YanTai Village

YanTai Village

Ancient Alleys – YanTai Village, Jiangcun Township, A Famous Historical and Cultural Village in China

　Most of the existing alleys in YanTai were built in the early Ming Dynasty and are paved entirely with bluestone slabs and fine stone pieces. The main streets and lanes are flanked by drainage channels made of bluestone slabs, which appear somewhat rough but share a consistent style. One section of the street features a slightly wider stretch of well-laid stone pavement, locally referred to as “Flower Street,” said to have been planted with various famous flowers in the past, making it a lively spot. Additionally, a narrow stone-paved lane runs along the foot of Mount Wuyun in the village, known as Tiger Alley or also called Shadow Street. It is very secluded, rarely frequented by people, and its original purpose remains to be further explored.

　The overall shape of YanTai resembles a leaf. This is vividly depicted in the genealogy of the Jiang clan in YanTai: “At the northernmost edge of Fuliang, where the stream ends lies Yanxi. Observing its form and momentum, an autumn leaf fits best. Backed by mountains and bordered by rivers, its encircled base stands firm. Nestled within a heavenly realm, tightly embraced on all sides. Natural inner battlements, no need for human craftsmanship. In those days, like Peach Blossom Spring, the scenery still faintly lingers, surrounded by mountains on three sides, with bird-tracked paths extremely rugged. One side opens to a main road, secured and further enclosed.” Behind it stands Mount Wuyun, to the left is Mount Fuchun, and to the right is again Mount Wuyun. The two mountains embrace the village, while in front lies Brush Rack Mountain as a backdrop.

YanTai Village: Located in Jiangcun Township, Fuliang County, Jiangxi Province, historically known as Yanxi, it sits at the northernmost tip of Jiangcun, adjacent to Zhukou Township and Shanli Town in Qimen, Anhui. It is 74 kilometers away from Fuliang County. With beautiful scenery and a long historical and cultural heritage, it was honored as a Famous Historical and Cultural Village in China in December 2008.

YanTai Village originated during the Guangwu era of the Eastern Han Dynasty and has a history of over 1,100 years. The village originally had an ancient theater stage dating back more than 1,000 years, with the stage area entirely constructed of bluestone slabs and stone pillars. From the first day of the Lunar New Year to the Lantern Festival, there were both dragon lanterns and plank lanterns. The village contains 14... More detailed information about YanTai Village ++