Piaoshen Village

　　    Piaoshen Shoal, one of the “Eighteen Shoals” of the Gan River. On the bank of the shoal lies the picturesque natural village of Piaoshen.

　　    The village is embraced by green mountains, lush forests, and crisscrossing river branches. Within the village there are four mountain valleys—Jiangkeng, Chakeng, Wangjiakeng, and Hulikeng—where eleven surnames are clustered: Xiao, You, Wang, Guo, Weng, Liu, Luo, Wu, Zhang, Liao, and Ye. The village has 67 households and 246 residents, with 230 mu of paddy fields. Living by the mountain, they rely on the mountain; living by the water, they rely on the water. Forestry and aquaculture are their main livelihoods, with tea leaves, bamboo shoots, and ginger as local specialties. The forested area spans 18,000 mu, densely covered with emerald bamboo, fir, pine, camphor, and oak trees that shade the riverside village. Wild animals such as wild boars, leopards, deer, mountain oxen, goats, and pangolins appear unpredictably. Upon entering the village, one is greeted by waterside pavilions, houses, water areas, ?? bays, and shaded woods. It makes you marvel at how the green of the hills fills the plains, the houses nestle quietly under radiant peaks, the mountains are lush and connect with the beautiful waters, and the cool breeze and bright moon refresh the soul.

　　    By the waterside lies Hanshen Temple, also known as Gaogiu Temple, which means “prayers are sure to be answered,” with “Gaogiu” being a homophone for “high prayer.” Piaoshen Shoal got its name because a statue of a bodhisattva drifted downstream. Legend has it that one summer during the Song Dynasty, when the Gan River was flooded, a fisherman casting his net by the riverbank repeatedly caught nothing—until he noticed a shining object floating up and down but never drifting away. Curious, the fisherman retrieved the object and found it was a wooden statue of a bodhisattva. He prayed: if the bodhisattva would bless him with a big catch, he would build a small temple in its honor. Sure enough, he soon hauled in several nets full of big fish. He also noticed the characters “Han Xin” carved on the back of the statue—referring to Han Xin, the famed founding general and meritorious official of the Han Dynasty. To commemorate Han Xin’s achievements, the villagers united to build a temple by the river. When the Wan’an Hydropower Station was completed and the reservoir filled, the temple site was submerged. “Han Shen Temple” was relocated to an unused residential house. In ancient times, the statue floated down the river and was enshrined at the center of the temple, with divine eyes gleaming and an imposing presence. Han Xin ascended the altar and was revered as a deity, endowed with boundless spiritual power and great fame, renowned across the “Eighteen Shoals.” Countless myths surround him, and even today, worshippers flock to pay homage. On Han Xin’s birthday, pilgrims arrive in droves. A couplet at the temple gate reads: “Might shakes heaven and earth, merit overshadows rivers and mountains.” A “Commander” flag flutters atop a tall pole in front of the temple...

　　　    “Ba... year” ... Qiuxiang, also known as fragrant township, that fragrant... The mountain here is rich in nature, and “Fragrant Nature” ... fragrant fragrance, like early spring tea, all buds, picked as tribute to the imperial capital.

　　    The village is rich in Hakka culture, with simple and honest folkways. The villagers are honest, upright, warm, and hospitable, treating guests with fragrant tea. They enjoy Hakka cuisine and Hakka tea, with elegant mountain vegetables nourishing the heart. Local mountain herbs are quite potent, with unique efficacy in treating rheumatism, arthritis, and back pain. The ancestral secret remedy of the local couple Xiao Ruihua and Guo Yuxiang, after being featured in the media, attracted many outsiders seeking medicine from them. Xiao Ruihua is a kind-hearted mountain villager. In the 1980s, during a boat capsize incident in the river, he fearlessly jumped into the water to save lives. Thanks to his excellent swimming skills and vigorous rescue efforts, no one on the boat was injured or killed. For this, Xiao Ruihua was commended in an official notice by the provincial government and military region.

　　    Piaoshen Village boasts enchanting landscapes, divine beauty, the culture of the sacred shoal, and a strong Hakka flavor. There is no intense heat in summer; no need for a fan during the day and no need to part with your quilt at night—it’s a tranquil, cool riverside village. “The wise delight in mountains, the benevolent delight in water.” A visit to Piaoshen Village allows you to enjoy both, making it perfect for eco-tourism. Observe the scenery on both sides of the Wan’an Hydropower Station, escape the heat, and enjoy leisure—a rare find among riverside villages. Here, surrounded by green mountains and clear waters, your spirit will soar.