She Shan Jia Family Ancient Village

She Shan Jia Family Ancient Village

She Shan Jia Family Ancient Village is a national AAA-level tourist attraction.

Jia Family Ancient Village is located in Xinjie Town, Gao’an City, Yichun, Jiangxi Province. It is a typical representative of China’s largest and best-preserved group of ecological ancient villages. Covering an area of about 500 acres, it has over 500 residential buildings, including more than 300 ancient houses from the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, among which 119 are well-preserved and have family hall plaques.

The tourist area consists of two parts: the Jia Family Ancient Village architectural complex and the ecological garden. The ancient village is divided into “inside the gate” and “outside the gate.” Of the nine original gates, three remain. The ancient alleys are paved with bluestone slabs. The houses mainly include six types: ancestral halls, rain shelters, main halls, official halls, reception rooms, and residences. There are over 300 ancient residential buildings, among which more than 140 date back to the late Yuan and early Ming periods. There are eighteen academies, nunneries, temples, and Taoist shrines, with six academies scattered throughout the village and the temples and Taoist shrines located around it. At the southern end of the village stands a seven-tiered jade pagoda symbolizing the prosperity of the Jia Family of She Shan. Outside the village, fields crisscross, and ecological farmlands are tucked among green trees, where various birds play. To the north of the village, the Wenquan and Lüquan springs converge around a thousand-year-old stone bridge, forming a classical Jiangnan landscape of small bridges and flowing streams. Jia Family is a Jiangnan ancient village that blends Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism, creating a unique regional culture of She Shan Jia Family. Paired with its green ecological gardens, it forms an ideal destination for modern people seeking a rustic rural life.

The Jia Family Ancient Village Scenic Area is located in Gao’an City, Jiangxi Province, 25 kilometers from the city center. It lies midway between the provincial capital Nanchang and Xiannv Lake (about 80 kilometers from each), and only 13 kilometers from the Hujiafang exit of the Gan-Guang Expressway, accessible via the entire Gao-Hu First-Class Highway. A branch of the Zhejiang-Jiangxi Railway runs through the area, with two railway stations—Xietang and Zhushan—located two kilometers away to the east and west, respectively.

The scenic area covers a total area of 8.5 square kilometers and is a typical representative of China’s ecological ancient villages. Although located in the Jiangnan region, it also features northern architectural styles. There are over 300 relatively well-preserved ancient buildings, including 119 with family hall plaques and more than 140 from the Ming and Qing dynasties, earning it the saying “View She Shan for the ancient village of Jiangnan.” The ancient village is situated in a concave shape at the foot of She Shan Mountain, resembling a golden basin placed on the ground. It nestles against the mountain and water, facing south with its back to the north. Eight gates divide the ancient village into “inside the gate” and “outside the gate,” with seven academies interspersed throughout and twelve temples and Taoist shrines located around the village. Outside the village, fields crisscross, and ecological farmlands are tucked among green trees, where various birds play. To the south of the village stands a seven-tiered jade pagoda symbolizing the cultural prosperity of the Jia Family of She Shan. To the north, Wenquan Lake (hot spring) and Lüquan Lake surround the village and converge at a thousand-year-old stone bridge, flowing gently into the Xiao River and then into the Gan River. The ancient village, together with the integration of Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism within it, forms a unique regional culture of She Shan Jia Family. Paired with its green ecological gardens, it creates a Jiangnan scene of small bridges and flowing streams reminiscent of classical poetry and painting, making it an ideal leisure destination for modern people seeking a rustic rural life. In 2001, the Ministry of Land and Resources and the National Agricultural Development Office designated this area as a national comprehensive agricultural development demonstration base. A 5,000-acre green ecological farmland surrounds the ancient village, and the then Premier of the State Council personally visited the ancient village. Since then, this thousand-year-old ecological ancient village—the largest and best-preserved in Jiangnan—housing elements from the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties in one place and integrating Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism—has finally become known to the world, marking the beginning of its tourism development. In June 2007, the ancient village was listed as part of China’s third batch of historical and cultural villages. In September, it was designated as a Jiangxi rural tourism demonstration site and a provincial cultural relics protection unit. In March 2013, it was rated as a 4A-level rural tourism destination in Jiangxi. In May 2013, the Jia Family Ancestral Hall was named a “National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit” by the National Cultural Heritage Administration.

After years of tourism development, the infrastructure within the scenic area has been largely improved. It now offers a range of experiences: quality tours of the ancient village featuring its historic residences, ancestral halls, alleys, academies, and surrounding temples and Taoist shrines; leisure vacation tours including water recreation at Lüquan Lake to the north of the village and wellness at Wenquan Hot Spring; and farmhouse experience activities such as rural farming and fruit picking. Major tourist attractions include: the Handi Gate, Jia Family Ancestral Hall, Yi’ai Hall, Wenchang Palace, Bamboo Zen Forest, Wanyue Academy, Puxian Zen Temple, Lüquan Lake, Wenquan Hot Spring, the Mountain Back Wild Fruit Forest, the Jade Pagoda, as well as distinctive folk performances, Gao’an Tea-Picking Opera, and traditional farming activities.

Address: Jia Family Ancient Village, Xinjie Town, Gao’an City, Yichun City

Type: Historic Sites / Ancient Towns / Ancient Villages

Recommended Visit Duration: About 4 hours

Opening Hours:

8:00–12:00, 14:00–17:00

Ticket Information:

Door Price: 35.0 RMB

Adult ticket: 35 RMB; children under 1.2 meters tall are admitted free; seniors aged 70 and above with a senior ID card are also admitted free when purchasing tickets.