Amazing Village | Here's Zhuxi's 'First'!

Remember nostalgia, retain sentiments, practice the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, and see new changes in the countryside. Recently, Shiyan Smart Cultural Tourism launched a series of articles titled 'A-Level Scenic Area Rural Revitalization Demonstration Villages,' exploring the beautiful countryside scenery, cuisine, and accommodations across Shiyan, taking you into idyllic villages that feel like scenic spots, allowing you to experience the countryside and discover more ways to enjoy rural life, quietly savoring the slow pastoral lifestyle. In this edition, we take you to visit Lianhua Village in Jiangjiayan Town, Zhuxi County. Follow me closely, let's set off together!~

Flowers blanket the fields, green fills the mountains,

Black tiles and white walls surpass the charm of Jiangnan.

At the northwestern border of Hubei, at the foot of the ancient Great Wall,

There lies a village as beautiful as its name—Lianhua Village in Jiangjiayan Town, Zhuxi County.

In recent years, Lianhua Village has focused on original ecological construction, emphasizing the theme of 'pastoral scenery + original ecology + local flavor.' Lianhua Village is located in the northeastern part of Jiangjiayan Town, 25 kilometers from the county seat. The village covers an area of 3,995.22 mu, with 3,797 mu of forestland and a forest coverage rate of over 96%. Come here and breathe in the fresh air freely~

'Lianhua Lake' in Lianhua Village, built along the terrain to create a water ecological landscape, has made the lake's surroundings a comfortable and pleasant place. Villagers and tourists can get close to the water and enjoy the embrace of nature.

'When the wind comes across the pond, ripples spread; beneath the ripples, lotus leaves lie vast. Who spreads a green canopy over the water, shielding the blushing beauties as they sing while picking lotus?' Every summer, hundreds of acres of lotus flowers in the village's Lianhua Lake bloom in competition, attracting visitors from around to admire the elegant scenery.

Combining local characteristics and natural landscapes, Lianhua Village has gradually completed projects such as scenic walking paths, landscape ponds, scenic pavilions, Lianhua Lake, Lianhua Pond, a red rose and crape myrtle viewing area, a four-season osmanthus viewing area, a red-leaf photinia viewing area, special leisure attractions, comprehensive road network renovation, a rural cultural square, and an eco-friendly parking lot, initially forming a village landscape comparable to a 3A-level scenic area.

Today, Lianhua Village, just like its name, is fresh and refined, blooming in the mountainous region at the border of Hubei and Shaanxi, becoming a shining business card of the area.

Every village and its landscape have their own history and stories, and Lianhua Village is no exception. According to legend, there were four famous temples in ancient Zhuxi, and Lianhua Temple was one of them. Lianhua Village was named after this temple.

In ancient times, there was a weir here called Longyan, said to be where a black dragon leaped into the sea. On the path where the black dragon twisted and coiled, there was a large flat area with water flowing in from both sides like embracing arms. To the east of the weir was Longyan River, and to the west was the black dragon's path. Surrounding mountains undulated in dragon and tiger shapes, guarding the area, with waters winding and converging here. In the center of the flatland, there was a muddy lake. In the dead of night, under the moonlight, clear springs could be seen bubbling up. Every sixty years, a lotus flower grew in the lake.

In the second year of Linde of the Tang Dynasty, a wandering monk came here, saw the unique mountain and terrain, laughed heartily, and built a temple named Lianhua. This was the beginning of Lianhua Temple. In the forty-eighth year of Wanli of the Ming Dynasty, springs surged endlessly, and lotus flowers bloomed for many days. The monk Guanyin renamed Lianhua Temple as Lianhua Panlin. In the twenty-ninth year of Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty, the temple was renovated and expanded, and a stele was erected.

Lianhua Temple has long disappeared, and the once-thriving scene of incense smoke and continuous worshippers is no more. Only Lianhua Bridge, not far from the temple, remains isolated at the entrance of Lianhua Village, having witnessed over 700 years of history and the village's vicissitudes.

Today, rural revitalization serves as a masterstroke, continuing to write the current story of Lianhua Village. Leisure tourism has spurred the emergence of rural farm stays like bamboo shoots after rain, injecting new vitality into the village's development. Relying on rare seedlings such as yew, red-leaf photinia, and red crape myrtle, Lianhua Village has also built Zhuxi's first rare plant botanical garden. The seedling base has further helped villagers become prosperous.

In spring, birds sing and flowers bloom; in summer, lotus leaves spread vast; in golden autumn, fruits cover the ground; in winter, wintersweet continues to fragrance.

A beautiful countryside, strong agriculture, and prosperous farmers—the revitalization story of Lianhua Village is unfolding more beautifully...

You don't have to choose between the moon and sixpence;

Lucid waters and lush mountains, along with deep nostalgia, don't have to be an either-or choice either.

......

Photos provided by the village. This article is a public welfare travel promotion. If infringement occurs, please contact for removal. Thank you~

Editor│Xiaofeixian, First Review│He Lei, Final Review│Zhang Wenjing, Wang Yan