Chenfang Ancient Town

Chenfang Ancient Town

Chenfang is also an old town that flourished due to the production and sale of lianshi paper. However, when you visit the old buildings of Chenfang today, it more resembles a place where farming and scholarship have long been cherished traditions. Their residences face grain fields, and the plaques above their doorways are more literary in tone, as well as simpler yet more dignified. Stepping into these old homes, you’ll discover that the biggest difference between the houses in Chenfang and those in Hekou Shitang lies in the completely different decorative philosophies of their original builders: the old houses in Hekou Shitang typically feature extravagant and elaborate gates, while the wood carvings inside are relatively simple; in contrast, the doorways of Chenfang houses are generally plain and understated, but the interior wood carvings are far more exquisite. It’s clear that the ancestors of Chenfang may have been much more reserved. Upon closer interaction, you’ll find that the owners of these homes in Chenfang also appear very refined and cultivated. The walls are adorned with quite a few fine calligraphic works and paintings.

Among the ancient architectural complexes of Chenfang, there is one that was specifically used as a school, called the “Yangyuan Family School.” Standing outside, you can see that the school faces a vast expanse of grain fields, with continuous green mountains stretching to the horizon. One can imagine that during spring plowing season, farmers working in the fields could hear the clear sound of students reading aloud in the school; and when the children left the school, they could see their fathers and brothers toiling in the farmland, with the reflection of the green mountains mirrored in the paddy fields.