Zhaijialing Scenic Area

Zhaijialing Scenic Area

The ancient village of Zhaijialing is located in Jiulong Village, Maopingchang Town, Yuan’an County, at an altitude of 380 meters. The village covers an area of 180 mu and has a permanent population of 53 residents. Upon entering Zhaijialing, you can see 16 houses in the area, among which the oldest building dates back over 200 years. In addition, there are more than 20 ancient trees in the village, such as hollies, lush and towering with verdant foliage reaching to the sky, complementing the stone dwellings here and forming a unique rustic charm.

During the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty, the ancestor of the Zhai family, Zhai Ting, migrated from Zhaijiabang at Lashutai, Jishui, Jiangxi to Longwangjing in Zhaisipu, Maohu District, Yuan’an. According to the genealogy recorded in a local farmer’s household, the Zhai family, from the generation of “Ting” to the generation of “Si,” is now in its 21st generation. Over four hundred years, the Zhai family has prospered and grown large, forming a prominent clan in the region.

Legend has it that over four hundred years ago, when the ancestors of the Zhai family first arrived, they went to great lengths to establish their home on Zhaijialing. They paid the high price of one dou of rice to plant a single tree and established very strict clan rules prohibiting descendants from ever cutting down trees. Those who violated the rules would be publicly tried in the Zhai ancestral hall, subjected to beatings with sticks or whips, and made to kneel and pray in penance before their ancestors.

The ancient dwellings of Zhaijialing are built from stone and originated in the Ming Dynasty. There are also more than 100 precious and ancient trees, especially the verdant and upright holly trees, whose rustic strength complements the yellow walls and gray tiles of the village. The pristine natural scenery bears witness to the glory of history and holds valuable humanistic and historical research significance. The village also features stone inscriptions, clan rules, and genealogies. Moreover, within the village are the Red Leaf Ridge ablaze with crimson foliage, the steep and majestic Jite Grand Canyon, and the Nine Dragon King Wells nestled high in the mountains and surrounded by streams—making it an exceptional destination for eco-tourism.