Zihu Village

Zihu Village is located in Zihu Town at the northern foot of Sanqingshan UGGp. It was named among the second batch of Provincial Traditional Villages of Jiangxi Province in 2021, and is an ancient village with a long history and profound cultural heritage. The village has more than 400 households, with major surnames including Lin, Wang, Zhang, Chen and Wu, among which the Lin clan accounts for over half of the population.

Most villagers are descendants of migrants who moved inland from coastal Quanzhou, Fujian, more than 360 years ago (around the 1660s, during the Shunzhi reign of the Qing Dynasty) due to the "Evacuation Edict". As early as 1560, the Shao clan moved from Jinsha Township of Sanqingshan to Qinshan in Zihu Village, becoming the earliest inhabitants here. Over centuries of reproduction and development, villagers have maintained strong clan values. They have not only completely preserved the Quanzhou-accented Southern Min dialect, but also integrated genealogy, family instructions, living customs and architectural styles from southern Fujian into daily life, gradually forming the distinctive Zihu Southern Min culture.

Ancient buildings are scattered throughout the village, integrating Southern Fujian style and Jiangxi craftsmanship, including distinctive structures such as the Lin Ancestral Hall, Shao Ancestral Hall, old and new residences, and Dafudi (Official’s Residence). Most buildings feature gable roofs with simple, smooth lines and an unpretentious grandeur. Among them, the Shao Ancestral Hall (built in the Ming Dynasty, the only existing Ming Dynasty dwelling in Yushan County) and the Lin Ancestral Hall (built in 1764, the 29th year of the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty) are both listed as Cultural Heritages Protection Units of Yushan County.

In terms of culture and folklore, Zihu Village is home to Lin’s Martial Lantern, a municipal intangible cultural heritage of Shangrao. Originating in the Yongzheng reign of the Qing Dynasty, it is a traditional custom passed down through generations of the Lin clan. The folk saying “Raise the martial lantern, good fortune comes; turn the martial lantern, all things prosper” embodies the villagers’ aspirations for a better life and their commitment to traditional culture. Every Spring Festival, the swirling martial lanterns become the most splendid sight in the village.

In terms of cuisine, the "Eight Great Dishes of Zihu" is a local specialty. As the signature dishes for weddings, funerals and festive banquets, it includes braised pork knuckle, three-layer vermicelli, dried Sanqing Lake fish and other unique-flavored dishes. Together with Lin’s Martial Lantern and ancient architecture, these culinary specialties form the unique charm of Zihu Village, which features both profound historical heritage and rich humanistic appeal.