Located approximately 12 kilometers east of Pujiang County in Zhengzhai Town, about a 20-minute drive from Yiwu City, this scenic spot was once a clan village where the Zheng family lived. For over 360 years, from the Southern Song Dynasty to the mid-Ming Dynasty, the Zheng family, spanning fifteen generations, lived and dined together, producing 173 upright and diligent officials and nurturing a rich family culture. The title of this scenic spot is not an exaggeration but a bestowment from Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang of the Ming Dynasty. Today, the village retains many exquisite residential buildings, allowing visitors to explore the Zheng family’s philosophy of governance through the inscriptions on plaques and couplets. Visitors must purchase tickets to visit the main ancient buildings in the village. However, for those not interested in cultural and historical architecture, a simple stroll around the village without entering the scenic spots is free of charge. At the entrance of the village, nine archways are lined up, forming an impressive archway street nearly 500 meters long. The imperial plaque is engraved on the first archway of the group. The Zheng Family Ancestral Hall is located in the core of the village and is the soul of this family. The hall is quite large, and the first hall upon entering is named ‘Shijian’, with a large plaque inscribed with ‘Shijian’ written by Zhou Bowen hanging from the central beam. The wooden stele in the hall is engraved with the ‘Shijian Hall Instructions’, and the ‘Filial Piety Family’ plaque above it is written personally by Zhu Yuanzhang, adding much luster to the place. The wooden steles on both sides of the middle hall record as many as 168 family rules of the Zheng family. Although the regulations are detailed, each sentence is clear and reasonable, allowing one to perceive the orderly and noble demeanor of this family. The orderly hall behind is where descendants receive education, with wax figures displaying scenes of children studying. The Huishanzhong and Tingxun drums under the eaves of the back door corridor were used to coordinate all clan members in the past. Exiting the orderly hall leads to a small courtyard where the ancient cypress trees are said to have been planted by Song Lian himself. In the fifth bedroom, the ancestral tablets of the Zheng family are enshrined. After visiting the Zheng Family Ancestral Hall, there are other scattered historical sites in the village worth seeing, such as Xiaoguan Spring and Dongming Academy. On the south bank of the Bailinxi River, the Changqigong Temple is where the family’s elderly over 60 dine. The Zheng family has a large population and strict family rules, even meals are taken separately, with men dining in the ‘Tongxin Hall’ and women and children in the ‘Anzhen Hall’. Today, the hall recreates the tables, chairs, and dishes of that time, and the ‘Meal Etiquette’ hanging in the hall is a good material for some parents to educate their children. There are still many locals living in the village, and taking a casual walk along the streets to feel the leisurely pace of life in the ancient village is also a good experience. The village is open all year round from 08:00 to 17:00. Preferential policies include: Minors: Under 18 years old (inclusive), free; Elderly: 70 years old (inclusive) and above (with valid ID), free; 60 years old (inclusive) – 69 years old (inclusive), with valid ID, discounted tickets; Students: Over 18 years old, with student ID, discounted tickets; Military personnel: With valid military ID, discounted tickets.
Jiangnan’s Premier Family
Located approximately 12 kilometers east of Pujiang County in Zhengzhai Town, about a 20-minute driv[...]
