The Stunning Lotus Pond and Ancient Charm of Houwu Village

If you're around Xiandu in Lishui and looking for a convenient, quiet, and historically rich ancient town experience, I highly recommend this place: Houwu Village, Yongkang, Jinhua, Zhejiang "An isolated island amidst the wave of commercialized ancient towns" An 800-year-old ancient town with virtually no tourists even during holidays 30min from Xiandu, Lishui; 2.5h from West Lake, Hangzhou A perfect budget-friendly getaway with free admission There are very few notes about Houwu Village online. I stumbled upon a photo of its horse-head walls and decided to visit spontaneously. The ancient village is surrounded by newly built houses, Had it not been for that photo, I would have completely missed it and just passed by... Though small, the ancient town is dotted with lotus ponds everywhere. A stream runs through the village, creating the authentic atmosphere of a water town. Tourists? Nonexistent. Instead, there are many registration spots for art students sketching in the alleys. At dusk, several elderly villagers wash clothes by the lotus ponds in front of their homes, the ripples reflecting the sky and ancient architecture - absolutely breathtaking. Remarkably, the mottled gold-trimmed red and blue carvings in the ancestral hall remain unrestored, still bearing the marks of time. Regrettably, the faces of wooden carvings were all erased during turbulent years. Fortunately, this small ancient town still preserves scattered historical buildings. Treasure hunting through the alleys becomes part of the fun. Like many unknown ancient towns in Zhejiang, Houwu Village is experiencing the gradual disappearance of its ancient architecture. What's different is that it's still struggling resiliently, with both decay and vitality coexisting here. There's regret and heartache, but also swan songs and stunning beauty. Perhaps this is the true meaning of travel... Where to stay: Jinjiang Hotel in Jinyun! A 5-star hotel with surprisingly high value for money - my most satisfying recent stay! Food: For those with cars, rush to "Fangxi Dai-Thai Flavors"! A Dai cuisine restaurant opened by Yunnan natives in Lishui. After trying Dai food in Kunming last May, I couldn't forget it and failed to recreate it at home - unexpectedly found it in Lishui! 2. Aunt Cao's Delicacies near Xiandu Great location in the city center, excellent quality at reasonable prices. Though I couldn't understand why the owner kept giving my hanfu outfit complicated looks... But who cares when the food is this good!