The Hidden Underground Great Wall in Zhejiang: An 800-Year-Old Ancient Village with a 700-Meter Dark Stream, Wear a Jacket in Summer

Songxi Village, Pujiang, Jinhua｜Stroll Through a Millennium-Old Village and Explore the Jiangnan Dark Stream Wonder

White walls and black tiles, flowing water gently murmuring—this millennium-old village hidden deep in the mountains of Jinhua perfectly embodies the poetry and tranquility of Jiangnan.

📍 Location: Northeast of Baima Town, Pujiang County, Jinhua City, Zhejiang Province, 23 kilometers from Pujiang County seat.

🚗 Transportation Guide: Navigate directly to "Jinhua Pujiang Songxi Village." There is a free parking lot at the village entrance. About 1.5 hours by car from Hangzhou, about 2.5 hours from Shanghai.

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🌟 Must-See Highlights

🚶 Stroll Along the Millennium Stone Path
Step onto the smooth bluestone slabs polished by time. The crisscrossing alleys seem to hide countless stories. Snap a photo at the alley entrance for an instant vintage vibe, especially around 3 to 4 PM when the sunset bathes the ancient village in warm golden light, creating soft lighting perfect for photos.

💧 Explore the Dark Stream Wonder
Songxi Village is famous for its "one bright, one dark" twin streams running through it. The dark stream stretches 700 meters and is a unique water conservancy system built during the Southern Song Dynasty, known as the "Jiangnan Karez." Entering the dark stream, you instantly feel the cool 18°C air; the stream flows gently, and the coolness rises from underground, making it more comfortable than air conditioning in summer.

🏯 Check in at the Xu Clan Ancestral Hall
As the ancestral hall of the largest clan in Songxi Village, the Xu Clan Ancestral Hall is a well-preserved Qing Dynasty ancient building. The intricate wood and stone carvings inside create a strong ancestral hall cultural atmosphere, making it a must-visit place to understand local history and culture.

🌄 Climb for a Panoramic View
Climb the small hill behind the village to overlook the continuous white walls and black tiles from above. If you catch the smoke rising from cooking fires, the entire village looks like a scene straight out of an ink painting, making it an excellent spot for panoramic photography.

📝 Travel Tips

· Best Time: Recommended arrival around 3 to 4 PM for soft lighting, fewer tourists, and better photo opportunities.
· Admission Fee: Free entry and free parking.
· Suggested Duration: 2-3 hours to savor every corner of the ancient village.
· Equipment Suggestions: The dark stream area is slippery; wear non-slip shoes. Photography enthusiasts should bring a camera to capture the village’s details.

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Songxi Village, an ancient village with over 800 years of history, still preserves more than 40 buildings with over 1,560 rooms from the Ming and Qing Dynasties. There is no noisy commercialization here, only the original ecological charm of Jiangnan.

"Travel far and wide, be upright in conduct; return home for reunion, be harmonious in dealings" — The square and round gates at the village entrance pavilion embody the ancient village’s philosophy of life, worth savoring carefully.