Fuyang has a long history and profound culture. Thousands of years of civilization and more than 2,000 years of county history have left it with a large amount of intangible cultural heritage.
Known as the “Hometown of Paper” for long, Fuyang played an important role in the history of papermaking in China. According to records, the history of Fuyang bamboo paper can be traced back to the Eastern Jin, Northern and Southern dynasties. And the fine yellow and white paper used for lawsuits produced in Tang Dynasty represented the best quality of paper. Fuyang bamboo paper was already famous all through the nation in Song Dynasty. Yuanshu paper made from young bamboo pulp was regarded as the best paper then because of its excellent production, fine quality, smooth surface, white color and not being easily moth-eaten.
Fuyang is also the hometown of Sun Quan, the Great Emperor of Eastern Wu, and modern writer Yu Dafu. The unique and picturesque Fuchun River meanders through the city, making it a beautiful city with both mountains and rivers, and it is a place with typical Jiangnan garden culture and a great destination for leisure travel and vacation. And there is a saying which goes that Fuchun was and is top recommended among all the beautiful landscapes in the world in the past and now.”
Itinerary
Day 1
1st Stop: Dazhang Village, Changlu Town 常绿镇大章村
This tranquil and elegant small village has rich tourism resources.
It is home to the towering papier-mâché lantern (纸糊高照) which has a history of more than 300 years. It consists of the main lantern and many smaller lanterns. The main lantern in the middle is made of 32 movable lanterns of the same size installed between two 12-meter-long pillars. The outer frame of the lanterns are made of gauze and decorated with colorful paper cuts and paintings. And there are in total 56 smaller lanterns hanging on both sides the two pillars. At the top of the main lantern is a flower basket made of paper. When the lantern is not erected, the small lanterns hang down and the whole lantern looks like a swimming dragon. And when it is erected, the lantern, as high as a four-storey building, stands imposingly like a beacon.
You will also experience Changlu “paper umbrella” making techniques in the village. It is actually a lantern but named so because it looks like an umbrella when it is unfolded. Known as the best “paper umbrella,” it is an exquisite handicraft created by Zhang Yongnian, a skillful craftsman of Republican China, who spent all his life in making “paper umbrellas.” He carved fishes, insects, flowers, grasses, birds, animals and people vividly on rice paper. When it is unfolded and the candle inside is lit, it becomes a galloping-horse lantern and is quite beautiful.
The dragon lantern parade in the village is led firstly by flags, gongs, umbrellas and old style firearms, and then by lion and horse shaped lanterns. Its length could range from tens to hundreds of meters. The dragon lantern is connected by many lanterns placed on wooden planks, which together assemble a dragon. It looks very majestic from a distance and up close, the dragon head is beautifully crafted, and the lanterns look very vivid and exquisite. When the dragon lantern dances at night and the candles in it are lit, the whole dragon is glowing dazzlingly. Led by a dragon pearl, the dragon lantern moves in circles and shows multiple poses. It is a grand and imposing spectacle to see and a rare treasure of art.
2nd Stop: Longmen Ancient Town 龙门古镇
It is home to Sun Quan, the Great Emperor of Eastern Wu. Situated on the south bank of the beautiful Fuchun River, Longmen features a scenic environment and rich cultural heritage. The large-scale ancient architectural complex dating back to Ming and Qing dynasties is well preserved. Its layout is very complicated and like a maze to tourists, with interconnected halls and crisscrossed alleys.
You will watch the bamboo horse (war horse of Eastern Wu) performance. Local people often perform it to celebrate the Chinese New Year and pray for good luck. The performers will make up their faces according to the face masks of the Three Kingdoms period, get dressed in Peking Opera costumes and chase and attack each other as per the sound of gongs and drums. It is also known as “war horse” because the performance mainly focuses on the fighting scenes of the Three Kingdoms. It is interesting and very popular among people.
And Longmen Kuixing dance should not be missed as well. It is a traditional performance that prevails in Longmen of Fuyang and its surrounding areas and is often put on during traditional festivals. Kuixing is a puppet dressed like a young girl, and the body is supported by a wooden stick, and the limbs are connected by threads. The dancer holds the wooden stick and pulls the threads to make it dance.
When you are in Longmen, you should try Longmen Gluten, a popular snack that is sold almost everywhere in the town.
It looks rather ordinary but it differs a lot from normal gluten in the taste, materials used and making techniques involved. And with the unique flavor of Jiangnan inside and the heritance of thousands of years of history and culture, it has become a signature snack of the town. It is a pity if you do not eat it when you are there.
Day 2
1st Stop: Yongan Mountain Paragliding Base 永安山滑翔伞基地
You will enjoy soaring in the blue sky, admire the beautiful landscapes gifted by Mother Nature and overlook the picturesque scene depicted in the famous painting “Dwelling in Fuchun Mountains.”
2nd Stop: Chang’an Root Carving Park 常安根雕园
It is a place to learn about the art of root carving. You will see the works of masters to feel the charm of root carving art, and learn about its history of development, different schools and creation process. You will also watch the masters demonstrate and introduce how they work in the experience area, and try processing the semi-finished works.
3rd Stop: Dragon Scale Dam, Huyuan Town 湖源乡龙鳞坝
It is very famous on the internet. The top of the dam is paved with pebble stones. Water pours down the layered dam and creates sprays that look like white flowers. Seen from the air, the dam is like dragon scales.
4th Stop: Xin’er Bamboo Paper Park 新二竹纸制作园区
You will learn about the making techniques of bamboo paper and its history of more than 1000 years here. You will also get to know the bamboo paper culture of Fuyang. Have the fun of copying and drying paper, experience woodblock printing and feel the charm of Fuyang as the hometown of paper.