Wuyuan. A Collection of China NO.17

Author: Zhan Dan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-01-01
Features: Wuyuan is an ancient county in Jiangxi Province with a long history. Historically, it was under the jurisdiction of Anhui. It was one of the six counties under the ancient Huizhou prefecture. It is the hometown of the famous Southern Song Dynasty philosopher Zhu Xi and the father of Chinese railways, Zhan Tianyou. "A lifetime of obsession, no dreams of Huizhou." "Huizhou" is a word that is increasingly mentioned. Some say it is the home of traditional Chinese culture. The remote mountainous area of Wuyuan has fortunately preserved all the charm of ancient Huizhou.
Here, the customs are pure and simple, and the literary tradition is flourishing. Scattered throughout the county are well-preserved ancient buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties, as well as pastoral-style landscapes and scenery. It's like an unfinished watercolor painting, or like Monet's impressionism, with beautiful scenes scattered everywhere that could make film roll.
Wuyuan is known for its beautiful mountains and clear waters, with lush pines and bamboos. The ancient residential buildings with upturned eaves wind through the green mountains and clear waters, either nestled among ancient trees and green forests or reflected in the clear streams and pools. They blend harmoniously with the terraced fields and swirling mist, creating a poetic and picturesque scene. The scenery changes with the seasons, especially in spring and autumn, when the rhododendrons and maple leaves cover the mountains like clusters of flames competing for attention. Being immersed in such scenery fills you with a sense of exhilaration and makes you reluctant to leave. Wuyuan is renowned for its natural beauty, fertile land, abundant produce, and outstanding people. It has long been celebrated as a "land of books," with many famous figures. "One family with nine scholars and six ministers in the six ministries" demonstrates its flourishing literary tradition.
The county is crisscrossed with dense, clear rivers, streams, and mountain gullies, complementing the strange rocks, peaks, ancient trees, tea pavilions, and arched bridges. They combine grandeur and elegance with delicate beauty. Famous attractions include the Dazhang Mountain and Lingyandong Scenic Area in the northwest, the Zhiling and Shier Mountain in the northeast, the Fushan in the middle, and the Dayoushan in the west, which have been tourist destinations since the Tang and Song dynasties. Su Dongpo, Huang Tingjian, Zongze, Yue Fei, and Zhu Xi left behind many poems praising their hometown. "A half-acre pond, a clear mirror opens, the light of the sky and the shadows of the clouds linger together. How can the water be so clear? Because it has a source of living water." This is a poem by the famous Southern Song Dynasty philosopher Zhu Xi praising his hometown Wuyuan. "Two rivers embrace a bright mirror, double bridges fall like rainbows," the Rainbow Bridge, a famous ancient bridge from the Song Dynasty named after a Tang Dynasty poem, is a representative of Wuyuan's arched bridges. Surrounded by green mountains, the clear water flows under the bridge, with pavilions and stone tables and benches on both sides. Here, you can enjoy tea and chess or admire the scenery, feeling a sense of worldly tranquility and leisure.
About 30 kilometers southwest of the county seat is Wengong Mountain, where 24 ancient cedars were planted by Zhu Xi when he returned to his hometown to pay respects to his ancestors (symbolizing the 24 filial virtues). Over 800 years old, they are still thriving, and the size of the ancient cedars is rare in China.
The beautiful environment of Yuanyang Lake is home to pairs of mandarin ducks, blooming like flowers in the lake, inseparable. Wuyuan is rich in produce, including the famous "Wu Green" tea, considered one of the finest green teas in China. The delicious "lotus pouch red fish" is hailed as "heavenly on earth." The "Dragon Tail Inkstone" (Shexuan) is one of China's four famous inkstones. Wuyuan is known as "China's most beautiful rural area." The natural landscape, composed of mountains, water, bamboo, stones, trees, bridges, pavilions, gullies, beaches, caves, waterfalls, ferry crossings, and ancient residential buildings, creates a paradise-like atmosphere, like an endless landscape painting, forming a unique and beautiful rural scenic area that gives people a sense of returning to nature and transcending the ordinary. For those who have grown weary of urban noise and for artists who love travel, art, and photography, visiting Wuyuan or gathering creative inspiration is undoubtedly a beautiful experience and a wise choice.