Xianju, Taizhou, is a seriously underrated and off-the-beaten-path ancient town

Visiting the Fairy Residence and staying nearby, I stumbled upon a place called Positan Ancient Town. This place has rarely preserved ancient buildings from the 'Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing' dynasties and is also known as 'one of the most completely preserved ancient cultural relics in Zhejiang.' 【Positan Ancient Town】 📍Address: About 25 kilometers west of Xianju County, Taizhou 🚘Distance: About 10 minutes' drive from the Fairy Residence This place has a unique confluence of five streams, and the winding ancient streets are said by locals to be 'dragon'-shaped, also known as 'the first ancient street in Zhejiang.' Most importantly, it has hardly been commercialized, without the noisy hawking and the same old snacks, still maintaining its original appearance! Throughout the ancient town, you can see many people sketching. If you like painting, you can come here for a quiet sit. Main attractions: Chen Family Ancestral Hall, Hu Gong Temple, He Family Academy Compared to the bustling crowds of other ancient towns, this place is particularly quiet. Walking through the ancient town buildings, it seems easier to touch the memories of old times. Xianju bayberries are currently in season, and on the way to the ancient town, there are many villagers' orchards where you can try them.

Po Tan Ancient Town

Po Tan Town is located about 25 kilometers west of Xianju County. Po Tan is the unique confluence point of Yong'an Creek, where five streams, namely Zhu Mu Creek, Wan Zhu Creek, Jiu Du Keng Creek, You Huang Yu Keng, and Dian Hui into Yong'an Creek, hence Po Tan has the scenery of 'observing the reflections of five moons at night'. Po Tan is also a junction of water and land transportation, with water routes along Ling River and Yong'an Creek converging at Po Tan, and the ancient Cangling Trail leading to western Zhejiang starting from here. This advantageous geographical position, connecting the southeast coast with the inland of western Zhejiang, made it a famous commercial port in the ancient mountainous areas of southeastern Zhejiang and an important transfer dock on the ancient salt route. As early as before 998 AD, this place became a bustling market town along Yong'an Creek due to the convenience of water transportation. After a thousand years of changes and accumulation, Po Tan still preserves the three Huali long, cobblestone-paved 'dragon'-shaped ancient street. Along the street, there are ancient residences from the Tang, Song, Ming, Qing dynasties, and the Republic of China, the majestic and beautifully laid out 'Three Passages and Nine Gates Hall', the Tongjiang Academy where Zhu Xi once sent his son to study, and the needle-pricked boneless lantern that won the gold award at the China Art Exhibition and the fourth International Exposition. The profound historical and cultural heritage can make you appreciate the connotation of a thousand years of culture. The ancient street resembles a dragon, with the dragon's head to the west, the dragon's tail to the east, and the middle section curved into the dragon's body. Facing the dragon's head is the confluence point of the five streams. Whether this is a coincidence or the ancient totem worship 'fabricated' by the ancients is still subject to verification. At the location of the dragon's tail, there still stands a rare brick-carved archway in the country, 3.5 meters high and 8 meters wide, with a set of exquisite and lifelike patterns of dragons, phoenixes, qilins, cranes, deer, flowers, and figures carved on the surface of the bricks. During the prosperous mid-Qing Dynasty, Po Tan Ancient Town was quite large in scale. The main street was 'dragon'-shaped, paved with cobblestones, curving gracefully, and stretching for 2 kilometers. The street was lined with stone slab counters: in addition to 'Shui Bu Tou', there were five other 'Bu Tou' within the town: Wuyi Bu, Dongyang Bu, Jinyun Bu, Yongkang Bu, and Gong Bu. The ancient town area concentrated a large number of ancient Ming and Qing architectural complexes, rich and diverse, including old shops, ancient residences, academies, and temples. Since the early Republic of China, due to changes in transportation conditions and natural and man-made disasters, Po Tan Ancient Street gradually declined, especially after the railway was opened, which caused Po Tan's salt road to lose its original function, and Po Tan's market scene was no longer glorious, but the main buildings and structures were well preserved. Po Tan Ancient Town

The Boneless Embroidery Lantern

The Boneless Embroidery Lantern is one of the varieties of decorative lanterns, with the ones from Xianju being particularly famous. Originating from the Tang Dynasty, the Xianju Boneless Embroidery Lantern combines painting, embroidery, paper-cutting, and architectural art. It features a unique shape, a strong sense of space, rich changes in elevation, and a delicate and vivid structure, making it a masterpiece of traditional female red craftsmanship. In 2000, Xianju County was named 'The Hometown of Chinese Folk Art' by the Ministry of Culture due to the Boneless Embroidery Lantern, and in June 2006, it was listed in the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage protection by the State Council. In May 2018, Xianju lantern works were selected for the global launch of 'One Hundred Chinese Intangible Cultural Heritage Masters on World Stamps,' and the Xianju lantern works have been exhibited around the world, enjoying a reputation both at home and abroad, and are known as 'China's Number One Lantern'. During the Kaiyuan era of the Tang Dynasty, a scholar from Potan Village got lost in the mountains at night and was guided by a fairy with a 'divine lantern.' This lantern was boneless, exquisitely made, small and exquisite, and simple and elegant. After returning home, the scholar meticulously replicated the lantern and hung it at his door, where it was adored and praised by all, and the craft of making lanterns was thus passed down. Later, the fairy transformed into a village woman and married the scholar, accompanying him every night to recite poetry and books. When the scholar became the top scholar, the Boneless Embroidery Lantern was revered by the locals as the 'Top Scholar's Lantern,' and every household hung this lantern at their door. Every year, Xianju would present ten pairs of lanterns to Emperor Li Shimin, symbolizing 'perfection.' The top scholar's wife, Shangu, also passed on the crafting technique to the villagers of Potan Village, and since then, the craft of making this divine lantern has been passed down among the people of Xianju. The craft of the Xianju lantern is quite complex, with a detailed process that includes 20 steps, many of which require repetition, so they are summarized into thirteen main steps. (1) Designing (2) Glue preparation (3) Lantern paper making (4) Paper ironing (5) Pattern cutting (6) Binding (7) Flower carving (8) Copying (9) Embroidery (10) Erecting the lantern (11) Making the orchid head (12) Assembly (13) Decoration The needles used are also very particular, with more than a dozen different types available for use. The smallest embroidery needle is only one centimeter long, slightly thicker than a strand of hair, and can float on water, hence called 'water floater.' The patterns created with this needle are especially effective, allowing light to shine through the lantern walls and needle holes, creating a light that is both soft and bright, serving both practical and ornamental purposes. The embroidery process is labor-intensive and time-consuming, with about 50 punctures per square centimeter on each lantern wall, and each lantern requires at least three to four workers, and sometimes even hundreds.

You definitely can't miss the glassy water of Xianju this summer

Nestled among the verdant mountains in the eastern part of China, there lies a place whose very name is enough to stir endless imagination—Xianju. Here, the mountains and rivers are picturesque, and the ancient village charm remains, as if it's a pure land specially reserved for dreamers by the world itself. 🏞️【Must-Visit Attractions】🏞️ 1. Shenxianju - As the iconic landscape of Xianju, Shenxianju is known for its peculiar peaks, secluded valleys, and cascading waterfalls. Walking on the cloud-wrapped plank roads, every turn is a beautiful landscape painting. Remember to climb to the 'South Heaven Bridge', where you can enjoy the best view of the sunrise over the sea of clouds. 2. Potan Ancient Town - Stepping into this thousand-year-old town is like traveling back to the Song and Ming dynasties. The ancient town retains well-preserved old streets and Ming and Qing dynasty buildings, with each bluestone slab recording the vicissitudes of history. Don't miss the folk performances and local snacks of the ancient town to experience the simple life. 3. Yong'an Creek Rafting - Want to experience leisurely contentment? Yong'an Creek Rafting is the perfect choice. Sitting on a bamboo raft, drifting with the waves, the scenery on both sides is picturesque, enjoying a quietness away from the hustle and bustle. 📍【Detailed Address】📍 •Shenxianju: Baita Town, Xianju County, Taizhou City, Zhejiang Province •Potan Ancient Town: Potan Township, Xianju County, Taizhou City, Zhejiang Province •Yong'an Creek Rafting: Ximen Village, Bulu Township, Xianju County, Taizhou City, Zhejiang Province 🚗【Transportation Tips】🚗 •Getting to Xianju: The most convenient way is to depart from Taizhou Luqiao Airport, take a coach or rent a car directly to Xianju County, about a 1.5-hour drive. •Internal Transportation: In Xianju County, you can rent electric cars or bicycles to tour the surrounding attractions. It is recommended to drive or take a local tour bus between Shenxianju and Potan Ancient Town. 🍜【Food Recommendations】🍜 •Xianju Bayberry - How can you not taste this ruby-like delicacy when in Xianju? June is the season when bayberries ripen, they are sour, sweet, and juicy. •Eight Big Bowls - A traditional banquet cuisine of Xianju, including Shenxian Chicken, Yong'an Creek Fish, etc., each dish is an authentic mountain delicacy not to be missed. 🏞️【Recommended Nearby Attractions】🏞️ •Jingxing Rock - Located in the western part of Xianju, known for its steep mountains and unique sunrise over the sea of clouds, it is a paradise for photography enthusiasts. •Dan Bamboo Leisure Valley - A natural oxygen bar hidden in the deep mountains, suitable for hiking adventures, enjoying the pure air and the tranquility of the primeval forest. 🌟 Xianju is not just a place name; it is a feast of nature, culture, and cuisine. Here, every breath is a purification of the soul, and every step is a peaceful stride in a world without strife. Take this travel note with you on your journey to Xianju, let your soul be truly released and elevated in this earthly paradise.

Zhejiang's Hidden Gem: The Millennium-Old PaoTang Ancient Town

🚗 It takes over four hours to drive from Shanghai to Taizhou, and the first stop we visited is PaoTang Ancient Town, known as the first ancient street in Zhejiang. 🧩 PaoTang Ancient Town is one of the most completely preserved ancient cultural sites in Zhejiang. The local ancient architectural complex is authentic and of great historical, cultural, and scientific artistic value, like a living miracle. 🧩 Walking on the goose-soft stone paths of the ancient town, the view is very serene and desolate. There are no residents or shops in the town, with only a few elderly people squatting under the eaves by the road, selling local specialties like bamboo shoots. 🧩 The ancient town is not large, with the main street shaped like a dragon and 2 kilometers long. We walked from the dragon's head to the tail without having to retrace our steps, taking photos and checking in along the way. We saw brothels, ancient stages, gambling houses, banks, ancestral halls, and many other historical sites, stopping and going, spending more than an hour. 🧩 The architectural style of the ancient town is diverse and well-arranged. You can admire various exquisite wood carvings, brick carvings, and stone carvings that are very much of their time. 🧩 The ancient town's needle-pricked boneless lantern exhibition is very interesting, a millennium-old unique skill of the town. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the needle-pricked boneless lantern was extremely popular. People at that time regarded it as a treasure, revered it as a deity, and even carved lanterns on the beams and columns of houses for good luck. 🧩 In ancient times, PaoTang was an important salt transfer port, and the town preserves more than 260 old shops, witnessing the history of PaoTang. 🧩 PaoTang Ancient Town has a profound sense of history. When visiting Taizhou, one must see this unique place that has been forged over a thousand years, harmonious in its essence, and rich in natural treasures. 🌿 Name: PaoTang Ancient Town 📍 Address: Shangjie Village, Xianju County, Taizhou City, Zhejiang Province 🚇 Transportation: 768m from PanTang Bus Station, about a 9-minute walk 🅿️ Parking: Free parking along the outer road 🎫 Ticket: Free

Explore the thousand-year-old ancient town of Baotan in Xianju County, Taizhou

This is the dreamy ancient town you've been imagining, simple and quiet with few tourists, and not overdeveloped. "The dragon dances through nine bends in Baotan, people come with the creek's sound to the small hall," the ancient street is lined with a large number of residential houses, shops, inns, theaters, pawnshops, academies, and temples from the Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, Qing dynasties, and the Republic of China era. The ancient town still preserves a three-Huali-long cobblestone-paved "dragon" shaped ancient street. The sleeping dragon lies in the wild, with tranquility and awe coexisting. Here you can find the poetic and picturesque scenery of small bridges over flowing water, the pure nature of ancient villages and towns you seek, and the quaint and vicissitudinous atmosphere of the ancient town that soothes the floating and sinking heart of the mundane world. 【Attraction Information】 Address: Baotan Town Scenic Area, Baotan Township, Xianju County, Taizhou City Ticket: 35 yuan, 20 yuan for seniors aged 60-70

There is a hidden paradise in Taizhou, Zhejiang called Baotan Ancient Town

There is a hidden paradise in Taizhou, Zhejiang called Baotan Ancient Town. ❤Recommended Reason: ✨When traveling to Taizhou, Zhejiang for the New Year, besides exploring the beautiful scenery of the Fairy Residence, there is an ancient town that seems like a paradise on earth: Baotan Ancient Town, which is worth a visit. 🌟Highlights: ➡️Founded during the Tang Dynasty and flourishing in the Ming and Qing Dynasties, Baotan Ancient Town was a transfer point for the water and land salt routes in the southeast in ancient times. Today, to enter the ancient town, one must pass through winding green paths, and by the Moon Reflection Lake, which is said to be the confluence of five streams and also the best place to enjoy the moon in the ancient street. 🍃Passing by the Moon Reflection Lake, there is a long pavilion and a connecting corridor. Turning left, you will truly enter the ancient streets of the town. Unlike other roads, the streets of the ancient town are paved with cobblestones, smooth and shiny, and it is surprising that the pavement has been preserved so well after a thousand years. 👣Entering the ancient street, you can see the ancient buildings from the Ming and Qing Dynasties on both sides of the street: there is the Chen Family Ancestral Hall, built during the Qing Dynasty, which was the main site for the cultural dissemination of the Chen clan. The layout of the ancestral hall is exquisite and majestic, a vivid portrayal of the glorious history of the Chen clan; there is also the Hu Gong Temple, Hu Gong was an official with integrity and significant achievements for nearly fifty years. During the Southern Song Dynasty, Baotan built the Hu Gong Temple, which was renovated during the Ming Dynasty and has been preserved to this day. In ancient times, Baotan was a bustling and literary port, as can be seen from the stone counters, tea houses, ancestral halls, jewelry offices, pawnshops, opera stages, and old brand signs still present in the ancient town. As time swiftly passes, a thousand years of history have settled, making the ancient charm of this place even more profound. ✅Must Experience: 😊Come here with friends to play, and in the ancient street, not only are there rows of vendors selling local specialties, but if you go further, you can also experience the intangible cultural heritage of Baotan: the boneless needle-punched lantern, also known as the 'Fairy Residence Lantern' or 'Boneless Needle-Punched Lantern.' The feature of this lantern is that it is made entirely of paper without any metal framework. Each step requires a high level of skill and care, and the final product is not only gorgeous in appearance but also rich in symbolic meaning and auspicious connotations! ✳️【Address】: Baotan Ancient Town, Baotan Township, Xianju County, Taizhou City, Zhejiang

Pótān Ancient Town, a thousand years of history, the 'dragon'-shaped ancient street winds

🌤Pótān Ancient Town is located to the west of Xianju. The ancient town is now quiet, tranquil, and less commercial. But a thousand years ago, it was bustling. The Lingjiang and Yong'an streams converge here, and the Cangling Ancient Road from Zhejiang East to Zhejiang West also starts here. The convenient waterway and superior geographical location made Pótān prosperous in business and developed in salt transportation. It can be said that Pótān, which occupies the right time, place, and people, was the most prosperous market town along the Yong'an stream. 🌿It was already afternoon when we arrived at Pótān Ancient Town. Before entering the ancient town, you have to pass through a small road covered by trees. The plants in Zhejiang East are lush and vigorous, and they do not wither in winter, and the leaves are green and shiny. 📌The main attractions in Pótān are the buildings and ancestral halls. The 'dragon'-shaped ancient street paved with cobblestones is the symbol here; and the commercial ports, ancestral halls, and residences on both sides of the ancient street are neatly arranged, with buildings from the Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, and Republic of China periods. Walking along the ancient street, there are deep alleys extending outwards, which is the vein of the ancient town, paving a street into a net; at the end of the 'dragon'-shaped ancient street, there is an ancestral hall, in front of which stands a rare brick carving arch in China, with clearly visible carvings of fairy deer, magpies, kirin, and scholars waving fans, which are very well preserved. 🏮Pótān boneless flower lanterns, also known as 'Tang lanterns', are intangible cultural heritage. The lanterns are small and classical in shape, without a skeleton, and the pinholes are scattered all over the lantern. When lit with a candle at night, the whole body glows brightly, very oriental. It is not difficult to imagine that the prosperity, romance, and enjoyment of the Tang Dynasty arrived here along the waterway and were presented in the form of lanterns. The ancient town has a small lantern museum where you can see boneless lanterns for free. 📌Pótān Ancient Town 🎫Ticket: 35 (currently the ancient town ticket is free, until June 30, 2024, you can rush) 📍Coordinates: : Zhejiang Province, Taizhou City, Xianju County Pótān Ancient Town

Pota Ancient Town is not big, but those houses preserved from the Ming and Qing Dynasties in the town are very worth visiting! When you come here, you must walk on the cobblestone-paved

Pota Ancient Town is not big, but those houses preserved from the Ming and Qing Dynasties in the town are very worth visiting! When you come here, you must walk on the 'dragon'-shaped ancient street paved with cobblestones, which is quite rare. Now there are very few people living on the main street of the ancient town, and there is no commercial atmosphere. During the prosperous mid-Qing Dynasty, Pota Ancient Town was quite large, the main street was 'dragon'-shaped, paved with cobblestones, curved and well-made, up to 2 kilometers long, and the street was full of stone slab counters: In addition to the 'Shuibutou', there are five 'Butou' distributed in the town: Wuyi Butou, Dongyang Butou, Jinyun Butou, Yongkang Butou and Gong Butou. Looking through the materials, it is known that since the early Republic of China, due to changes in transportation conditions and natural and man-made disasters, the ancient street of Pota gradually declined, especially the opening of the railway, which made the Pota Salt Road lose its original function, and the Pota market is no longer glorious, but the main buildings and structures are still intact. There are very few tourists visiting the ancient town, which is very quiet. Only a few viewing points are open. According to the route instructions, it takes more than an hour to walk the whole journey.

Tongjiang Academy & Potan Ancient Town

You really missed out this National Day if you didn't know about these two free attractions in Xianju! . The scenic area, in order to welcome the ongoing Asian Games, has launched a year-long free tour event, from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024, exempting the entrance tickets to the attractions of Xianju Potan Ancient Town and Tongjiang Academy. . Tongjiang Academy, the first academy in the south of the Yangtze River. This was once the place where Zhu Xi, a Neo-Confucian scholar of the Southern Song Dynasty, lectured. The elegant and warm atmosphere of the scrolls seems to come to your face. The academy introduces the history of Tongjiang Academy and the imperial history culture of Xianju. . Potan Ancient Town, where you can experience a leisurely and contented slow life. Here is the most complete preservation of the 'Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing' five dynasties architecture, it was the 'Pearl of the Salt Road' when Zhejiang salt entered Jiangxi in ancient times. Dragon-shaped ancient street, Changmen Hall, He's Limen Hall, Chunhua Courtyard, Yingyue Lake, etc... Walking on the cobblestone path, looking at these ancient houses, as if telling the prosperity of the past.

The travel guide to Xianju Po Beach Ancient Town is here!

🎉The travel guide to Xianju Po Beach Ancient Town is here!✨ 🌄Recommended travel days: half a day 💰Budget: According to personal needs, it is recommended to reserve 500 RMB 🏰Check-in place: 1️⃣Po Beach Ancient Town: Feel the historical charm of the ancient town for thousands of years, strolling on the antique streets, as if traveling through ancient times. 2️⃣Chen's Ancestral Hall: Feel the historical and cultural heritage of ancient architecture 🍲Food recommendation: 1️⃣Local seafood: fresh and delicious, rich in variety. 2️⃣Special snacks: such as chicken oil rice, glutinous rice dumplings, etc., unique taste, endless aftertaste. 🚋Traffic recommendation: 1️⃣Self-driving: Convenient for visiting various attractions and freely arranging the itinerary. 2️⃣Public transportation: Take local buses or tourist buses, economical and affordable. 🏨Accommodation recommendation: Local homestay: Close to nature and enjoy the quiet rural life. 2️⃣Local homestay: Close to nature and enjoy the quiet rural life. 🌳Surrounding play: 1️⃣Xianju National Forest Park: Get close to nature and experience the fun of hiking. 2️⃣Shenxianju Scenic Area: Watch the spectacular waterfalls, canyons and other natural landscapes.

I found another low-key ancient town in Zhejiang

On this trip to Zhejiang, I went to explore a place where immortals live, which is located in Xianju's . Under the fairyland scenery of Shenxianju, I also found some off-the-beaten-path places worth exploring, such as the I am sharing with you today, which is a charming town worth a special trip. Potan Ancient Town is only a 20-minute drive from Shenxianju Scenic Area and only 25 minutes to Xianju County. As a place where water and land meet, its superior geographical location and the important transfer dock of the ancient salt road have made Potan a famous commercial port in ancient times. Under the prosperous economy, we have seen many wealthy mansions today. The history of Potan Ancient Town is very long, dating back to 998 AD. Despite the vicissitudes of a thousand years, it still preserves the "dragon"-shaped ancient street paved with three Huali's long cobblestones. The buildings on the street span the Tang, Song, Ming, Qing, and Republic of China. The architectural art of each era is gathered together, which is very characteristic, especially the magnificent and beautifully laid out "Three Transparent Nine Door Hall", which can let you experience the connotation of a thousand years of culture. There is also a "Chen Clan Ancestral Hall" in the ancient town. This three-entry courtyard built in the Qing Dynasty was once the main dissemination place of Chen Clan culture. The ancestral hall consists of a gate hall, a patio, a main hall (main hall), and two wings. The layout is exquisite and magnificent. The thick and tall stone pillars in the five-open main hall are embroidered with couplets and deputies. The text is elegant, the content is rich, the connotation is profound, and the calligraphy style is vigorous and steady. It is a vivid portrayal of the glorious history of the Chen Clan. As the prestigious family of Potan Ancient Town, the Chen family has produced generations of people, and its influence can be said to be very great. Another building not to be missed is . This is a memorial hall to commemorate the famous minister Hu Ze of the Song Dynasty (commonly known as Hu Gong). The various inscriptions and inscriptions inside all reflect the cultural connotation of this place. In addition to architecture, Potan Ancient Town also has rich local food and folk culture, such as glutinous rice cakes, green tofu, soy sauce chrysanthemum brain, wheat cakes, etc., as well as various celebrations such as carp jumping over the dragon gate, rolling ground dragon, bench dragon, July 7 Niangniang Meeting, etc. Overall, the town is not big but very exquisite, with high playability and no admission fee. Don't miss this good place when you come to Shenxianju. 📍Detailed address: Potan Town, West of Xianju County, Taizhou, Zhejiang 🚗Traffic strategy: Direct bus from Xianju County Bus Station 🕙Opening hours: Open 24 hours 💰Ticket price: None, free open scenic area 🌟Highlights: Rich folk culture, exquisite historical buildings, and a thousand-year heritage

The ancient town of Yutan is the transit point of the water and land in the southeastern ancient salt road. The ancient town is actually not big or even dilapidated. The town is a house that was preserved during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. It can also see ancient theaters, brothels, gambling houses, money houses, etc. . This is what is very worth seeing in the village is the Chen's ancestral hall, where the ancestral tablets are enshrined in the ancestral hall, which is not visible in other towns. There are not many people in the ancient town of Jiangnan, but there is a literary and ancient atmosphere everywhere. This can be called the ancient town, and the ancient towns of the so-called "Aventure" can be mentioned.