Longchuan Scenic Area is located in Longchuan Village, 11 kilometers east of Jixi County Town, Xuancheng City, Anhui Province, situated in a small basin in the southeast of Jixi County, Anhui. Surrounded by mountains, it has distinct four seasons and suitable sunshine, with an average annual temperature of 15.99℃. The Longchuan Stream flows eastward around the village and merges into the Dengyuan River. Longchuan Village is formed by the merger of three villages: Kengkou, Huli, and Hengchuan.
In 1988, Longchuan was rated as a National Key Cultural Relic Protection Unit, and in 2012, it was approved as a national 5A-level tourist attraction. The village layout is in the shape of a boat, a typical Huizhou ancient village. The entire scenic area consists of many attractions, including the National Key Cultural Relic Protection Units such as Hu's Ancestral Hall, Yishi Shangshu Archway, and Hu Bingheng's Former Residence of Huizhou Merchant, as well as Huizhou Merchant Memorial Hall, Hu Zongxian Shaobao Mansion, Xiangxian Ancestral Hall, Chengxintang Paper Workshop, Water Street, Lingshan Temple, etc.
History and Culture
Longchuan has a long history and profound cultural heritage. Longchuan Village is the ancestral home of Comrade Hu Jintao, former General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, President of the People's Republic of China, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission.
In the Ming and Qing dynasties, when the population of Jixi County was only more than 81,000, there were more than 340 ancestral halls, with an average of one ancestral hall for every 50 households and 230 people. By 1982, there were still more than 160 ancestral halls in the whole county. At that time, those whose academic attainments and political achievements were respected by the local people would be reported by local officials to enter the county Xiangxian Ancestral Hall for sacrifice in spring and autumn after their death. According to the "Jiaqing Jixi County Chronicle" (1810 edition), the Xiangxian Ancestral Hall in Jixi County sacrificed a total of 15 xiangxian (local sages), among which 3 were from Longchuan.
Longchuan formerly had the "Sijing Hall", a holy place for clan members to miss their ancestors and respect their ancestors. Now it has been repaired and restored to its original appearance, and the names of the Longchuan clan members who have been highly respected and beneficial to the hometown in history are recorded here, and pictures are drawn according to the life stories of eight of them, as a Longchuan local education base.
The archway culture in the scenic area is also very prominent. The archway originated from the Wutou Gate, and its function is to highlight good and evil and promote righteousness, being a symbol of status and hierarchy. During the heyday of Longchuan Village in Jixi, there were 14 archways, and the best preserved one existing now is the Yishi Shangshu Archway, which commends Hu Fu and Hu Zongxian. The time when these two passed the imperial examination was an interval of a cycle of 60 years. There were up to 13 archways in memory of them, 7 of which were in Longchuan.
Main Attractions
Longchuan Hu's Ancestral Hall
Known as the "Hall of Woodcarving Art" and the "Museum of National Art", Longchuan Hu's Ancestral Hall was rated as a National Key Cultural Relic Protection Unit in 1988. The existing scale of Hu's Ancestral Hall was built in the 25th year of Jiajing in the Ming Dynasty (1547), covering an area of 1,729 square meters with a total construction area of 1,564 square meters. It consists of ten parts: screen wall, Pan Pool, terrace, gatehouse, courtyard, corridor, main hall, wing rooms, bedroom building, and special sacrifice hall, adopting the architectural technique of east-west symmetrical layout along the central axis to form a complete building complex. The woodcarving "Four Harmony Diagram" (harmony, smoothness, beauty, and harmony) preserved in the ancestral hall has become a symbol of a harmonious society.
Xiangxian Ancestral Hall
In the Ming and Qing dynasties, 3 xiangxian from Longchuan were sacrificed in the county Xiangxian Ancestral Hall. The former "Sijing Hall" in Longchuan is now repaired and restored to the Xiangxian Ancestral Hall, where the names of the respected clan members of Longchuan in history are recorded, and pictures are drawn according to the life stories of eight of them. The east wall has the word "Sizu" (missing ancestors), and the west wall has the word "Jingzong" (respecting ancestors), which is the local education base of Longchuan.
Longchuan Water Street
Longchuan Water Street is the section where the Longchuan River flows through the village, a typical pattern of Huizhou ancient villages with mountains at the back and water in front. The Hu clan took the river embankments on both sides as the street, commonly known as the "Water Street". The middle of the embankment is longitudinally paved with stone slabs representing the "dragon's spine", and the two sides are paved with pebbles representing the "dragon's scales". The opposite Feng Street is transversely paved with white phoenix marble representing phoenix feathers, and the two streets are collectively called "Dragon and Phoenix auspicious". The Dragon Embankment is higher than the Phoenix Street, reflecting the feudal ethical concept of men being superior to women and also conforming to the principle of "yin and yang being smooth". The walls of the residences on both sides of the Water Street are the Ma Tau Walls (horse-head walls) characteristic of Huizhou architecture, which have the functions of fire prevention, wind prevention, and theft prevention.
Lingshan Temple
The hill where Lingshan Temple is located was formerly known as Hengshan, and is called the "Upstream Goldfish" because of its fish-like shape. Lingshan Temple is hidden in the jungle, with melodious bell sounds and misty Buddhist chants. It is said that Hu Zongxian practiced literature and martial arts here when he was a teenager. This place once attracted believers from six counties in Huizhou and surrounding counties such as Chun'an to worship. In the Yuan Dynasty, a "Kengkou Wu" was set up here to collect taxes such as papermaking, so Lingshan Temple also has the common name of "Shanguan Zhai".
Yishi Shangshu Archway
The Yishi Shangshu Archway is a stone archway from the flourishing Ming period, becoming a typical representative of Huizhou stone carvings. "Yishi" means "generation after generation", and it commends Hu Fu and Hu Zongxian. The time when these two passed the imperial examination was an interval of a cycle of 60 years, and their feudal official careers brought reputation to the Hu family in Longchuan.
Hu Bingheng's Former Residence of Huizhou Merchant
As a National Key Cultural Relic Protection Unit, Hu Bingheng's Former Residence of Huizhou Merchant shows the living scenes and architectural styles of Huizhou merchants, which is of great significance for the study of Huizhou merchant culture.
Hu Zongxian Shaobao Mansion
This attraction is related to Hu Zongxian, showing relevant historical culture and character stories, allowing visitors to understand Hu Zongxian's life and his role in history.
Chengxintang Paper Workshop
Here, you can understand the production process of traditional papermaking technology - Chengxintang paper, and feel the charm of ancient traditional craftsmanship.
Local Cuisine
Jixi Tagu
This is a traditional characteristic food of Jixi, with various types such as Toon Tagu, Pickled Vegetable Tagu, and Sesame Tagu. It is made by wrapping various fillings with dough and baking or frying it. It has a crisp taste and rich fillings, being a favorite home-cooked food of local residents and a must-try for visitors to taste the local flavor.
Hu Shi Yipin Pot
According to legend, it is related to Hu Shi. It is a dish in which various ingredients are stacked in layers and stewed in a pot. It usually includes ingredients such as radish, tofu, pork, egg dumplings, and dried bamboo shoots. With rich ingredients and mellow taste, it reflects the characteristics of Huizhou food culture.
Jixi Stinky Mandarin Fish
Similar to Huizhou stinky mandarin fish, the pickled mandarin fish emits a unique smell, but after cooking, the meat is tender and delicious, being a classic dish in Huizhou cuisine.
Surrounding Specialty Snacks
Around the scenic area, there are also snacks such as Jixi fried vermicelli, which is chewy and stir-fried with shredded meat, green vegetables, etc., full of fragrance; and Jixi glutinous rice wine, which has a mellow taste and low alcohol content, suitable for tasting.
Tickets
The ticket price is 65 yuan per person.
You can search for the official WeChat public account "龙川景区" in WeChat to get the latest updates or purchase tickets online.
Opening Hours
The opening hours are 8:00 - 17:30 every day. The scenic area may be adjusted according to seasons or special circumstances.
Tour Routes
One-day tour route recommendation: Visitor Center - Longchuan Water Street - Yishi Shangshu Archway - Hu's Ancestral Hall - Xiangxian Ancestral Hall - Hu Zongxian Shaobao Mansion - Hu Bingheng's Former Residence of Huizhou Merchant - Huizhou Merchant Memorial Hall - Chengxintang Paper Workshop - Lingshan Temple. The whole tour takes about 5 - 6 hours, allowing you to fully appreciate the main attractions and cultural connotations of the scenic area.
Two-day tour route recommendation: On the first day, Visitor Center - Longchuan Water Street - Yishi Shangshu Archway - Hu's Ancestral Hall - Xiangxian Ancestral Hall, and then taste food around the scenic area and experience local life; on the second day, Hu Zongxian Shaobao Mansion - Hu Bingheng's Former Residence of Huizhou Merchant - Huizhou Merchant Memorial Hall - Chengxintang Paper Workshop - Lingshan Temple, and in the afternoon, you can choose to walk leisurely in the scenic area to feel the peaceful atmosphere of Longchuan. Such an arrangement allows you to enjoy the scenery of the scenic area more calmly and deeply understand the culture of the scenic area.
Transportation
- By air: The airport close to Longchuan Scenic Area is Huangshan Tunxi International Airport, about 110 kilometers away. From the airport, you can take an airport bus to Jixi, and then transfer to a bus to the scenic area or take a taxi, with the whole journey taking about 2 - 3 hours.
- By train: You can take the train to Jixi Station, and after exiting the station, take Bus No. 1 to Longchuan Scenic Area Station, which takes about 30 minutes; you can also choose to take a taxi, which takes about 20 minutes to reach the scenic area, costing about 30 - 40 yuan.
- By self-driving: From Hefei, drive along Wuhe Expressway, Xuantong Expressway, and Lining Expressway, with the whole journey about 300 kilometers, taking about 4 hours to reach; from Hangzhou, drive along Hangrui Expressway and Lining Expressway, with the whole journey about 240 kilometers, taking about 3 hours to reach. The scenic area has a parking lot, and the parking fee standard is 10 yuan/day for small vehicles, 15 yuan/day for medium-sized vehicles, and 20 yuan/day for large vehicles.
- By long-distance bus: There are buses to the scenic area at Jixi Bus Station, with frequent departures, taking about 20 minutes and costing about 5 yuan.
Must-visit Attractions
- Longchuan Hu's Ancestral Hall: National Key Cultural Relic Protection Unit, "Hall of Woodcarving Art", covering an area of 1,729 square meters with a construction area of 1,564 square meters, enjoying exquisite woodcarvings such as the "Four Harmony Diagram".
- Longchuan Water Street: Typical pattern of Huizhou ancient villages with mountains at the back and water in front, where the Dragon Embankment and Phoenix Street reflect unique cultural connotations, with a total length of about 1 kilometer.
- Yishi Shangshu Archway: Stone archway in the flourishing Ming period, a typical representative of Huizhou stone carvings, about 10 meters high and 9 meters wide.
- Xiangxian Ancestral Hall: Local education base, understanding the deeds of Longchuan xiangxian, with a construction area of about 300 square meters.
Tour Tips
- It is recommended to wear comfortable sports shoes because there are many stone roads and steps in the scenic area, which is convenient for walking.
- You can carry some snacks and drinking water. Although there are shops in the scenic area, the prices may be relatively high.
- When visiting attractions such as Hu's Ancestral Hall, you can rent a guide or hire a tour guide to better understand the historical culture behind the attractions. The rental fee for the interpreter is about 20 yuan/time, and the tour guide fee depends on the number of people in the team, generally about 100 yuan for less than 10 people.
- Choose to visit in spring or autumn, when the weather is pleasant and the scenery is very beautiful. In spring, you can enjoy surrounding flowers such as rapeseed flowers, and in autumn, the climate is cool, suitable for walking and sightseeing.
- If you are interested in Huizhou merchant culture and Huizhou architecture, you can arrange two days to visit and deeply experience the culture of the scenic area.
Notes
- Some cultural relics and ancient sites in the scenic area are relatively precious. Please do not touch or carve them, and keep the scenic area environment clean.
- When walking on Longchuan Water Street, pay attention to foot safety. The stone road may be slippery due to moisture and other reasons.
- When taking the transportation in the scenic area, obey the command of the staff and get on and off in order.
- When purchasing special products around the scenic area, pay attention to identifying the quality and price to avoid buying fake and shoddy goods.
- During the tourist peak season, there are many tourists in the scenic area. Pay attention to keeping personal belongings to avoid loss.
- The signal in some areas of the scenic area may be poor. It is recommended to inform family members of your itinerary in advance.