Longchuan, also known as Kengkou, is located 11 kilometers east of Jixi County and is a typical Hui-style village with a ship-shaped layout running from north to south. The Hu family has long resided in the village, with their founding ancestor traceable back to Hu Yan, a Dismounted Cavalryman in the Eastern Jin Dynasty, and has produced many outstanding figures throughout the generations. Although Longchuan belongs to Xuancheng, it is far from the city center and closer to Huangshan City, approximately 70 kilometers away, making it more convenient to start from Huangshan City. A small stream runs through the village, with the horse-head walls overlooking the creek, and stone steps extending into the stream where village women still wash clothes in the water, time seems to flow slowly here.
The highlight of the southern part of the village is the Yishi Shangshu Archway, a genuine antique built in the 41st year of the Jiajing era of the Ming Dynasty (1562 AD). Besides the exquisite stone carvings on the archway, the calligraphy by Wen Zhengming, which reads ‘Yishi Shangshu’ and ‘Yishi Gongbao’, is extremely precious. Across the stream from the Yishi Shangshu Archway is the Duchan Archway, built for the Ming Dynasty Deputy Censor-in-chief Hu Zongming. The highlight of the northern part of the village is the Hu Clan Ancestral Hall, which is the essence of the entire village. Originally built during the Song Dynasty, it was extensively renovated during the Jiajing era of the Ming Dynasty by Hu Zongxian, and the wood carvings on the building are very exquisite. The lotus flowers on the doors and windows of the main hall, the deer on the upper doors and windows, and the vases on the doors and windows of the rear chamber are all unique. Upon close inspection, there is a door with a lotus flower hiding a crab beneath it, symbolizing ‘harmony’. Interestingly, next to the Hu Clan Ancestral Hall, there is a Ding Clan Ancestral Hall. It is said that because Longchuan resembles a ship and the character ‘Ding’ resembles an anchor, a ship needs an anchor to dock in the harbor, so a person with the surname Ding was specially invited from another village to settle here. Other attractions in the village include the Lingshan Temple and the Hu Zongxian Shaobao Mansion Memorial Hall. The village is not large, and you can visit all the main attractions in one go. Longxu Mountain, located at the northeastern part of the village, can be climbed, and every April, visitors to Longchuan can enjoy the rapeseed flowers. The Hu Zongxian Shangshu Mansion, just 200 meters from the Longchuan Scenic Area, is not part of the scenic area and requires a separate ticket, but it is well worth a visit. The mansion is extremely grand and vast, with a peak time when seven generations lived under one roof. The mansion is like a labyrinth, with a绣楼 (embroidery tower), a theater, a private school, and a medical clinic all within its walls. The Hu Zongxian family could attend private school, watch operas, and consult doctors without leaving home in the past. Tai Chi Lake Village, located northeast of Longchuan, is another attraction that can be visited together, known for its brick-carved gate towers. Visitors can take a local minibus from Longchuan to get there. Longchuan is well-developed, with shops and agritourism facilities within the village. Visitors can taste local cuisine in the village’s small restaurants, such as the Hu-style Pot, which is an iron pot layered with meat, tofu bags, duck meat, and so on, with more layers being better. The dish is stewed over a gentle fire until tender but not mushy. Bamboo shoots and Jixi ham are also excellent. Vendors sell wooden hammer candies and baked cakes that can be enjoyed while strolling around the village.If you want to buy souvenirs, Longchuan bamboo carving is not bad. There are farmhouses in the village where you can stay overnight. However, there are not many tourists staying in the village. It is also possible to return to Jixi County to stay. Opening hours: Open all year round from 08:00 to 17:20. (Extended on holidays). The business hours of the scenic area are for reference only. The actual business hours on site shall prevail! Preferential policies: Children: Children with a height of 1.2 meters (inclusive) to 1.5 meters (exclusive); or minors under 18 years old can enjoy discounted tickets with their valid identity documents. Children with a height of 1.2 meters (inclusive) or below are free. Seniors: Seniors aged 60 (inclusive) to 64 (inclusive) can enjoy discounted tickets with their valid identity documents. Seniors aged 65 (inclusive) or above are free with their valid identity documents. Students: Full-time undergraduate and below students can enjoy discounted tickets with their valid student ID cards. Military personnel: Active-duty military personnel, disabled military personnel, and military retirees are free with their valid documents. Disabled people: Free with their valid documents. Other people: Members of provincial-level and above photography associations in China are free with their valid documents. National people’s congress representatives, model workers, moral models, heroic models, and Anhui provincial people’s congress representatives are all free with their valid documents. Provincial and ministerial-level and above people’s congress representatives, model workers, moral models, and heroic models can enjoy discounted tickets with their valid documents. Journalists: Journalists can enjoy discounted tickets with their valid documents. People in extreme poverty and those on subsistence allowances can enjoy discounted tickets with their valid documents. Supplementary note: The above information is for reference only. The specific information shall be subject to the disclosure of the scenic area on the same day. Service facilities: Parking lot: [Jixi Longchuan Parking Lot]. Reference price: Charged. Address: Longchuan Scenic Area, Yingzhou Town, Jixi County, Xuancheng City, Anhui Province. Parking spaces: 200.
