According to the local people, Hong Bridge is a bridge which promises blessings to people. It was said that it took over an hour to cross the bridge on foot when it used to be crowded with travelers.
An elderly woman is enjoying the sunshine.Beside her are Zhuxuan Wanzi (a local food made of pig's blood, and bean curd, etc.) laid out to dry.
The main stucture of the residence is a two-story wood and brick structure, comprising 148 rooms in total which are symmetrically arranged. It was said that Yinagjiatang Residence was constructed with ten rows of rooms in the shape of ten crosses with a common verticval line. It is said that the building location was perfectly selected according to ancient China's theory of Fengshui, that is, an ideal house should border upon waters and be backed by mountains.
There are four corridors along the four sides of the courtyard, 44 patios, 156 columns, a stage in the front, and an altar at the back, above which hangs a big board with an inscription ''Yingjiatang'' on it.
Stone inscription on the gate of the hall
The best preserved wood windows carved with patterns in Yingjiatang Residence.
The houses were built by the five brothers of the Shen family. According to the Shen's genealogy records, the money spent on the construction of the Residence was earned little by little in the business of rice.
Like other villages, most of the residents are elderly people and children (while most of the young people migrated to the urban area as rural workers)
It did not take us long to get to Hengyang City from Shaodong. Geographically, Hengyang is of great importance since it connects the north and the south. It has been the center of exchange of goods from Southern China. In Hengdong county alone, there are three ancient business towns, namely, Wuji, Yanglin and Caoshi.
When we got to Wuji town it happened to be a rainy day. Hengdong County town and the ancient Wuji town each stands by the both river banks respectively of the Mishui River.
The old man Yin Qiulian ran a barber's shop in the town, just opposite a house which used to sell calligraphy and paintings. He has been in this trade there serving for his patrons for 51 years.
Outside the shop is a deserted long narrow street. What can be clearly identified on the walls and wood hurdles carved with patterns is a line of slogan written in the early period of the People's Republic of China, which reads ''Strive ahead on the broad socialist road under the leadership of Chairman Mao.''
The ancient Town of Yanglin
An arch shaped like 7 built in the Qing Dynasty
Caoshi town is located at the foot of Lingshan Mountain where the Mishui River and the Yongle River converges.
Far into the serene street, an old woman was clearing the ears for an older man.
