FuXi Ancient Yao Village

FuXi Ancient Yao Village

The FuXi Village Scenic Area in Fuchuan is located within ChaoDong Town, Fuchuan Yao Autonomous County, Hezhou City, Guangxi. It is 40 kilometers from Fuchuan County and 100 kilometers from Hezhou City. As a historical and cultural humanistic scenic tourism area, FuXi Village is an ancient settlement with a long history. The area boasts rich cultural heritage, including the lecture hall of Zhou Dunyi, the pioneer of Neo-Confucianism in the Song Dynasty, and the residences of his descendants. Many of the buildings, stone carvings, and stone artworks here reflect the cultural characteristics and traditional craftsmanship of the Song Dynasty. There are thirteen elaborately carved ancestral archways, as well as a collection of classic, ancient-style residential houses. Within these archways, ancestral halls, homes, and temples, one can find decorations such as calligraphy and paintings themed around lotus, chrysanthemum, plum blossom, and orchid—symbols of purity and elegance. There are also flower-patterned window lintels and door frames adorned with wood carvings of symbols like wealth, prosperity, Buddha, and deities; painted beams and brackets featuring motifs of clouded sparrows, bamboo, pines, dragons, and phoenixes; and stone carvings that showcase the area’s cultural legacy, such as “merit stones,” “incense paper furnaces,” “wind-and-rain bridges,” and the “Hundred-Pillar Temple.” In addition, there are a number of ancient relics including an old opera stage, a traditional study hall, bluestone-paved streets, and ancient stone inscriptions. The MaYin Temple in the village has been designated as a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit and is one of the main attractions. FuXi Ancient Village captivates visitors with its unique cultural charm, architectural style, and serene, rustic ambiance, making it a key rural tourism destination in Hezhou. When people think of Yao villages, they often imagine settlements nestled against mountains and near water. However, FuXi Yao Village is located in a valley surrounded by five mountain ridges. Within several kilometers of the area, there are no other villages nearby due to the surrounding hills lacking the basic conditions needed for human habitation.

FuXi is home to an underground river spring that continuously flows with sweet, fresh water, bringing hope for human survival. Human activity began here during the Northern Song Dynasty, flourished in the Southern Song Dynasty, and reached its peak during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Today, it is a large village with a population of over 1,600. Without that stream of water, FuXi would not be what it is. Most of the many ancient opera stages in FuXi Yao Village have been lost to time and the elements throughout the long years, and only three remain well preserved. Nestled alongside temples, these ancient stages once witnessed the devout prayers of worshippers and the passage of time in the fading twilight and early morning light. They were also once filled nightly with music and song, where people enjoyed the melodies of traditional instruments and marveled at tales of generals, statesmen, and the romanticized lives of ancient sages.