Zhinan Village (指南村), nestled at the foot of Tianmu Mountain in Lin’an, Hangzhou, boasts a history spanning several millennia. Situated at an elevation of nearly 600 meters, it is renowned as one of the most picturesque ancient villages in East China, primarily due to its surrounding 470 acres of terraced fields, making it a paradise for photography enthusiasts.
The village is enveloped by lush forests, with a forest coverage rate exceeding 93%. Behind the village lies over two hundred towering ancient trees, including rare species such as maple, gingko, Chinese fir, and Chinese chestnut, some of which are over 900 years old. During the deep autumn season, the golden gingko and fiery red maple trees paint the landscape, resembling a vivid mountainous oil painting, earning Zhinan Village a reputation as one of the most beautiful autumn destinations in Jiangsu and Zhejiang.
Evidence from the excavation of ancient tombs in the village suggests its existence dates back to over 2000 years ago during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. Apart from ancient tombs, the Mo Family Temple, with a history of over 1200 years, still stands, and the inscriptions of a temple site from over 700 years ago remain. Rare surnames like Qie and Xi have also been passed down through generations. Additionally, the village retains five to six ancient dwellings from the Ming and Qing dynasties. These traditional homes, characterized by pink walls, gray tiles, tall horse-head walls, intricately carved wooden window frames, and meticulously crafted beams and pillars, exemplify the architectural style of the Huizhou region.
The combination of ancient surnames, ponds, trees, ancestral temples, ancient dwellings, temples, and tombs endows Zhinan Village with a unique charm. Visitors can enjoy sightseeing, leisure, and experiencing the joys of rural life in this picturesque setting.
Basic Information
| Estimated Length of Tour | Half a day |
| Ticket Price | Free |
| Opening Hours | 24 hours a day |
Location and Transportation
Zhinan Village is located at the eastern foothills of Tianmu Mountain in Lin’an, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, along the banks of the Nanshao Creek, which is the source of Lake Taihu. Visitors can take bus routes 2721, 2722, or 2725 to the Hengdu Bus Station in Lin’an and then walk approximately 774 meters to reach the village.
Lin’an Zhinan Village offers beautiful scenery and particularly good air quality. There are homestays and coffee bars available, making it a great spot for photography. The rice fields in February are bare and not very picturesque, but I imagine they will be quite beautiful in July, August, September, and October.
Zhinan Village, situated at an altitude of nearly one thousand meters, has a unique charm in winter, presenting a desolate yet laid-back atmosphere.
In late autumn, I hurriedly snapped a few photos in Zhina Village. The fallen leaves on the ground made a satisfying crunching sound underfoot.
On non-weekends, it feels like Ling’an Zhina Village is still too bustling, with various tour buses arriving to catch the last glimpses of autumn.
The rice fields in Zhinan Village are just turning golden, and it’s said that the harvest will take place next week. If you want to visit, you’d better hurry!
On weekends or public holidays, cars are prohibited from driving up the mountain. You can park at the bottom and take the shuttle bus to the top, which costs 20 yuan per person.
There are many guesthouses in Zhinan Village, and it attracts a lot of visitors. The scenery in autumn is absolutely breathtaking, making it one of the most beautiful ancient villages in Jiangnan.
Lin’an Zhinan Village, a summer resort at an altitude of 600 meters!
This summer, I visited Zhinan Village where the ginkgo trees were still green but also filled with ginkgo nuts. It seemed like every household in the village was engaged in agritourism, and the food they made was really delicious! Along the mountain roads, there were many motorcycle riding teams or road cycling enthusiasts. I encountered them several times in the mountain top villages, taking photos with the terraced fields behind them, which made me think they were really cool!