Most Beautiful Ancient Villages in Shandong, Like 'Shangri-La', Face Criticism Over High Ticket Prices
Yinan County, located in LinYi City, Shandong Province, is a historic county town. Zhuge Liang, a famous military strategist, was born here. The county boasts numerous historical and cultural sites, earning it the reputation of 'Jinru Dunhuang'. Due to its location in the Yi'Mong Mountains, Yinan has beautiful scenery of mountains and rivers, and is home to a large number of ancient villages, one of which is renowned as 'China's Top 10 Most Beautiful Villages.'
It is 'Ziquan Village', located in the Copper Well Town of Yinan County, approximately 20 minutes' drive from Yinan County. Ziquan Village is the first systematically developed ancient village tourist area in Shandong Province, and it is a national 4A tourist scenic area. However, it seems few people know about it.
To visit Ziquan Village, you need to purchase a ticket for 80 yuan per person. Although Ziquan Village has beautiful scenery, some tourists have complained online that the ticket price is expensive and the scenery is mediocre, lacking cultural significance.
Ziquan Village is a historic ancient village with a history of over 400 years. In the late Ming Dynasty, the brother of a provincial governor of Henan, Gao Mingheng, migrated here and lived in seclusion. As the village developed over the centuries, the settlement gradually formed. Today, most of the villagers are primarily surnamed Gao.
The geographical location of Ziquan Village, surrounded by mountains on three sides and a river, along with tens of thousands of acres of fertile land, made it a desirable place. Because there is a spring in the village, and numerous bamboo plants grow around the spring, the village was named Ziquan Village. Nowadays, villages like Ziquan Village with bamboo and clear springs are rare, and it is a beautiful place to live, a veritable 'Shangri-La'.
Walking on the stone paths of the village, especially when there is morning mist rising, you feel like you have stepped into 'Peach Blossom Source'. Generally, ancient villages in the north are mainly characterized by their rugged and profound atmosphere, while Ziquan Village has a rare Jiangnan water town style, picturesque beauty. In 2014, it was named 'China's Top 10 Most Beautiful Villages', and in 2016 it was listed in the 'China Traditional Village Registry'.
Most of the villagers' houses are built with stone, called 'stone houses'. Each house has bamboo groves in front of the door and flowing water, exhibiting the characteristics of a Jiangnan water town. However, because few people know about it, there are not many tourists, making the ancient village even more quiet.
To let tourists experience the life of a northern ancient village, some of the villagers' houses have been renovated into living quarters. Tourists can stay for one or two nights here and enjoy a 'Shangri-La' experience. The courtyards are mostly in their original state, with wells, grinding wheels, and farming tools—all representative objects of northern rural life. Even a small field has been opened up in the courtyard.
There is also a bamboo weaving workshop here. The villagers use bamboo to make their daily necessities, such as brooms, baskets, and sieves. Tourists can learn to weave bamboo and experience the fun of hand-woven handicrafts.
In Ziquan Village, if springs are the lifeblood of Ziquan Village, then bamboo is the soul of Ziquan Village. Here, bamboo can be seen everywhere, adding beauty and charm to the village. Not only do literati love bamboo, but the people of Ziquan Village have a special love for bamboo. Do you know about or have you been to this 'Shangri-La' version of an ancient village in Yinan, Shandong? What are your impressions? Welcome to leave a comment.
