Fuli Ancient Town

Fuli Ancient Town

Highlights

Come to Fuli to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Li River, and explore ancient architecture, historical culture, and local artisans.

Introduction

With a history of more than a thousand years, Fuli Ancient Town is not only known for its stunning landscapes, but also for its unique culture. To this day, it preserves primitive tribal culture such as Nuo music (Nuo: nuó, meaning exorcising spirits in ancient times), Nuo dance, and Nuo masks. The diversity and richness of the local culture can be seen through the Three Pavilions (Daguang Pavilion, Jielouqiao Pavilion, and Guanjing Pavilion), the Three Streets (Old Street, Xinglong Street, and Lingbei Street), the Three Temples (Tianhou Temple, Xinggong Temple, and Shuiyuan Temple), the Three Monasteries (Qinglong Monastery, Baihu Monastery, and Chongfo Monastery), and the Three Stones (also known as the Three Aunts’ Stones — three rocks lying flat on a stone platform, said to have been turned from clothes into stone by Liu Sanjie to save three village girls). Moreover, Fuli now holds an annual grand temple fair on the eighth day of the fifth lunar month, which is a spectacular and lively event.

In 1961, many scenes of the film "Liu Sanjie" were shot here, greatly boosting Fuli’s fame and reputation. Scenes such as the Little Ox Rescuing Liu Sanjie and Liu Er Carrying Firewood were filmed at the Fuli Wharf, while the opposite Duotou Village Wharf served as the filming location for the “Fishermen’s Home” in "Liu Sanjie." Background Info:

Fuli Town was the farthest place Xu Xiake reached during his exploration of Yangshuo. It was then called “Fuli” (literally “hidden lychees”), named for the lychee trees that covered the entire village. It wasn’t until the 15th year of the Republic of China (1926) that locals, seeking good fortune, renamed it “Fuli” (meaning “blessing the nation and benefiting the people”) due to its phonetic similarity to “Fuli” (hidden lychees).

Xu Xiake summarized the features of Fuli Scenic Area in just eight words: “The mountains open up the view, revealing ever more wonder.” Here, peaks such as Monk’s Hat Mountain, Number One Scholar Peak, Donglang Mountain, Zhanhao Mountain, Tiger Head Mountain, and Chopping Board Mountain all feature “steep cliffs and rugged ridges,” each showcasing their own majestic presence. Xu Xiake strolled through the streets of Fuli and came across a restaurant called “Tang Cu Restaurant,” whose couplet was both profound and elegant: “Tang poetry in the recipe; coarse tea clears the dust from the heart.” Intrigued, he went in for a meal and had an in-depth chat with the owner, Tang Cu, which became a much-told tale. Fuli “Painted Fans”

A highlight of Fuli’s contemporary culture is the “painted fan,” which combines poetry, calligraphy, painting, and seal carving. These exquisitely made fans are sold both domestically and abroad, earning the town the reputation of “China’s Hometown of Painted Fans.” The town is also skilled in making embroidered balls. The backdrop used in CCTV’s program “Qu Yuan Miscellaneous Talks” features one of these large painted fans from Fuli. Visitors here will definitely want to visit the Painted Fan Street to pick up a memorable souvenir — either for personal enjoyment or to share with friends and family.

Along the hundred-meter-long Old Street, also known as “Painted Fan Street,” skilled artisans use locally sourced materials: bamboo from the riverbanks for the ribs, local handmade paper for the surface, and hand-painted designs of Guilin landscapes, Yangshuo scenery, flowers, birds, grass, and insects, all captioned with poetic verses and stamped with seals. The painted fans are both delicate and durable.

Transportation

You can take a bus from Yangshuo Bus Station to Fuli.

Address:

Fuli Town, Yangshuo County, Guilin City

Opening Hours:

Open all day

Admission:

No admission fee.