Located in Wuyuan County, Jiangxi Province, Likeng Village (李坑村) is a picturesque and historically rich village renowned for its traditional architecture and serene landscapes. It is one of the closest scenic spots to Wuyuan’s county seat, making it an accessible destination for visitors interested in exploring the region’s cultural heritage.
Likeng Village, predominantly inhabited by the Li family, is known for its peaceful and harmonious atmosphere, reminiscent of the famous architectural beauty of Wuzhen, combined with the unique rock formations of Rabbit Ear Ridge. This blend of natural and human-made beauty creates a tranquil setting that enchants visitors. Historically, Likeng has been a center of culture and intellectual achievement. From the Song to the Qing Dynasties, the village produced numerous scholars and officials, including a notable military champion, Li Zhicheng, from the Southern Song Dynasty. The village is celebrated for its scholarly contributions, with 29 notable literary works left behind by its scholars.
The village is nestled amidst rolling hills and is characterized by its clear waters and lush landscapes. The architecture features a rich array of Ming and Qing Dynasty buildings, with traditional residences and courtyards constructed along the creek and hillside. The village’s layout, with its white-washed walls and grey-tiled roofs, reflects the classic aesthetic of rural Jiangxi. The narrow streets and winding paths are lined with cobblestone pavements, and numerous stone, wood, and brick bridges connect the two sides of the village, enhancing its charm.
A unique cultural tradition of Likeng is its Mid-Autumn Festival dragon dance, which is held a few days before the festival. This event is a community celebration where the villagers hope for a prosperous year ahead. The dance begins at the entrance of the village with an elder holding a round dragon pearl, followed by several men carrying a paper dragon lantern. The dragon lantern, illuminated by red candles, winds its way through the village in a dramatic performance that resembles a mythical dragon. Fireworks are set off at each household, with the duration of the fireworks symbolizing the duration of the dragon’s dance at that home, signifying good fortune and peace for the coming year. The dragon dance typically continues until the early hours of the morning, creating a festive and vibrant atmosphere throughout the village.
Basic Information
| Estimated Length of Tour | 1 – 2 hours |
| Ticket Price | 55 RMB |
| Opening Hours | 7.30 – 19.30 |
| Telephone Number | 0086-0793-7370058 0086-0793-7410999 |
Location and Transportation
Likeng Village is located in Qiukou Town, Wuyuan County, Shangrao City, Jiangxi Province. It is a picturesque destination known for its traditional architecture and serene landscapes. To get there, you can choose one of the following ways:
By Bus: From Wuyuan North Bus Station (北站), which is approximately 6 kilometers from the high-speed rail station, you can catch a bus to Likeng Village. Buses to Likeng are marked with the relevant destination on the front, making it easy to identify.
By Taxi: Likeng Village is about 13.4 kilometers from the high-speed rail station. A taxi ride to the village takes approximately 16 minutes, providing a convenient and direct route.
Upon entering the scenic area, there are bamboo rafts available for rent at 60 yuan per raft. I asked the boatman how long it would take to walk, and he replied it would be about 20 minutes. However, we chose to take the bamboo raft and found out that walking would have only taken 3 to 5 minutes!
Likeng is not very big; you can walk along the small river in the village and finish your visit in about an hour. After checking tickets at the visitor center, there is a battery-powered car that makes the round trip for 10 yuan, but it’s unnecessary to take it since you can easily reach the entrance of Likeng village in just a few minutes on foot. The village is also quite commercialized, with many shops selling camphor wood products.
Huangling and Likeng Village are on the same line and not far apart from each other. Likeng Village is a small ancient town; you can complete a stroll down its ancient street in just a short while. There are local residents living there, as well as an art training center where many students were practicing their painting. When I visited, there was a promotion for free admission to Shangrao on the day I took the high-speed train, so I spent… Read more »
From Huangling in Wuyuan, we took a Didi to Likeng Village for 25 yuan. We needed to buy tickets to enter the village, which was 55 yuan per person. The guesthouse we booked was in the village, and the owner was very enthusiastic, picking us up from the ticket office at the village entrance. Likeng Village is quite small; we managed to stroll through it in just twenty minutes. The residential houses in the village are built along the stream,… Read more »