An ancient village in Ningde, Fujian: For 800 years, locals have not eaten carp, treating it as divine, and burying it in a fish tomb after death

Puyuan Village in Zhouning County, Ningde City, Fujian Province, was originally a little-known small village, but it has attracted countless tourists to stop and admire because of the 'Carp Stream' and the unique 'carp protection culture' there.

The Carp Stream is less than 2 kilometers from the county seat. It was once rated as 'Fujian's Most Beautiful Village' and has a history of over 800 years. In 2008, it was included in the Guinness World Records as the oldest carp stream with 'three world uniques' (fish tomb, fish burial, and fish eulogy). Entering the village in autumn, the roadside is filled with the fragrance of osmanthus flowers, making people feel relaxed and happy.

On the easternmost side of Puyuan Village are hundreds of acres of lotus flowers. On the hillside beside them, green bamboos stand tall in the wind, echoing the lotus pond, making the whole village appear dignified, elegant, and quaint, highlighting the refined beauty of a southern water town.

There are several pavilions in the lotus pond where you can get close to the lotus flowers. It's a pity that we went a little late, leaving only a few lonely lotus flowers. One can imagine how beautiful the Carp Stream would be in summer when the lotus flowers bloom, with miles of lotus flowers and clear water stretching to the sky!

At the entrance of Puyuan Village, there is a pond with an ancient bridge spanning it. In the center, there are various fish sculptures, a 'Carp Fairy' statue, fish-viewing pavilions, and waterside bridges, quite reminiscent of Jiangnan charm.

There is a legend about the origin of the Carp Stream's name. It is said that Zheng Gong, an official of the Southern Song dynasty, moved to Puyuan Village in Zhouning to escape war. To prevent the water source from being poisoned, the Zheng ancestors raised carp in the stream and established rules strictly prohibiting fishing and harming them. According to locals, there was a case of a villager stealing a carp, and according to the clan rules, stealing one carp required a pig as penalty. From then on, no more harm to the fish occurred. The villagers strictly followed the clan rules, passed down through generations, and the carp became the guardian deity in the villagers' hearts.

The most special thing is that locals not only do not eat carp but regard them as sacred. When a carp dies, it is sent to the fish tomb for burial. The 'fish tomb' is located under a pair of thousand-year-old ancient camphor trees by the Carp Stream. When a carp dies, it is taken to the fish tomb at the village entrance, where incense is lit, wine is sprinkled, three bows and nine kowtows are performed, a fish eulogy is recited, and then the fish is placed into the fish tomb. It is said that tens of thousands of carp have been buried there, but no fishy or unpleasant smell can be detected around, which is quite miraculous.

In the Carp Stream, which is over 500 meters long and only a few meters wide, thousands of carp swim leisurely. For 800 years, the villagers have strictly adhered to the clan rules, passed down through generations, forming this beautiful Carp Stream and the unique human landscape of humans and fish enjoying together.

A murmuring stream, in the pond you can see groups of colorful carp swimming freely, showing an 'owner's attitude'. 'They come at the sound of people and gather at the sight of human figures.' Even if you touch them with your hand, they are not afraid at all. If you sprinkle some food into the water, a group of carp will quickly gather to compete for it.

The entire ancient village follows the winding stream. The old street by the stream still retains the charm of the old days: blue stone slabs, wooden houses, ancient earthen walls and yellowed wooden doors, red lanterns hanging on the old houses, a bit old-fashioned, but showing a beautiful picture of harmony and integration between humans and fish, the unique 'human-fish' culture.

Most of the houses in the village are old wooden houses, with many houses over a hundred years old, some even three or four hundred years old, but they are still clean and sturdy, and almost every house is occupied by people.

Groups of carp in the water chase each other, occasionally leaping out of the water. Walking on the bluestone path by the Carp Stream, you can still see various dam structures of different heights, constructions, and sizes. The purpose of these dams is to prevent the carp from being swept away during floods. This shows how the Zheng family tried every means to love and protect the fish back then.

In the village, there are also attractions such as the Zheng Clan Ancestral Hall, Guanyin Covered Bridge, Guanyin Pavilion, and Wenchang Pavilion to visit.

When you come to the Carp Stream, you must visit the 'founding father' of the Carp Stream, the Zheng Clan Ancestral Hall. The facade of the hall looks ordinary, but inside it is a different world, with two skylights to adjust the light transition naturally. It houses cultural relics such as lacquered couplets and plaques. The four walls of the hall are lined with numerous Zheng ancestors' tablets, old and new, all hand-carved. It is said that some are several hundred years old!

Tips: The ticket for the Carp Stream is 35 yuan. There are almost no restaurants in the village, so you can bring some dry food. In addition, you can enjoy a light show at the Carp Stream at night. In autumn and winter, one show per night at 19:00; during the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holidays (October 1-8), two shows per night at 19:00 and 20:00!