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The reason I went to Shanxia Bao Village was because of a report about a photography competition published in China Photography News. I wondered what kind of village would spend huge amounts of money to host a national photography competition.

After taking some photos in Dongtou, I went to Shanxiabao Village in Wuyi County, Zhejiang Province. Shanxiabao Village is similar to other ancient villages. It is built on the narrow valleys on both sides of Jinxi River. The village is built on the mountain with layers upon layers, and the height difference is 100 meters. It is surrounded by mountains and lush forests. The water of Jinxi River is clear and you can see the bottom. Various fish and shrimps swim freely in it, playing with the peasant women washing clothes and vegetables.

The houses in Bao Village at the foot of the mountain are all courtyard houses with mud tiles and wooden structures, and some are large houses with blue bricks. According to village statistics, there are 31 historical buildings of various types, including 28 buildings from the Qing Dynasty and 3 buildings from the Republic of China. There are ancestral halls, bridges, temples, ancient wells, etc. in the village.

Bao Village at the foot of the mountain is all residential, and there have never been any big merchants or officials, so the houses are not large in scale, but figures, flowers, auspicious birds, auspicious animals, etc. are carved on the beams, rafters, lintels and other conspicuous places. The doors and windows are exquisitely carved, and there are murals and calligraphy painted under the eaves of the courtyard walls. The themes are wide-ranging and the expression techniques are lively and vivid, reflecting the value orientation and educational awareness of the tribesmen for spiritual aesthetics. Now every household has a door couplet posted on the door.

Bao Village at the foot of the mountain is just like other ancient villages. It has no industry, few fields, and is only covered with mountains and forests. All the young people have gone out to make a living, and only the elderly are left at home. After walking for a whole day, I didn't see a single child. This may be common in all ancient villages.

But the local government and tourism department have a long-term vision. They know that photography is the best medium to promote tourism. They have invested heavily in co-organizing a national photography competition with the China Photographers Association. The beautiful pictures captured by photographers are spread to attract people to travel. That day I met several groups of photographers from Shanghai, Yichun, Jiangxi, and Zhejiang who were creating their works.