Shaxi | A Land Steeped in Culture and Sentiment

| A land steeped in culture and sentiment. I have always felt that Shaxi is a place that is deeply loved. Nature's favor has endowed it with the spirit of mountains, rivers, and trees. Generations of people who resonate with it have deeply rooted themselves in this land, restoring its original appearance, telling its stories, and nurturing its character. The jingling of copper bells and the rhythmic sound of horse hooves at the Ancient Tea Horse Road Museum are love letters sent to the ancient market from all corners of the world, notes dancing on the thousand-year-old tea road. The trade routes walked step by step by the horse caravans connect not only interests but also cultural exchanges and collisions, as well as peace. This is a significant chapter in the history of the enduring Chinese civilization, and it is also the unique "youthful exuberance" and "unrestrained freedom" of Shaxi. Perhaps the flying eaves of the City God Temple hide the earnest expectations of the ancestors. "Swallows return home," reminding wanderers not to forget the way they came. In the past, this was a place for locals to worship, pray, and celebrate festivals. Now, it hosts photography exhibitions and sustainable living markets. "People of the Mountains" is a joint exhibition by Chinese and Swiss photographers. It is said that the restoration work of Shaxi was also led by Swiss architectural heritage experts. The great ancient architectural heritage has connected a two-way journey across mountains and seas, nationalities, cultures, and languages. "Passersby need not frequently ask for names; the sound of reading is my home." The Kegongdi Cultural Museum was transformed from the ancestral home of Ouyang Xudong, a tribute student with a history of 140 years. The Bai ethnic traditional Zouma Zhuanjiao Lou, a four-sided courtyard with dripping water, has been restored to its original state, simple and grand. It continues the demeanor and cultural lineage of a century-old prestigious family. The carved beams and painted rafters hide the footnotes of local culture. Listening to the rain, admiring the snow, waiting for the moon, sipping wine, tasting tea, and seeking seclusion are all very suitable in this world. Interestingly, the Ouyang family is actually outsiders who settled in Shaxi. Swallows return home, or find a nest and return to their wings. They all jointly interpret and shape this pure and tranquil land.