Liangcuo Ancient Village at Dusk

August 2024 Arriving at Liangcuo Ancient Village at 5:39 PM, the setting sun flickered behind the clouds, casting a dreamlike hue over the landscape as twilight lingered. Descending the steps and crossing the shallow Liangcuo River, I approached the Yongsheng Liang Clan Ancestral Hall, built in the first year of the Longxing era of the Southern Song Dynasty—over 800 years ago. The pair of exquisitely crafted white elephants flanking the ancestral hall’s gate, each with distinct styles, left a deep impression. Strolling along the stone-paved Yiyan Road, I wandered through the verdant ancient village, passing lush fields, the Chunlun Public Teahouse, Taoyuan Zuodongjing, the classical-style tea house, the Homesick Pavilion, Liangfang Mingjing, the ancestral home of academician Liang Jingkui (Liangcuo No. 143), Yanshan Xiangshe, the World Heritage Forest, the "Soliloquy" sculpture, the "Ask and It Shall Be Given" Gaoyuanshi Temple, the Liangcuo Equestrian Field, and the recreational lawn. Eventually, I reached a thatched-roof pavilion by the shallow river. Standing in its breezy corridor, the gentle wind brought a refreshing coolness, evoking the serene delight of a summer riverside. Continuing along the tranquil village path, six minutes later, I arrived at Shixi Hejia House. Its gates were closed in the gathering dusk, silent yet surrounded by a festive and harmonious atmosphere that caught the eye. Pressing onward as night deepened, I passed the green riverside, a small bridge over flowing water, the "Cowherd’s Spring" sculpture, an ancient well, and the rustic fields. When I crossed the Yongsheng Liang Clan Ancestral Hall again, the village was enveloped in a soft, mysterious quietude. Summoning courage, I walked the deserted stone path, passing the ancient well, Hushan Linshi, the Gaoyuanshi Temple, the Fuzhou Jasmine Tea Intangible Cultural Heritage Workshop, ancient houses with yellow walls and black-tiled roofs, and the architecturally distinctive Sanxi Hall—covering most of the village’s highlights. Turning back, I glimpsed three leisurely white geese on the quiet grass and emerald lotus leaves floating on the river’s surface, slowing my steps as I immersed myself in this peaceful, vivid rural scene. According to records, Liangcuo Village, located in Cangshan District’s Chengmen Town at the confluence of the Min and Wulong Rivers and backed by Yanshan Mountain, is an ancient village steeped in history and culture. Spanning 34.24 hectares with a population of over 2,500, it boasts the millennium-old Longrui Temple from the Tang Dynasty, the "Yiyan Hall" calligraphy by Song Dynasty Confucian scholar Zhu Xi (housed in the Yongsheng Liang Clan Ancestral Hall), and 48 restored historic houses. Since the Song Dynasty, Liangcuo has produced 27 imperial scholars and notable figures, including Qing Dynasty luminaries Liang Zhangju and Liang Mingqian, as well as Liang Shoupan, a founder of China’s missile program and an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Today, it stands as one of Fuzhou’s cultural landmarks. In the poetic twilight, what struck me most was the village’s lush trees, verdant fields, grassy meadows, shallow streams, and the harmonious layout of ancient houses—especially their white walls, black tiles, wooden accents, curved gables, and upturned eaves. These distinctive architectural features vividly embody the charm of Min-style buildings, leaving an indelible impression. Location: Liangcuo Village, Chengmen Town, Cangshan District, Fuzhou