Laosiyan Village of Hongshilin Town, Guzhang County, Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, located by the Youshui River, was established during Emperor Shunzhi’s reign of the Qing Dynasty. With rich historical and cultural heritage, and a well-preserved ancient architectural complex, it is one of the first national-level traditional villages. It witnessed the 800-year history of the Tusi Kingdom as its important forward military position.
The variety show “Where Are We Going, Dad?” Season 4 brought Laosiyan into the public eye, showcasing the traditional styles and unique charm of the ancient village.
There is the Fubo Temple at the village, with a brand new statue of General Fubo rebuilt by villagers with self-raised funds. It is said that General Ma Yuan of the Eastern Han Dynasty, also known as General Fubo, led his soldiers here at the age of 63 to conquer “Wuximan” (ethnic minority groups) and was revered as the “River God” of the Youshui River. Out of admiration for General Fubo and hoping that his spirit of loyalty and patriotism can continue to be passed down, the villagers built this temple and named it Fubo Temple.
After leaving the Fubo Temple and walking down the path, you will come to the ancient well. It is a scenic spot that combines natural and cultural landscapes, with spring water drawn from the mountains. Even in times of drought, this well has never dried up and has become the source of life for generations of villagers.
Walking up the path, you will arrive at the ancient city wall, which was built in the seventh year during Emperor Yongzheng’s reign of the Qing Dynasty. The bricks of the wall were all transported to the wharf by ship from Changde, and carried here on shoulder from the wharf. It took 30 stonemasons three years to build the ancient wall, with a construction cost as high as that of the prosperous village at that time.
Pushing the tightly closed door open, you step into a quadrangle courtyard which was bustling with people in the past. Each wooden door in the courtyard is adorned with hand-carved auspicious window decorations of different patterns, including plum blossoms, orchids, bamboo, chrysanthemums, dragons, and phoenixes.
With the rise of short videos and the implementation of the rural revitalization strategy, Laosiyan has been known by more and more people. “We come here following the signs on the road. The village is very beautiful, and these ancient buildings are well-preserved. You can soak up their profound historical heritage,” said a tourist from Wuhan.
After tourism developed in the village, villager Xiang Haixia opened the first restaurant in Laosiyan this year. The local chickens, eggs, and smoked cured meat are highly favored by tourists. “The development of the village has brought us great changes. With more tourists, our income has increased. The facilities in the village have also improved, bringing us great convenience,” said Xiang Haixia.
Laosiyan has regained vitality through the integration of culture and tourism, with better infrastructure and beautiful living environment, attracting more tourists. In the future, Hongshilin Town will increase efforts to protect traditional villages, promote the deep integration of culture and tourism, and further explore cultural connotations and tourism resources.
Chinese source: hunantoday
