. It is traversed by the Jing-Tai Expressway and National Highway 319. The Liuzi and Liuba rivers, both originating from Jinggang Mountain, encircle the village like two jade belts. The village covers a total area of 18.35 square kilometers, comprising 12 villager groups across 19 natural villages. It has 313 households and a population of 1,373, with 2,064 mu of arable land and 25,000 mu of forestland. The per capita income in 2011 was 4,630 yuan. The village boasts a forest coverage rate of 95%... More details about Shuikeng Village ++