Jiangtouzhou Village at Jiuwu

As the largest and best-preserved collection of ancient buildings in Guangxi Province, Jiangtouzhou Village locates at Jiuwu Town of Lingchuan County, 32 kilometers far from the northern suburb of Guilin and lies in the west bank of Hulong River. Most of the residents in the village are descendants of Zhou Dunyi, a famous writer, philosopher and scholar of neo-Confucianism during the Northern Song (CE 960-1127) Dynasty.

jiutouzhou village

History

Most of the 600-some houses in Jiangtouzhou Village stem from the Ming (CE 1368-1644) and Qing (CE 1644-1911) Dynasties. The 14th generation posterity of Zhou Guo Yi migrates from Daozhou of Hunan Province to here during the reign of Hongzhi in Ming Dynasty. Besides its ancient architectures, Jiangtouzhou Village is also famous as the village of virtuous wits and upright officials, with over 160 successful candidates to the various levels of the imperial exam and more than 200 officials since the Ming and Qing dynasty.

In the Ming and Qing dynasties, there were totally more than 100 scholars, 27 provincial graduates (a successful candidate in the imperial examinations at the provincial level), 8 metropolitan graduates (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations) in Jiangtouzhou Village, including 37 five-grade officials, 14 six-grade officials and 36 seven-grade officials. Some of them were chief officers in the ministry of civil affairs, the ministry of household affairs, the ministry of rites, the ministry of punishment and the ministry of war. It is said that 80% of the residents of this village had been officials. They were in the high position of the government, yet remain honest and upright, which was a miracle.

Ancient Architecture

Jiangtouzhou Village is one of the seven most prized ancient villages of China. Architectural pattern during the Ming and Qing dynasties, covered by the black bricks and gray tiles, wood frame have been well preserved in the village. Long and narrow alleyways twisted and turns among the tranquil houses with exquisite carvings on the woodwork of their gates. Mostly these houses have fenced-in courtyards with large wooden gates, typically with an inscribed plaque over it.

Hectares of fertile farmland in front, three glittering and translucent rivers running as belts around the village, old stone-arched bridge over the rivers, all of these contribute to the tranquil atmosphere and ancient charm of Jiangtouzhou Village.

local people and house

Jiangtouzhou Village's ancient dwellings are now the China national key cultural relics, and being renovated. Some are still inhabited. Each door frame is marked with official ranks, such as “the charge of the governor of the two rivers”, “the general secretary”, “the minister”,  “the local governor”, and some others, showing the glorious past of the families.

When visiting Jiangtouzhou Village, you can not only experience the ancient culture, hisotry, feng shui, but also the beautiful environment. The scenery is intoxicating all year round.

How to Get to Jiangtouzhou Village at Jiuwu

To get there, you can take a bus to Lingchuan County at Guilin north station and transfer to bus for Jiuwu Town, then take a 10 minutes walk there.

More Attractions in Guilin

  • Daxu Ancient Town
  • Ling Canal
  • Mausoleums of Jingjiang Princes
  • Yao Mountain and Tea Farm
  • Longji Rice Terraces