Shuiba Ancient Village

Shuiba Ancient Village

Shuiba Ancient Village is one of the "Hometown of Enming · Primitive Shui Villages." Located in the central area where the Shui people of Libo and Sandu are distributed, it is the most naturally beautiful, most authentically folkloric, and oldest natural village among all Shui villages. It is 12 kilometers from the county seat of Libo, with the "Libo-Sandu Highway" passing right through the village, offering convenient transportation and a prime location. Shuiba Ancient Village is like a flower blooming in a vast virgin forest, a unique gem in the Shui region — hence its name. Since ancient times, Shuiba Ancient Village has enjoyed a reputation for “five beauties,” making it highly favored by people.

The first is ecological beauty. Adjacent to the scenic Landing Mountain Forest Park, Shuiba Ancient Village boasts well-preserved ecology and is nestled within tens of thousands of acres of pristine forest. The village sits against mountains and beside water, filled with birdsong and floral fragrance. The Shui people are a nation that loves nature and reveres the environment. They hold deep reverence for trees, springs, rivers, and peculiar rocks, thus not only preserving the surrounding expanse of virgin forest but also paying special attention to protecting ancient trees, water sources, rivers, and unusual stones around the village. Today, driven by the development of tourism, Shuiba also features a breathtaking 200-acre colorful sea of flowers and expansive lotus ponds reflecting the moon. It is an original and rustic ethnic village where you can see the mountains, view the waters, and remember the nostalgia of home.

The second is architectural beauty. The wooden houses of Shuiba Ancient Village are arranged in a pleasant disorder, and the ethnic architecture is uniquely distinctive. All residences are wooden stilt-style buildings, a long-standing architectural form. A single-story or two-story wooden structure is built atop the stilts, with the lower and upper columns unconnected, forming two distinct building entities to adapt to the damp environment, presence of snakes, and pests. Various forms of bas-reliefs adorn doors, windows, beams, pillars, partitions, and shrines. The patterns mostly depict scenes from the real life of the Shui people, as well as familiar animals such as fish, birds, phoenixes, oxen, and horses. There are also auspicious motifs beloved by locals, such as “Abundance of Joy,” “Bumper Harvest,” “Peace and Good Fortune,” “Dragon and Phoenix Bringing Prosperity,” and the characters for “Fortune,” “Prosperity,” “Longevity,” and “Happiness.” These designs express the Shui people’s aspirations for a better life through symbolism and metaphor.

The third is artistic beauty. The Shui people are a musical and dancing ethnic group, with captivating Shui songs and dances. They are also known for Shui script, hailed as a “living fossil” of pictographic writing, and for the nationally intangible cultural heritage — “Ma Tail Embroidery,” which is “as beautiful as phoenix feathers.” Ma Tail Embroidery showcases how the Shui people connect farming, animal husbandry, and their relationship with nature, using horse tail hair to outline lines and then embroidering plant and animal patterns as well as text with multicolored cotton and silk threads. Ma Tail Embroidery symbolizes the wisdom of the Shui people and is also a gift they present to honored guests. Additionally, the Shui people have brightly colored traditional ethnic costumes, silver ornaments, and other handicrafts.

The fourth is culinary beauty. Leveraging its excellent water resources, Shuiba Ancient Village vigorously develops ecological fisheries. Fish are regarded as symbols of happiness and good fortune. The Shui people not only cannot do without fish when welcoming guests or holding banquets, but they also enjoy eating fish in their daily diet. When guests come from afar, the hosts will definitely prepare fish to show the deep bond between host and guest, akin to fish and water. Especially during the Mao Festival, the most grand and lively annual celebration of the Shui people, every household offers sacrifices to heaven and ancestors, slaughters pigs and cattle, and catches fish in the fields. Every home sets out offerings such as fish, wine, meat, and glutinous rice, with “fish wrapped in chives” being their most essential must-have dish. The Shui people here can cook a variety of green and healthy delicacies, allowing you to savor delicious flavors and enjoy healthy eating.

The fifth is the beauty of integrity. The folkways of Shuiba Ancient Village are simple and honest, and the villagers have since ancient times placed great emphasis on ethics, rules, and honesty. In handling external relations, neighborhood disputes, family matters, and social interactions, they follow the village rules and agreements, which continue to be refined as society develops. Even under the national framework of governance by law, the village still upholds its customary rules to maintain harmony and unity. Every villager coexists and thrives with the ancient village, jointly safeguarding the village's economic development. For many years, the village has been free of theft, crime, or illegal activity. The villagers embody the virtues of honesty — no one takes what isn’t theirs, doors remain unlocked at night — and they maintain traditional values of farming and scholarship, strictly observing loyalty, filial piety, etiquette, and morality. It is hailed as a model of the “Ten-Zero Village Community” in Yuping Subdistrict.

With its profound accumulation of Shui culture, beautiful natural scenery, and convenient transportation, Shuiba Ancient Village has become a new rural tourism demonstration site integrating sightseeing, leisure vacations, farmhouse stays, and ethnic cultural experiences. It serves as a model for the protection and development of primitive and authentic ethnic villages. It contributes to the development of health-focused tourism, advancing the comprehensive and year-round tourism industry pattern of Libo. This place will be a destination for smart tourism, premium tourism, and classic travel experiences.