Tianpu Dawan: A Time Secret Realm in the Deep Mountains of Xinyang
Starting from Xinyang city, drive along the mountain road for about two hours, and the scenery outside the window gradually changes from urban buildings to rolling green mountains. After turning the last mountain bend, the view suddenly opens up—Tianpu Dawan quietly lies embraced by the surrounding mountains, like an old man at peace with the world, waiting for destined visitors.
Walking into the village, time seems to slow down here. Hundreds of adobe houses are built along the mountain, layered and spreading across the hillside, looking from afar like a three-dimensional landscape painting. These are not replica ancient buildings but the real homes where villagers live. Every weathered earth wall and every dark tile records the traces of time. Strolling through the alleys paved with bluestone, you often meet elderly people sitting in front of their doors basking in the sun, busy weaving bamboo baskets or shelling freshly harvested peanuts, with wrinkles on their faces hiding countless stories. Children play and splash by the creek, the water droplets sparkling in the sunlight, while the curling smoke rising from each household’s rooftop adds the most touching stroke to this pastoral picture.
Tianpu Dawan has its own unique beauty in every season. In spring, the rapeseed flowers in the terraced fields bloom perfectly, their golden sea of flowers complemented by pink and white peach blossoms and pure white pear flowers, decorating the entire valley like a fairyland. In summer, the primeval forest behind the village is the best place to escape the heat. Under the dense shade, a cool breeze blows, and the mountain spring water seeping from the rocks is clear and sweet. A handful of it refreshes the spirit instantly. When night falls, fireflies begin to light their little lanterns in the fields, competing with the starry sky, while the croaking frogs and chirping insects play nature’s most enchanting nocturne. Autumn is the liveliest time in the village, with villagers busy harvesting golden rice and knocking down chestnuts from the trees. The air is filled with the fresh fragrance of new rice and the joy of harvest. After winter snows, the whole village is wrapped in silver, the old houses wear thick "white hats," and the smoke from cooking fires draws soft arcs in the chilly air, creating a unique serene beauty.
Eating in Tianpu Dawan is a delight, with ingredients so fresh they move you. Vegetables grown by villagers still carry the morning dew’s freshness, the soup made from free-range native chickens is golden and clear, and the most unforgettable is the stone-milled tofu made with mountain spring water, rich in bean fragrance and delicious even when simply stir-fried. If you visit in autumn, be sure to try the local specialty "Chestnut Stewed Chicken," where the sweet and glutinous chestnuts blend with the tender chicken, leaving a lasting aftertaste. There are several good farmhouses in the village, and "Mountain Residence Courtyard" is especially recommended. Sitting in the courtyard, you can enjoy the boundless rural scenery. Their firewood rice is particularly fragrant, with crispy scorched rice crust, paired with homemade pickles—simple yet deeply satisfying.
What attracts people most to Tianpu Dawan are the life-filled experiential activities. In spring, you can learn rice transplanting with villagers and feel the solid touch of stepping on the soil; in summer, experience the entire tea-picking and tea-making process, understanding how a leaf turns into the fragrance in your cup; in autumn, join in the lively chestnut gathering and rice drying, experiencing the joy of harvest; in winter, gather around the fire pit to roast sweet potatoes and listen to elders tell old village stories. There is an old bamboo craftsman in the village who always smiles while teaching visitors to weave bamboo baskets. Although the finished products may be crooked, the sense of accomplishment from making them by hand is unforgettable.
Getting to Tianpu Dawan is very convenient. There are direct buses from Xinyang Bus Station, taking about two and a half hours. The village is open to the public for free, though some experiential activities require additional fees. The best seasons to visit are spring for flower viewing, summer for cooling off, and autumn for enjoying the scenery. It is recommended to plan one to two days for the visit. Please note, this is not a tourist attraction but a real living space for villagers. Visitors should respect local customs and not enter homes without permission.
This small village hidden deep in the mountains of Xinyang preserves the most beautiful rural scenes from our memories. Here, time becomes gentle and slow, allowing people to find the truest peace within. If you are tired of the city’s hustle and bustle, consider staying a few days in Tianpu Dawan, letting your soul truly rest in this time secret realm.