Tradition works like a charm in villages
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E-mail Shanghai Daily, September 17, 2014
Heyang Village
Heyang Village of Lishui City retains more than 1,500 houses, 15 ancestral halls, six temples and one stone bridge erected in the Ming and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. Such large scale ancient constructions are rare within Zhejiang, which is why many art colleges ask students to use the village as a backdrop while they hone their painting skills.
It is also noteworthy as the hometown of Tang Dynasty official Zhu Qingyuan. Zhu and his family moved to the village from Henan Province in the late Tang Dynasty when the country split due to a rebellion.
Thereafter, Zhu settled in the village and most of the villagers with the same surname are his descendants.
Eight members of the Zhu family became jinshi, or "advanced scholar," meaning a graduate who passed the court exam during the Song Dynasty (960-1279). A stone gate called "Eight Scholars" was erected in the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) to commemorate those who brought glory to the family.
The Eight Scholars Gate is known for its excellent feng shui and villagers often walk through it praying for good luck when they get married or when a funeral is held.
The village also boasts Heyang paper cut, an intangible cultural heritage. It is distinguished from other paper cut varieties by exquisite techniques and a unique style.
How to get there: Shanghai-Kunming Expressway—Hangzhou-Jinhua-Quzhou Expressway—Changchun-Shenzhen Expressway
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