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Welcome to the immortals鈥 home: Xianju
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XIANJU, in Chinese, means “place where the immortals reside.” The name reflects the picturesque scenery and heavenly beauty of this famous county southwest of Shanghai in Zhejiang Province.
Its rural charm and natural vegetation prompted the central government to list it in 2015 as site for a pilot national park construction program.
It has a 7,000-year-old history and is a favorite with photographers and filmmakers.
Its history dating back to the Xiatang relics period includes “tadpole” characters (铦岃毆鏂), one of China’s unsolved mysterious character sets.
Xianju is also home to the Daxing buddhist temple, one of the oldest on the lower reaches of the Yangtze, which still attracts a constant stream of devout believers.
Shanghai Daily took a look at this beautiful county and picked some popular scenic spots. From Shanghai, it is a nice weekend driving trip to tour around and enjoy the sights.
Cangling Ancient Road 鑻嶅箔鍙ら亾
Cangling Ancient Road links Hu Town in Xianju and Hengxi Town in Jinyun County. The road has played a significant role in the region’s social and economic development through history.
Today, this 40-kilometer stretch is popular with hikers for its gorgeous scenery and cultural relics.
During the Tang Dynasty, residents of Zhejiang, Anhui and Jiangxi provinces largely depended on the salt trade.
They transported salt from coastal Huangyan County and then delivered it to the Fantan Fair in Xianju. But with no rivers going further inland for transport, merchants pooled their money to build the Cangling Road, which quickly became a key commercial route in southern Zhejiang.
Stevedores traveled back and forth delivering bags of salt, cotton and porcelain for at least a millennium. Now, hikers like this road because of the scenery.
The section between Canglingkeng Village and Nantian Village is
highly recommended.
Yong’an River 姘稿畨婧
The Yong’an River is famous for its clean, fresh water and its rafting. The temperatures along the river are definitely cooler than the concrete jungle and it’s a popular summer getaway.
Visitors flock to the Yong’an to refresh themselves and cool off in the waters.
The river’s paddling stretch starts from Ximen Village. A complete journey down this slow-moving and winding section of the river takes about 90 minutes.
The river is broad, calm and clear enough to see fish and the riverbed below. Aquatic birds fly overhead or pick their way along the banks. Lush vegetation on either side helps keep the temperature cool and provides a peaceful retreat. There are dark green bamboo forests and hilly landscapes extending for kilometers along the paddling course.
Shenxianju 绁炰粰灞
The area here often shrouded with a swirling mist, which creates a mystical ambience that attracts filmmakers as a setting for movies.
Often called “the garden in the clouds,” Shenxianju is surrounded by hills, serene creeks, raging waterfalls and meandering mountain roads.
Its beauty helped lead to its name, which means home of the celestial spirit.
To develop the county’s agricultural and tourism industries, the local government began organizing an annual sunflower festival several years ago.
Starting from mid-September, the scenic area is covered with vibrant yellow flowers. Photography contests are held during the festival.
Gaoqian and Potan 楂樿縼鍜岀殼婊
Xianju boasts several ancient villages that embody classical Chinese architectural styles. Among them, Gaoqian and Potan villages have some of the best-preserved folk houses.
The two are also more tranquil and less commercialized than those packed with visitors.
Gaoqian could date to the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), when the Wu family prospered, as many of the family became imperial officials.
During the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties, the family erected several homes and mansions in the style of the Forbidden City.
The remaining structures are mainly wood-and-brick with crafted beams and rafters and characterized by sophisticated sculptures reflecting the skills of ancient artisans.
In contrast, the architecture in Potan ranges from the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907) to the Republic of China (1912-1949) and historians consider it the epitome of the changing history and shape of Chinese villages over the centuries.
The cobblestone main street winds like a dragon and is flanked by an ancient academy, traditional shops, an antique theater, a centuries-old river wharf, ancient temples and a historic casino.
The village is located at the intersection of five rivers, which long made it a transportation hub. It remains a living museum with its well-preserved architecture, despite a gentle decline in modern times.
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