The Thousand-Year Ancient Village on the Upper Floor

The Thousand-Year Ancient Village on the Upper Floor

The Thousand-Year Ancient Village on the Upper Floor

The Ancient Village on the Upper Floor is situated on the banks of the Liaoxian River, southwest of Shiqian County, about 15 kilometers from the county town and 9 kilometers from the government of Guorong Township. It takes roughly 45 minutes to drive from the county center. The scenic area spans around 4.2 square kilometers, comprising four villager groups with 150 households and 547 residents, all belonging to the Dong ethnic group. The villagers still maintain unique ethnic customs, such as singing mountain songs, performing funeral and wedding laments, and playing suona, among others. The area has gradually developed into an ethnic historical and cultural ancient village that integrates tourism, leisure, entertainment, and folklore exploration. Originally, the place was not called “Upper Floor” (楼上) but “Zhaji” (寨纪). A building stood over a drainage channel atop the main building, while the long alley below served as a passageway, hence the name “Louxiang” (楼巷, “Building Alley”). Over time, due to the similar sound between “上” (shàng, upper) and “巷” (xiàng, alley), the villagers gradually came to call it “楼上” (“Upper Floor”). All residents of the village bear the surname Zhou, originally hailing from Fengcheng County, Nanchang Prefecture, Jiangxi Province. The lineage continues unbroken to this day, having grown to nineteen generations and over 4,000 members. The cultural heritage of the Ancient Village on the Upper Floor is embodied in the character “古” (ancient). The village boasts a large expanse of ancient trees, including crape myrtles, osmanthus, red maples, and cypresses. Experts have verified that these trees are over 300 years old. Most remarkably, seven maple trees are arranged in the shape of the Big Dipper, and thousands of egrets roost on these trees alone, never settling in any other ancient trees nearby. On the high slope near the ancient woods stand the Zitong Palace and a theater stage. The Zitong Palace was first built during the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty and houses four sacred statues. The theater stage was constructed in the late Qing Dynasty and was dedicated to puppet shows. The ancient village faces southwest and is backed by hills. Its overall layout forms the shape of the Chinese character “寿” (longevity), and all alleyways are paved with bluestone slabs. Along both sides of the stone paths are traditional green-tiled wooden houses, all built during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The wooden window frames of each household are intricately carved with delicate patterns—some featuring plum blossoms, dragonflies, butterflies, or magpies—rich in cultural significance. In front of the village lie terraced fields as smooth as a mirror, stretching all the way to the banks of the Liaoxian River. A path along the small ditch leads to the river, crossing a bridge named NanGui Bridge, which was built in the second year of the Chongzhen era in the late Ming Dynasty (1629). The village also contains numerous ancient tombs, notably the Wenlinlang Tomb. The Ancient Village on the Upper Floor serves as a microcosm of rural Chinese historical and cultural heritage. Preserved intact over hundreds of years without missing any “chapters,” it continues to attract many visitors.