Chenzhai Qixing Village

　　Chenzhai Village is recognized as a Zhejiang Provincial Civilized Village and was selected as one of Zhejiang’s “Beautiful Villages” in 2007. At the village entrance, ancient trees tower overhead and an old bridge spans the way; inside the village, scenes unfold of small bridges over flowing streams, homes surrounded by cooking smoke, birds in flight, chickens and ducks; outside the village, the Big Dipper shines down while seven star-shaped mounds encircle the area, rivaling the mystique of Yuyuan Bagua Village. There are over 20 existing structures, all built against the mountains and beside the water, forming a typical eco-village. Historical records suggest that the renowned Taoist priests Ge Hong and Ye Fashan left traces of their presence here, and the imperial advisor Liu Bowen once lived in the area. The mastermind behind the village’s design remains a mystery waiting to be unraveled.

　　The landscape of Chenzhai is characterized by four features: “wondrous, perilous, bizarre, and mystical.” “Wondrous”: from Nan Tian in Wencheng, hometown of Liu Ji, through Chenzhai to Guolin in Qingtian, there is a stone dragon atop the mountain peaks resembling the Great Wall; “Perilous”: the treacherous ancient paths of Chenzhai’s back mountains; “Bizarre”: the Yuxiu Bridge, where trees grow because of the bridge and the bridge connects because of the roots; “Mystical”: the Qixing Dun, an eternal cosmic mystery.

　　Step into Chenzhai, and Chenzhai will tell you everything.

　　Paiyan Bridge

　　Built in the sixth year of the JingTai era of the Ming Dynasty (1455), this is a single-span stone beam bridge. It is 7 meters long, 1.1 meters wide, with a span of 4 meters. The bridge deck is formed by four (or possibly three?) long granite slabs extending horizontally and supported on brackets, inscribed with the construction date. It is the first bridge at the northern entrance of the ancient village.

　　Shangma Stone Slab Bridge

　　Constructed in the thirteenth year of the Jiaqing era (1808), it features a deck made of three stone slabs, each 40 cm wide, 20 cm thick, and about 3 meters long. The foundation structure is quite unique.

　　Yuxiu Bridge

　　Built in the fourth year of the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty (1576), it originally had a double-eaved, pyramidal roof bridge pavilion. In the twenty-second year of the Republic of China (1933), two additional bridge corridors were added on the east and west sides, each with two rooms. It was renovated in 1983. This is a single-arch covered bridge with a brick-and-wood structure, combining Chinese and Western elements. The bridge is 12 meters long, 3 meters wide, with an arch height of 3.5 meters and a span of 5 meters. The arch is constructed of stone, built upon the sturdy, approximately 0.4-meter-thick ancient cypress tree roots that span the stream.

　　Chen Family Ancestral Hall

　　Constructed in the nineteenth year of the Kangxi era of the Qing Dynasty (1688), it was renovated in the fifth year of the Qianlong era and the third year of the Tongzhi era. It is a three-courtyard, quadrangle-style complex with a central courtyard, covering an area of about 490 square meters, continuing the architectural style of the Ming Dynasty.

　　According to the Chen Family Genealogy: Chen Wenfa, the founding ancestor of Chenzhai, was the son of Chen Xiang (1017–1080), a native of Minhou, Fuzhou. Chen Xiang passed the imperial examination at age 26 and served as a distinguished official under Emperors Renzong, Yingzong, and Shenzong of the Song Dynasty, holding positions such as Magistrate of Xianju, Prefect of Hangzhou, and Censor-in-Chief. Throughout his life, he was known for his integrity, emphasis on agriculture and water management, and diplomatic skill. He strongly recommended thirty individuals, including Sima Guang and Su Dongpo, for official positions, and was a renowned Neo-Confucian scholar and poet. While traveling through the Qingtian landscape, his second son, Chen Wenfa, was captivated by the surrounding mountains, the alignment of the Seven Stars, the image of five horses galloping, and the symbolism of a carp leaping through the Dragon Gate, prompting the family to relocate here.

　　Jade Belt Red Carp

　　The Jade Belt Stream flows across the entire Fushan Basin, running from southeast to northwest in a winding, picturesque course like a jade belt encircling Fushan—hence its name, which conveys prosperity and good fortune. Major scenic spots and residential areas are concentrated along both banks, making it Fushan’s feng shui corridor. A mountain stream by nature, the Jade Belt Stream has an average depth of about 1.5 meters but features more than 20 pools, the deepest of which reach around 3 meters. Water levels fluctuate with rainfall, yet the water remains clear, meeting national Class II or higher surface drinking water standards, presenting a beautiful scene of “clear waters with playful fish.”

　　Shimenlou Ancient Residential Buildings

　　Originally built during the Ming Dynasty and reconstructed in the ninth year of the Kangxi era of the Qing Dynasty (1745), it retains some features of Ming architecture. It includes a gate tower, courtyard, main house, and wing rooms, totaling 12 rooms. Surrounded by walls, it also has hidden and visible rooms inside for theft and fire prevention. Legend says it was designed by Liu Ji and bestowed by Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang in the “imperial palace style,” a layout unique to Qingtian.

　　The homeowner was a martial arts scholar. The couplet on the two pillars, “The gate faces Mount Jia, watching the leopard’s transformation; the room leans on Inkstone Water, observing the dragon’s flight,” was penned by Han Xize, a renowned Qing Dynasty poet, scholar, and dramatist, subtly suggesting a place where dragons and tigers lie hidden.

　　Wooden Corridor Bridge

　　Built in the third year of the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty (1575) and renovated in 1999, it is a wooden cantilever-style covered bridge. The bridge body uses five large Chinese fir beams, with a five-bay roofed corridor on the deck, stretching 11 meters in length, 3.6 meters in width, and 2.6 meters in height, with a span of 7.5 meters. The central bay of the corridor is elevated for prominence, with railings on both sides.

　　Qixing Encirclement

　　Also known as Qixing Dun, this is a major natural wonder of Chenzhai. From the head of Aodi Village to the head of Chenzhai Village, seven star-shaped mounds are aligned in sequence, their positions and shapes closely resembling the Big Dipper in the night sky. Why has this celestial formation descended to Earth? It remains one of history’s great mysteries.

　　Yuxing Ancient Path

　　An ancient path from Chenzhai Village to Yuhu Town, Wencheng, initially established during the Eastern Wu period. It stretches approximately 78 kilometers in length and about 1.3 meters in width, paved with cobblestones. It was once an official route “traversed by couriers” and also a vital pathway for merchants and traders from the Ou-Yue and Seven Min regions. The famous Taoist priest Ge Hong of the Eastern Jin Dynasty traveled southward along this path toward Luofu Mountain in Guangzhou, spreading teachings, aiding the people, gathering herbs, and refining elixirs here, leaving behind many beautiful legends. In the late Yuan Dynasty, years of fierce battles took place in this area, leaving behind ruins such as the “Eighteen Forts of Daming Mountain.” Zhu Yuanzhang’s general Hu Dahai also once garrisoned at the “Qixing Pass” here. In the early Qing Dynasty, the maritime ban shifted the routes into Fujian westward, leading to the decline and eventual abandonment of the ancient path.