Wuyuan, Jiangxi Province
Wuyuan, Where Time Stands Still
In ancient times, Wuyuan was governed by Anhui. Merchants from this area spread
throughout China around 500 years ago, forging trade relations with dealers from Qingdao
to Qinghai. Such were their numbers and business acumen that in some areas, they
practically ran the local economy. Historical records show that of the eight barons Qing
Dynasty Emperor Qianlong received during a trip to southern China, four were from Anhui.
Anhui merchants went on to dominate trade in China for some 400 years in terms of capital
and trade outlets. (Click for full coverage.)
Countryside Scene in
Wuyuan
This is about the best time to visit Wuyuan in southeast China's Jiangxi Province,
when a trek in the old villages in May offers refreshing views of hills covered in yellow
rape flowers, green farmland, exuberant camphor trees, creeks and small rapids. Villages
lie along small rivers, trees stand on riverbanks, and old farmers leisurely drive ducks
toward a pond, forming a typical Chinese countryside scene. Wuyuan
has at least 50 old villages that have remained almost unchanged over the last century.
However, it is known not only for its natural scenery, but also for its glorious past. The
remote county was home to some of China's top scholars, including Zhu Xi, a Confucian
master in the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279), and Zhan Tianyou, China's first railway
engineer. It also produced some of the country's richest merchants. (Click for full coverage.).
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