Chen Zhihua: Research on Nankxing River Vernacular Architecture: Research and Protection of Nankxing River Vernacular Architecture

Author: Zhao Shujing
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-01-01
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Nanxi River is located within Yongjia County, Zhejiang Province, bordering the Yandang Mountain Scenic Area to the east, 23 kilometers south of Wenzhou City, connecting Xiandu to the west, and neighboring Xianju to the north. It is a renowned national-level scenic area.
The Nanxi River National Key Scenic Area covers a total area of 625 square kilometers and is divided into seven major scenic zones: Nanxi River and Riverside Rural Culture (also known as Yantou Scenic Zone), Dayuo Rock, Shizhi Rock, Shuizhi, Beikeng, Dumen, and Sihai Mountain, with over 800 scenic spots in total. The meandering 300 kilometers of Nanxi River blends natural landscapes with cultural attractions, renowned for its clear waters, unique rocks, numerous waterfalls, ancient villages, and beautiful sandbars. It is the only national-level scenic area in China that excels in pastoral and mountainous scenery.
The 300 kilometers of Nanxi River wind and twist, earning it the name "36 Bends and 72 Sandbars." Flowing through Yongjia from north to south, the river basin covers an area of 2,429 square kilometers, with its waters eventually merging into the Ou River and flowing into the East China Sea.
Nanxi River is beautiful in its primitive simplicity and natural charm; it is also beautiful in its purity and gentleness, free from pollution. Tests show that its silt content is only one ten-thousandth of a gram per cubic meter, with neutral pH of 7, meeting national Class 1 water standards. Experts have praised it as the "Heavenly Water." The river is clear and lush, with reflections of the scenery in the water, fish and pebbles visible at the bottom. During the day, taking a boat or raft on the river offers a panoramic view of rolling green mountains, dense sandbars, and the deep blue water, immersing visitors in the beauty of the river and mountains, leaving them refreshed and forgetting worldly worries. At night, the river comes alive with the flickering lights of fishing boats, the songs of fishermen, the gentle breeze, and the gurgling water, perfect for expressing quiet emotions. Resting in the sandbar forests, with tree branches overhead and lush grass below, the scenery is serene and poetic, ideal for heartfelt conversations.
The upper reaches of Nanxi River feature deep, pristine streams and emerald pools, visible everywhere. In the high, rocky areas, waterfalls cascade gracefully. The Baizhang Waterfall, Luoyang Waterfall, Yaxia Waterfall, ShimenNine Waterfalls, and Beikeng Longtan Three-Bend Waterfall each showcase unique beauty, appearing as if the Milky Way has fallen from the heavens when viewed from afar, while up close, the powerful flow is awe-inspiring...
Nanxi River is dotted with extraordinary cliffs and peaks, such as the towering Taiping Rock with its sheer cliffs, the deep, emerald Triangular Rock, the natural bonsai-like Shizhi Rock, the 90-meter Tall Peak facing the sky like a tortoise, the riverbed's Pillar Rock, and the 12 peaks piercing the clouds. These formations, along with the Nanxia, are true works of nature, perfect for sunny or rainy days, singing or composing poetry, drinking or writing verses... Every corner is inviting, enchanting, and captivating. These cliffs and peaks are often home to hidden caves, each exuding tranquility and wonder. There is even a folk song that goes: "Nanxi has many mountains and ridges, peaks and rocks beyond count; every cave claims to be a fairy's abode, yet where are the fairies to be found?"
With its unique charm, Nanxi River preserves cultural relics from the Neolithic Age, ancient towers, bridges, pavilions, archways, and battlefields from the Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. It also retains ancient villages built with the "Seven Stars and Eight Poles" and "Four Treasures of the Study" concepts, as well as Yin-Yang and Feng-Shui designs. The river holds numerous complete genealogies and clan records, offering a glimpse into ancient Chinese "agricultural-literary" and "clan-based" societies.
"Kind people love mountains, wise people enjoy water." Humans have always cherished nature. From the 1,600-year-old poet Xie Lingyun of the Southern Dynasties, the pioneer of Chinese landscape poetry ("Seeking the secluded in the morning, I set sail across the vast..."), to the renowned modern writer Wang Zengqi ("I can confidently declare to the world: Nanxi River is truly beautiful."), the landscapes of Yongjia have inspired countless scholars and literati. From Wang Xizhi, the Jin Dynasty calligrapher, to Meng Haoran, the Tang Dynasty poet, and Su Dongpo, the Song Dynasty literary giant, generations of writers have admired and celebrated Nanxi River as "water like a green silk belt, mountains like jade hairpins," with its scenery always bright and charming, whether in clear weather or rain. The enchanting mountains, rivers, villages, and customs of Nanxi River will continue to attract more domestic and international tourists to visit and admire.