Kuzhu Village

Kuzhu Village

Kuzhu Village is located 5 kilometers from Jiutian Cave and is the most primitive and well-preserved ancient town in northwestern Hunan. It retains a typical complex of Ming Dynasty residential architecture and has excellent potential for folk culture development. Once a bustling old wharf with thousands of sails on the upper reaches of the Lishui River, an ancient market teeming with merchants, a thrilling haunt for boatmen, and a kaleidoscope of the Ming and Qing dynasties, its ancient wind-fire walls and low stilted houses showcase the wisdom of the Tujia people to visitors. The bluestone slabs and the sounds of the Dongdongkui flute whisper the past glory of the ancient village.

The ancient village was built during the Tang and Song dynasties and flourished in the Ming and Qing dynasties. It was once the “old wharf with thousands of sails on the upper reaches of the Lishui River, an ancient market bustling with merchants, a thrilling haunt for boatmen, and a kaleidoscope of Ming and Qing society.” The ancient wind-fire walls and low stilted houses demonstrate the ingenuity of the Tujia people, while the bluestone slabs and the sounds of the Dongdongkui flute recount the village’s former splendor. Along the Lishui River, traces of human activity have been found dating back over 300 million years to the Paleolithic Age, and Sangzhi County has a history of more than 2,200 years. According to experts, this ancient town was established during the Tang and Song dynasties, prospered in the Ming and Qing dynasties, and has a history of nearly 2,000 years. Located at a strategic point connecting the county seat upstream and a rugged canyon downstream, and situated between mountains and water, the village has always been known as the throat of Sangzhi.

In ancient times, when waterways were the only means of connecting with the outside world, Kuzhuhe Town was a thriving commercial wharf with constant traffic of people and boats. The town was fully equipped with shops, inns, brothels, embroidery towers, workshops, pawnshops, theaters, and temples, making it a true kaleidoscope of Ming and Qing society.

As time passed and circumstances changed, in modern times, with the rapid rise of land transportation, water transport gradually declined, and the town was slowly forgotten within the canyon. Though it lost its former prosperity, the town has retained much of its classic, timeless charm, allowing us today to experience its bygone splendor through its remaining streets, buildings, and shops.

Scenic Area Address: Kuzhuhe Village, Lifuta Town, Sangzhi County, Zhangjiajie City, Hunan Province

Transportation: Take a bus from downtown Zhangjiajie to Sangzhi County, then transfer to a minibus to reach the scenic area