Shanggantang Village

file photo from Hunan Daily 

Shanggantang Village, with a history of more than 1,000 years, is located at 25 kilometers southwest of Jiangyong and houses more than 400 families. Most of the villagers are from the family Zhou. Until now, there still remains more than 200 resident houses and a number of other historical relics built in the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties.

The Wenchang Pavilion built in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) in Shanggantang Village (file photo from Hunan Daily)

The Wenchang Pavilion built in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and the Shanggantang Museum bulit several years ago in Shanggantang Village of Jiangyong County

Shanggantang Village is a picturesque village with antique and quaint architectures. Entering into the village, you will feel as if you were in a land of idyllic beauty. The clansmen of the Zhou families began to settle in Shanggantang Village in the Song Dynasty, and they have been there from generation to generation until today. Shanggantang Village can be ranked as the oldest village discovered in Hunan Province.

In the village, more than 200 ancient dwellings of the Ming and Qing dynasties are well preserved, and there are also a large number of ancient buildings of the Ming and Qing dynasties, such as Wechang Pavilion, Bu Ying Bridge and stone fences. The village, with the history of one thousand of years, still survives, and its name and location never changes. According to archaeological experts, Shanggantang Village can be regarded as a miracle, due to its completely preserved characteristics, including architectures, commerce, academy of classical learning and religions.

In the south of Shanggan Village, there is an ancient stone bridge named Bu Ying Bridge, dating back to the Song Dynasty. It is 27 meters long and 4.5 meters wide, looking exquisite, after the renovation in the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties. Bu Ying Bridge is the only ancient bridge from the Song Dynasty that has been discovered in Hunan Province.

More about a trip to Shanggantang Village