Longji Ancient Zhuang Village

Longji Ancient Zhuang Village

Longji Ancient Zhuang Village – A Cultural Corridor of Zhuang Heritage

Longji Ancient Zhuang Village is situated on the southwestern foothills of the Yuecheng Mountain Range in northern Guangxi, in the northeastern part of Heping Township, Longsheng Various Nationalities Autonomous County. It lies 10 kilometers from the Heping Township government seat, 21 kilometers from Longsheng County town, and about 76 kilometers from downtown Guilin. The ancient village comprises four Zhuang ethnic villages: the Liao Family Village, the Hou Family Village, the Pingduan Village, and the Ping Village.

I. Human History

Longji Ancient Zhuang Village has a history of at least 430 years. According to the genealogies of the Liao and Hou families in the ancient village, as well as inscriptions on the ancestral tomb of the Pan family, the ancestors of these three surnames all came from Qingyuan Prefecture in Nandan. The Longsheng County Annals record that the Liao family of Longji migrated to their current settlement during the Wanli era (1573–1620) of the Ming Dynasty. The ancient village boasts the most well-preserved, oldest, and largest complex of traditional Zhuang stilted wooden houses in Guangxi and even China. Among them, five wooden houses are over 100 years old, with the oldest dating back 250 years, exuding ancient charm and character.

1. Architectural Culture

Longji Ancient Zhuang Village is a prime example of traditional feng shui site selection. Beside the village runs a mountain ridge that coils down like a giant dragon toward the Jin River, and the ancient village is situated along this ridge — hence the name “Dragon Ridge.” On either side of the village extend two massive ridges, resembling the armrests of a chair. With the Dragon Ridge Village nestled between them, it is as if seated upon a dragon throne — a rare and auspicious feng shui location.

Through generations of hard work and harmonious coexistence with nature, the people of Longji have created a balanced ecological environment stretching from the high-altitude forests at the mountaintop, through the village, to the terraced fields. This reflects an equilibrium in human-land construction, with forests, streams, the village, and terraces distributed in an orderly and coordinated manner across varying elevations, showcasing the beauty of harmony between humans and nature.

One of the meanings behind the famous stone carving of “Three Fish Sharing One Head” on the village’s wind-and-rain bridge symbolizes the harmony and unity of the three surnames: Liao, Hou, and Pan. On a deeper level, it represents the solidarity among the three ethnic groups: Zhuang, Yao, and Dong. At its core, it embodies the Daoist philosophy that “one gives birth to two, two gives birth to three, and three gives birth to all things,” reflecting the fundamental cosmic law of harmony among heaven, earth, and humanity.

2. Zhuang Stone Carving Culture

The people of Longji have made full use of the area’s abundant stone resources to create a unique Zhuang stone culture. The village features winding bluestone paths, 57 bluestone bridges, multi-tiered wooden house stone foundations, the Taiping Clear Vat, stone water troughs, stone village gates, stone mills, stone mortars, stone grinding plates, stone walls, stone embroidery balls, stone temples, the “Three Fish Sharing One Head” carving, as well as a series of richly diverse stone steles from the Qing Dynasty, Republican era, to the present — truly a place where “every three steps you see stone, every five steps a carving, every ten steps a stele.”

The stone paths and bridges of the ancient village are symbols of the diligence and wisdom of the people of Longji. Many stone bridges are engraved with Taoist symbols such as lotus flowers, swords, Tai Chi, and the Eight Trigrams. The most representative and precious is the “Three Fish Sharing One Head” design carved on the wind-and-rain bridge in front of the village committee building.

The village preserves a large number of stone steles and inscriptions from the Qing Dynasty to the modern Republican era. Among the most famous is the “Guilin Prefecture Stele Strictly Prohibiting Yamen Clerks from Harassing the Zhuang and Yao Peoples,” engraved in the 57th year of the Qianlong reign (1792). In addition, the stone statue of King Mo of Longji Ancient Zhuang Village, the embroidered ball stone carvings, and the stone village gates are unique to Guangxi.

II. Tourism Features

Longsheng County has a total population of 172,000, with ethnic minorities accounting for over 75%, including approximately 33,000 Zhuang people. “Where there are no mountains, there are no Yao people; where there is no water, there are no Zhuang people.” The Zhuang people of Longsheng are mainly distributed in riverside towns such as Heping, Piaoli, Longsheng Town, and Sishui. The charm of Longji’s Zhuang culture has long transcended the mountain villages, attracting numerous domestic and international tourists. The rustic Zhuang villages, weathered stone bridges, and fiery red chili peppers captivate visitors from around the world.

1. Time-Honored Ancient Zhuang Village

Nestled within the world-renowned Longji Terraced Fields scenic area lies an ancient mountain village — Longji Ancient Zhuang Village. The term “Longji Zhuang Village” generally refers to thirteen natural Zhuang villages along the river, including Ping’an, Mahai, Jinjiang, Baishi, Jinzhu, and Fengmu. The renowned Ping’an Village was originally part of the ancient village before splitting off to become an independent administrative village.

Longji Zhuang Village consists of three major natural settlements: the Liao, Pan, and Hou families. The Liao family has the largest population and village size, with recorded history dating back to the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty. The Longsheng Ting Annals state: “Eighty li east of the city lies Longji tea, historically offered as tribute…” During the Qianlong period, Longji tea was designated as “tribute tea,” required to be handed over as tax and not permitted for market sale. At that time, Pan Tianhong and other villagers petitioned the court. In the 57th year of Qianlong, the court granted permission for Longji tea to be sold on the market, and an official stele was erected in Pingduan Village. The ancient water vat built with bluestone slabs in the 11th year of the Tongzhi reign still stands intact in the village today and remains in use by the Zhuang people. The vivid stone carvings of animals on the vat are still clearly visible. The water distribution stele embedded in the irrigation channel remains unchanged, and the channel water continues to irrigate the villagers’ fields…

2. Sturdy Stone Bridges

Stepping into Longji Zhuang Village, amid the bustling tourist area filled with flickering lights, romantic bars, and friends of all skin colors, you’ll find a modern vibe. But if you stroll along the village paths, you’ll discover the unique charm of the ancient stone bridges. Records show that within a 20-kilometer radius of Longji, there are nearly 300 stone bridges, with 57 alone in Longji Village. The longevity of these bridges is closely tied to their construction process. Quarrying stone slabs usually took place from late autumn to early spring. Skilled craftsmen from each village would first venture into the mountains to find hard stone, which was then mined by villagers. The bridges typically consist of two long bluestone slabs, though some have as many as five or as few as one. Each slab is about 6 meters long, the shortest being 2 meters, and generally 3 to 4 meters.

Legend has it that long ago, government troops frequently entered the villages to conscript soldiers, committing arson, killings, and looting. The people of the thirteen Longji villages and nearby ethnic settlements lived in constant unrest. For the safety of the villagers, representatives from the Zhuang, Yao, and Han peoples — respected and influential figures chosen from their respective villages — gathered to discuss rebellion at a stone bridge in Longji Zhuang Village. After lengthy deliberation, they decided to become sworn brothers of different ethnicities. The representatives immediately returned to rally their communities. A united resistance force was formed, and after their struggle, the bridge was named “Bridge of Joy,” with the “Three Fish Sharing One Head” motif carved into its stone slabs, symbolizing eternal unity among the Zhuang, Yao, and Han peoples.

Source: Longsheng Tourism Network