Xinglong Folk Culture Village

Xinglong Folk Culture Village

Xinglong Folk Culture Village is located in the heart of the Jiulian Mountains, on the beautiful Reshui River. It has 123 households and a permanent population of over 700. The villagers all have the surname Wang, whose ancestors came from Taiyuan, Shanxi, belonging to the Sanhuai Hall lineage. They migrated via Zhejiang to Fujian, and during the Hongzhi reign of the Ming Dynasty, settled in Shangli, Longchuan County.

Legend has it that in the 13th year of the Zhengde era of the Ming Dynasty, after Wang Yangming suppressed the peasant uprising led by Chi Zhongrong at Liyuanchi and established Heping County, he visited Li Tianxianyan in Liyuan. On his way through the Beilian section, he noticed a major dragon vein stretching from the main peak of Tiesinxiong at an altitude of over 1,000 meters down to the entrance of Makengjing. He pointed toward the eastern riverbank and repeatedly exclaimed, “There’s a dragon here,” thus creating a mystery about the “dragon.” It wasn’t until 1616, in the early Qing Dynasty, that Wang Shoulong, a successful Wang-family scholar, invited a geomancer to identify the “dragon” site. He then had his third grandson, Wang Shisan, build a home and settle there, naming the place “Xinglong Town.” Scholar Wang Shoulong finally solved Wang Yangming’s mystery about the “dragon.” According to the Wang family genealogy, the ancestors of the people of Xinglong Town include outstanding historical figures such as Wang Xizhi, Wang Anshi, and Wang Yangming. In more recent history, the village has produced mayors, county magistrates, regiment commanders, and overseas students. The Xinglong Watchtower was once the site of the third Party Training Class of the underground Communist Party of Heping County, and is home to nine veteran Party members who joined back in 1938. The area’s beautiful mountains and clean waters have contributed to the health and longevity of its residents — there are ten villagers over the age of ninety.

Xinglong boasts many outstanding Hakka folk cultural elements, such as bridal laments, mountain song duets, Hakka gongs and drums, sky lantern releases, and moon goddess rituals. The village also has a long-standing food culture, featuring distinctive Hakka dishes such as Battle Rice, Mixed Stew, and Roasted Yellow Wine, offering visitors a delightful culinary experience.

Most houses in Xinglong maintain the traditional structure of Hakka enclosed roundhouses. The unique feature lies in the combination of squares within circles, circles within squares, and the interplay of square and circular forms forming an enclosed whole. There are many mysteries to explore in Xinglong, such as the Three Lines Out, Pond Gallbladder, Guanyin Saving the Fire, Prosperity Water, and Swallow Wing Legacy. The over 50-acre peach blossom garden by the river will be a paradise for leisure-seeking visitors.

On the 16th day of the first lunar month in 2005, Mr. Dong Jiayao, a famous host from Phoenix TV, specially came to Xinglong to interview the “bridal lament” custom, letting people all over the world know about Xinglong Folk Culture Village.

Office Phone: 0762—5161998

Fax: 0762—5161998