Jiangwan Scenic Area (江湾景区) is located in Wuyuan County, Jiangxi Province. Established in the late Sui Dynasty and early Tang Dynasty, the area was originally settled by families with surnames Teng, Ye, Bao, and Dai around the bend of the Jiangwan River, initially called “Yunwan.” In the second year of the Yuanfeng era (1079) of the Northern Song Dynasty, Jiang Wan’s eighth-generation ancestor, Jiang Di, moved to Jiangwan. His descendants gradually formed a large clan, and the settlement was later renamed Jiangwan.
The architectural layout of Jiangwan is distinctive, featuring a street and six alleys that intersect in a grand design. Viewed from the back of Longshan Mountain, these alleys form a massive character for “安 (Safety and Peace),” a sight that leaves visitors in awe.
Jiangwan is a well-preserved ancient village rich in Huizhou cultural heritage. The village is home to several historical sites and buildings, including the San Sheng Hall, Dun Chong Hall, Pei Xin Hall, and the Teng Family Residence, all showcasing traditional Huizhou architecture. Notable attractions also include the Xiaojiang Clan Ancestral Hall, Jiang Yong Memorial Hall, Nan Guan Pavilion, and the Beidou Seven Stars Well.
To showcase Wuyuan’s cultural features, Jiangwan Scenic Area has newly built attractions such as the Hundred Crafts Workshop, Drum and Wind Hall, and Commune Canteen. These additions allow visitors to experience traditional craftsmanship, enjoy performances of Huiju Opera and Wuyuan folk songs, and gain insight into the historical and cultural richness of the area.
Table of Contents
- Basic Information
- Location and Transportation
- Historical Architectures in Jiangwan
- Festivals and Performances in Jiangwan
- Vlog about Jiangwan Scenic Area
- Other Attractions in Wuyuan
Basic Information
Estimated Length of Tour | 2 hours |
Ticket Price | 60 RMB |
Opening Hours | 7.30 – 18.30 |
Telephone Number | 0086-0793-7293246 0086-0793-7410999 |
Location and Transportation
Jiangwan Scenic Area is located in the northeastern part of Wuyuan County, Shangrao City, Jiangxi Province. It is approximately 28 kilometers from Wuyuan County’s central area, 96 kilometers from the renowned Huangshan Scenic Area, and just 1 kilometer from the Jingwuhuang Expressway entrance.
To reach Jiangwan, buses typically start running from Wuyuan at around 7:30 AM. Buses depart frequently from the Wuyuan High-Speed Railway Station exit and from across Hua Du Hotel. The journey takes approximately 40 minutes.
Historical Architectures in Jiangwan
Xiaojiang Clan Ancestral Hall
The Xiaojiang Clan Ancestral Hall, also known as the Yongsi Ancestral Hall, is located in Zhan Keng Village, Jiangwan Town, Wuyuan County, about 32 kilometers from Wuyuan County and 2 kilometers from Jiangwan. It was originally built in the sixth year of the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty (1587) but was destroyed during the Taiping Rebellion. Rebuilt in 1924 (the 13th year of the Republic of China), it was again demolished during the Cultural Revolution. Once hailed as the “best ancestral hall among the seventy famous ancestral halls in Jiangnan,” it is considered the foremost of Wuyuan’s four ancient buildings. In September 2003, the hall was rebuilt for the third time. Covering an area of 2,400 square meters, it features a grand architectural style with four main sections: the front courtyard, front hall, central hall, and rear hall.
The front courtyard is a spacious garden with a semi-circular lotus pond enclosed by bluestone railings, home to various fish species like red carp, grass carp, and military fish. The front hall features architectural elements such as the Five Phoenix Pavilion, Nine Ridge Roof, Noon Gate, and Moon Tower, with intricately carved beams and rafters, vivid scenes, and lifelike forms. The central hall is characterized by its large beams, drum-style stone bases, and distinctive stone steps, railings, and platforms. The rear hall, elevated above the front hall, houses a pavilion for placing ancestral tablets.
Jiang Yong Memorial Hall
The Jiang Yong Memorial Hall is located at No. 58, Beimen Street, Jiangwan Town, Wuyuan County. It opened to the public in May 2002. The museum is divided into four sections: the central hall, the guest hall (also known as the Reception Hall), the Nongwan Study, and the front hall. These sections display Jiang Yong’s life achievements, major works, and accomplishments through various showcases, plaques, and exhibits. It is the first historical and cultural celebrity memorial hall established by a township in Jiangxi Province.
To commemorate Jiang Yong, a renowned scholar from Jiangwan, the Jiangwan Town Government invested heavily to acquire a traditional Huizhou-style residence with a private school, known as Deqing Hall. This building, dating from the same period as Jiang Yong’s former residence, consists of two identical adjacent houses, which are actually part of a single household. The courtyard in front is separated by a wall and paved with green pebbles arranged in patterns. The front doors of the two houses are adorned with ancient brick carvings, while the interior features finely crafted wooden carvings in the windows and eaves.
San Xing Hall
San Xing Hall is located in Jiangwan Scenic Area, Yunwan Road, Jiangwan Town, Wuyuan County, Shangrao City, Jiangxi Province. It was the ancestral home of Jiang Qian (1876–1946), an educator and Buddhist scholar from the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic period. The name of the hall is derived from the Confucian classic The Analects, meaning “to examine oneself thrice daily,” and symbolizes the moral cultivation of descendants. Jiang Qian, also known as Yi Yuan and Yangfu Scholar, was a notable educator and Buddhist scholar who founded the Tongzhou Normal School in Nantong, later served as the principal of Nanjing Higher Normal School, and as the Director of Education in Jiangsu Province. His achievements were recognized by Sun Yat-sen, who awarded him the Third-Class Jiahe Medal.
Big Dipper Well
The Big Dipper Well exemplifies the highest principles of Chinese Feng Shui, embodying the concept of “Heaven, Earth, and Humanity in Harmony.” Located south of the well is the Pear Orchard River, which forms a Tai Chi “S” shape. During the early Northern Song Dynasty, He Lingtong, a national teacher of the Southern Tang dynasty, was exiled to Jiangwan and became close friends with Jiang Wencai, the sixth ancestor of the Xiaojiang clan. He guided the Xiaojiang clan to relocate from Zhan Keng to the Feng Shui ideal location of Yunwan (now Jiangwan). Following his guidance, the ancestors of the Xiaojiang clan utilized the principles of Feng Shui to transform the water system, architectural layout, street patterns, and mountain orientations in Jiangwan. The Big Dipper Well, located in the village, is a prime example of Feng Shui application by the national teacher.
Festivals and Performances in Jiangwan
Jiangwan (Wuyuan) Tofu Racks
The Jiangwan Tofu Racks are a product of agricultural culture, originally used by local residents for exorcising evil spirits, warding off epidemics, and seeking blessings for favorable weather and a bountiful harvest. Over time, this practice evolved into a traditional festival display to create a festive atmosphere. During major celebrations, villagers spontaneously organize and create various Tofu Racks, parading through streets and villages. This practice has developed into a custom where a mobile three-dimensional stage, representing a “tofu rack,” is decorated with colorful silk and fabric. Children aged seven to twelve dress up as characters from dramas, with their costumes styled according to the conventions of Kunqu, Huiju, or Peking Opera. These child actors do not perform or sing but are accompanied by banners, colorful lights, drum music, and dragon dances.
Wuyuan Nuo Dance
Wuyuan Nuo Dance, commonly known as Ghost Dance, is a type of Nuo dance from Jiangxi Province. Originating in the Tang Dynasty, it flourished during the Song and Yuan Dynasties and reached its peak in the early Ming Dynasty. The Nuo dance, originally featuring over sixty programs, includes performances for welcoming gods and expelling ghosts, such as “Chasing Wang” and “Building the Rack.” It also features mythological stories like “The Sun Shoots the Moon,” “Hou Yi Shoots the Sun,” “Journey to the West,” “Pangu,” and “Harmony.” Historical legends include “The Prime Minister Controls the Soldiers,” “Guan Gong Sharpens His Knife,” “Zhang Fei Worships the Spear,” “Six Road Lords,” and “Meng Jiangnu.” Animal mimicry performances include “Dancing Crane,” “Two Monkeys Catching Lice,” and “Single Monkey Fetching Water.” The dance also includes martial arts routines like “Double Sticks,” “Fighting Sticks,” and “Dancing Ghosts.” The artistic style retains an ancient, rugged, simple, exaggerated, vivid, and expressive quality.
Wuyuan Board Dragon Lantern
The Wuyuan Board Dragon Lantern, also known as the Board Bridge Lantern, is a large, mobile ornamental lantern. With a long history and various forms, it is found throughout the county’s major towns and rural villages. During the Spring Festival, there is a customary dragon dance with lanterns. The Board Dragon Lantern is composed of four parts: the dragon’s head, body, tail, and the lantern frame. The length of the dragon varies; shorter ones consist of fifty to sixty boards, while longer ones can exceed one hundred boards, reaching approximately 200 meters. Accompanying the dragon lantern are other decorative lanterns such as the head banner, canopy lantern, parasol, lion ball play, Journey to the West scenes, revolving lanterns, and fish lanterns. The dragon lantern originated in the Tang Dynasty and flourished during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. In Wuyuan, traditional practices involve lighting the lanterns starting from the 13th day of the Lunar New Year, celebrating the Lantern Festival on the 15th, and rounding off the festivities on the 18th.