Outside of the bustle, some places always keep a low profile and retain much of their original charm. Guyan Painting Town in Lishui is such a place. It is the most magnificent section of Ou River, which extends for 800 miles and where there is a leisurely time with the shadows of sails and the sound of oars. And the painters seen in all corners throughout the year have added a cultural atmosphere to the town.
A Jiangnan water town much more low-key than Xitang and Wuzhen
The river divides the town into two parts. Guyan in its name refers to the village of Yantou on the north bank, and the rest of its name: Painting Town refers to the town of Dagangtou on the south bank. The two face each other on each side of the river and there is no bridge. People commute between them by ferry.
Ou River meanders all the way to the east, sometimes being majestic while sometimes gentle. And 700 miles of it flows through Lishui. It goes through gorges and stops for a while at Dagangtou, where it creates a very open and calm water surface, one of the iconic sights of the town.
Almost each brick and tile here has a background story. Dagangtou Port is the main port in Lishui for external waterway transportation, and it was also from here that the famous Longquan Celadon traveled to the outside world along the Maritime Silk Road.
Tongji Dam, with a history of over 1,500 years, is one of the top five irrigation projects for water conservation in ancient China. It was included in the first batch of the World Heritage Irrigation Project and has been irrigating the fertile land in the plain.
In the long history, the dam has gone through many wars and disputes. However, people of all dynasties and generations have always cherished it, on which they depend for survival, and have maintained it for generations according to its rules.
A beautiful place missed out by most people
Walk along the plank road in the town, and Yantou Village is not far away. The roads of the village are paved with pebbles, and the buildings basically retain the pattern from Qing Dynasty to the early years of the Republic of China. The bricks, the tiles and the horse head walls are continuous, leaving marks of the passing years, big or small.
The village is in the shade of ancient camphor trees. Here you can find the oldest and most spectacular camphor trees in eastern China. After thousands of years of vicissitudes, the thick trunks, the countless branches and the leaves together have built a “green castle”. It is a witness of history and a feng shui tree in the village.
The simple but elegant Wenchang Chamber is hidden among the lush green camphor trees, silent and calm, continuing the glory of the village.
As you go further to Dagangtou, you will notice it is more modern and trendy. This is the origin of Lishui Basong painting school, and is also the favorite spot for the young and chic.
There is also an old riverside street, which is not very long, but you will find it very interesting when you walk on it slowly, and you do not even feel the passage of time.
In the ears are the touting of the street vendors and the laughter of the children running here and there. Look up and your eyes catch a small wooden window with an antique charm, as if you accidentally traveled back to thousands of years ago.
2020 was a very special year. Although we couldn’t travel far, there should be a sense of ritual for the New Year’s Eve. Where to avoid big crowds and enjoy the New Year? Guyan Painting Town, which has prepared a lot of wonderful events for New Year’s Eve, is the answer to the question!