Sanjiang Chengyang Dong Ethnic Eight Villages Scenic Area

　　The Chengyang Eight Villages Scenic Area is situated on the Linxi River in Linxi Town, Sanjiang Dong Autonomous County, 19 kilometers from the county seat of Guyi Town. It is the largest tourist attraction in Sanjiang County and a renowned destination for experiencing Dong ethnic culture in Guangxi. The scenic area encompasses eight natural villages: Dongzhai, Pingfu, Jichang, and Dazhai of Chengyang Village, and Ma’an, Pingzhai, Yanzhai, and Pingtan of Pingyan Village (historically these eight villages were all part of Chengyang Village and are collectively referred to as the “Eight Villages of Chengyang”). The core area includes Ma’an, Pingzhai, and Yanzhai, covering a total area of 12.55 square kilometers with 2,197 households and over 9,700 residents. Legend has it that around 700 years ago, families surnamed Cheng and Yang were the first to settle here, followed by those with the surnames Yang, Wu, Chen, Li, Shi, and Huang.

　　About 400 years ago, the current cluster of villages gradually took shape. The scenic area is themed around a “Complete Experience of Dong Ethnic Life” and is recognized as one of “China’s First Batch of Landscape Villages” and among the “Top Ten Charming Villages in Guangxi.” It features nine wind-rain bridges and eleven drum towers. The main tourist attractions and landscapes include Dong ethnic village scenes, stilted houses, clusters of wind-rain bridges and drum towers, and flagstone-paved paths. Rich in authentic Dong ethnic cultural and ecological tourism resources, the area is a concentrated showcase of Dong culture and traditions. The Chengyang Eight Villages Scenic Area boasts “Four Uniques”: the Chengyang Yongji Bridge—one of the world’s four great bridges and the homeland of China’s Dong wooden architecture craftsmanship; a natural museum of Dong stilted houses; and one of the most beautiful landscape villages in the Dong region. It is a key project in the western China tourism investment plan and is included in the Guilin–Longsheng–Sanjiang–Rongshui–Liuzhou Golden Circle of Ethnic Culture Tourism.

　　Over the past decade, the People’s Government of Sanjiang County has continuously increased financial support for various projects in the scenic area. More than 45 million yuan has been invested to upgrade infrastructure such as roads, environmental facilities, traffic signs, parking lots, the scenic entrance, and sightseeing trails. Additionally, the exteriors of buildings that clashed with the surroundings have been clad in wooden siding, while a cultural complex building and an intangible cultural heritage inheritance center have been constructed to enhance the area’s tourism functions.

　　Visitors can admire the Dong people’s exquisite wooden architecture, enjoy vibrant ethnic song and dance performances, experience the simple life of local residents, and appreciate the beautiful rural scenery. It’s also possible to observe the daily life, work, and rest of the Dong people, and during festivals and weddings, guests may even participate in traditional celebrations. This is an open-air scenic area and a spiritual retreat where travelers can relax, reconnect with nature, and return to simplicity. Currently, the scenic area directly employs over 200 people and indirectly supports more than 1,000 jobs. There are 25 households running agritainment lodges, over 40 craft shops, and more than 350 beds, receiving over 100,000 tourists annually. In 2007, Chengyang Eight Villages was named one of “China’s First Batch of Landscape Villages,” in 2009 it was designated as a National AAAA-level Tourist Attraction, and in 2013, the three villages of Ma’an, Pingzhai, and Yanzhai in Pingyan Village were included in China’s Tentative List for UNESCO World Heritage nomination.

　　Source: Sanjiang Dong Autonomous County Tourism Bureau