Hutang Village

Hutang Village

Hutang Village in Lukou Town is situated in the southeast of Lukou Town, Lianhua County, Pingxiang City, Jiangxi Province, 25.5 kilometers from the county seat of Lianhua. It neighbors Yangchun Village to the east and lies next to Shenling Mountain, reaches as far south as Tubeilin at the foot of Shimen Mountain in the central section of the Luoxiao Mountain Range, is backed by Xi’an Mountain to the west, and is supported by Gaomuling to the north. The village is situated in a basin surrounded by mountains on three sides, shaped like a giant crab, with terrain that slopes from high in the east to low in the west. A village road runs from Yangchun through Hutang and over Miaobei to connect with the Lianji Highway. The village houses over 50 well-preserved ancient residential buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties, with a total construction area of 25,000 square meters, retaining the original architectural style and a strong rural charm. In 2009, it was recognized as a Famous Historical and Cultural Village of Jiangxi Province.

The ancient architecture of Hutang Village originated in the Ming Dynasty and flourished in the Qing Dynasty. The structures feature rigorous construction and rational layouts, bearing a strong architectural flavor of the Ming era—distinct from the Jiangnan-Luling style. They adopt a side-entry gate style with adjacent openings, larger building volumes, and refined materials. Stone gates and windows are exquisitely crafted, complemented by wood carvings, painted decorations, stone inscriptions, calligraphy, plaques, and couplets. Beams and painted rafters adorn many door lintels and eaves.

At the same time, the ancient dwellings of Hutang Village also carry profound historical and cultural significance. First, their architectural layout reflects the culture of the time when they were built, possessing great cultural value—for example, the crab-shaped layout of the entire village and the stone carving of a phoenix above a dragon. Second, during the revolutionary struggles of the Jinggang Mountains and the Hunan-Jiangxi Soviet areas, due to its unique geographical location, Lukou served as a borderland between different powers. The Battle of Lukou fought by the Fifth Red Army is a famous episode in military history, referred to as the “Victory at Lukou” in Peng Dehuai’s autobiography. Numerous well-preserved slogans from the Red Army can be seen throughout the ancient houses of Hutang Village. Third, cultural artifacts such as tinware, stoneware, brick carvings, and wood carvings showcase highly valuable folk artistry. Fourth, traditional customs, such as women drinking tea and folk banquet drinking rituals, retain an ancient character.