Jingdi Village (Jingdi Village)

Jingdi Village (Jingdi Village)

Jingdi Village is nestled deep in the Taihang Mountains and gets its name from being surrounded by towering, steep peaks. The small village lies against the mountains and near the water—trees above your head, grass beneath your feet, and vegetation covering the landscape everywhere, presenting a lush, verdant scene. Within the village lies Xiangyun Lake, where a dam holds back this stretch of azure water, adding a touch of beauty to the mountain hamlet. At the base of the dam, a deep valley hides tranquil pools, while a gentle stream flows alongside steep cliffs down the valley. A breeze drifts by—not bringing coolness, but a refreshing sense of ease.

Jingdi Village is located along the ancient Jin-Yu Road and was an important stop along the route. In its heyday, the village was dotted with inns, grain shops, and stores. Judging by inscriptions on the Longmen Temple Stele—the oldest surviving fragmentary stele in Jingdi—it is believed that people had settled here as early as the Zhengde era of the Ming Dynasty.

The village is built along the road, with houses scattered at varying heights and constructed from stone. Stone streets, stone walls, stone floorboards, and stone houses define the area. Stone mills, stone rollers, stone mortars, stone tables, stone benches, and stone water vats all form part of the village’s uniquely distinctive architectural style. Especially notable are the roofing materials—locally sourced, irregularly shaped slabs of purplish-red stone, nearly uniform in thickness but varied in shape. Used as roofing, they are not only naturally beautiful but also cost-effective.

Address: Dongsitou Township, Pingshun County, Changzhi City

Type: Countryside

Suggested visiting time: 2–3 hours