Tan Shuzui

Tan Shuzui

Walk 1.3 kilometers northeast from Ruihong Street to reach Tan Shuzui, located on Hongya Mountain Cape. Also known as Tanshu Zui, this area is covered with tall, leafy tan trees that provide dense shade, offering a cool retreat in the summer heat. Locals regard the tan tree as sacred, hence the name Tan Shuzui. Historical records indicate that during the mid-Qing Dynasty, the Zhang family migrated here from nearby Xinwuxia. The villagers placed great emphasis on scholarly pursuits with aspirations of becoming virtuous and contributing to family and country, fostering a lasting culture of learning. As a result, the place name was phonetically adapted to Tanshu Zui (literally “Scholarship Cape”).

This account does not cover Hongya Academy (located on Shangwan Street, established in the Ming Dynasty and named after the locality), nor does it describe the “Eight Scenic Spots of Ruihong” (including the islet emerging from mist, the pavilion overlooking waves, the span of Goat Horn Mountain, the surging waves at Ox Head, the fragrance from Tea Hermitage, the morning bell of Hongfu, fishing boats at dusk, and the wild shores downwind). Instead, I focus solely on “Tan Shuzui.” Why? Through this, I aim to illustrate how the people of Ruihong, leveraging their thriving water transport and open commercial markets, not only fostered economic and cultural prosperity in the town but also greatly influenced the surrounding villages, elevating civilization in the broader region.