Xinchang has an ancient village without a commercial atmosphere

Meizhu Ancient Village Meizhu Village, named for its abundance of plum trees and nearby settlements in ancient times, is an administrative village under the jurisdiction of Chengtan Street, Xinchang County, Shaoxing City, Zhejiang Province, and a traditional Chinese village. It is located 10 kilometers southwest of Xinchang County, with a village area of 3.2 square kilometers. Meizhu Village faces south and is shaped like a boat. Boiling water flows along the street from west to east, and seven ponds are distributed in various sections, all connected by boiling water, commonly known as the Seven Star Ponds. The village retains a large number of valuable ancient buildings from the Ming, Qing, and Republic of China periods, including front ponds, watchtowers, nunneries, ancestral halls, residences, and shops. The ancient buildings feature large beams, spacious pavilions with flying eaves and carved beams, window lattice patterns, and luxurious decorations, making it a museum of folk architectural carving art. Meizhu Village has intangible cultural heritage such as the art of making fermented wine, handmade tofu, Ten Tunes, and paper cutting. On June 6, 2019, it was included in the fifth batch of traditional Chinese villages. In October 2021, it was included in the list of beautiful leisure villages in China for 2021. Baidu describes the ancient village as a delicate embroidered ball. Although the government has spent some funds to repair some facades, residents have long lived in buildings from the Qing and Republic of China periods. Large-scale renovation and repair still need some time. Therefore, it inevitably gives tourists the impression of dilapidation and clutter under the buildings.