Yan Village

Yan Village

Guide: Yan Village is located in Sikou Town, about 18 kilometers northwest of the county seat. Originally named "Yanchuan," it was renamed to its current name after the Jin family migrated here from Tuochuan in the early Ming Dynasty. The village currently preserves 56 residences built by merchants, most of which were constructed during the Qianlong and Jiaqing reigns of the Qing Dynasty, covering an area of 25,000 square meters. The architectural styles are largely similar, mostly one- to three-story post-and-lintel wooden structures surrounded by enclosed fire walls, with stone gateways and water-ground blue brick facades. The floor plans typically feature three bays, divided inside into a front hall, rear chamber, and kitchen, with shallow courtyards both front and back. The buildings rest on square stone pillars, have latticed doors and windows, and are paved with bluestone slabs. Most remarkably, the artistry of the “Three Carvings” (wood, brick, and stone carvings) creates an immersive experience akin to wandering through an ocean of art—truly captivating. It is a key provincial-level protected ancient architectural complex.

Introduction:

Historically known for its merchant class, Yan Village now mostly features houses built during the Qianlong and Jiaqing reigns of the Qing Dynasty, with a small number dating back to the Ming Dynasty. At its peak, the village had four ancestral halls and over a hundred large residences, so closely connected that villagers could walk from one end to the other without getting wet in rain or snow—an indication of its unified architectural complex. Today, only 56 ancient residences remain. The residential architecture is largely similar, mostly one- to three-story post-and-lintel wooden structures surrounded by enclosed fire walls, with stone gateways and water-ground blue brick facades. The floor plans typically feature three bays, divided inside into a front hall, rear chamber, and kitchen, with shallow courtyards both front and back. The buildings rest on square stone pillars, have latticed doors and windows, and are paved with bluestone slabs.

Location

Yan Village, Wuyuan County, Shangrao City, Jiangxi Province

Sikou Town: Overview

Sikou Town is located in the central part of Wuyuan County. The town government is situated in Sikou Village, 13 kilometers from the county seat. The town covers an area of 122 square kilometers and has a total population of 13,771. It administers eight village committees: Sikou, Qiantan, Changtan, Gaojian, Xiyuan, Sixi, Xichong, and Heshantan, comprising 88 natural villages and 105 villager groups.

The terrain is mainly hilly, with mountainous land accounting for 76.6% of the town’s total area, making it a key forestry and tea-producing region in the county. The forested area spans 140,000 mu, with a standing timber volume of 320,000 cubic meters and an annual commercial timber sales volume of 5,000 cubic meters. There are 4,000 mu of tea plantations... More details about Sikou Town ++