Chinas Lost World- A 1,200-Year-Old Hidden Mountain Village

Shanggantang Village is located in the Nanling mountainous region of Jiangyong County, Yongzhou City, Hunan Province, China. It is an ancient village with a history of more than 1,200 years. Founded during the Tang Dynasty, the village has been inhabited by the Zhou family for generations. The village name, location, and lineage have remained unchanged for over a millennium, making it a rare example of a well-preserved and continuously inherited ancient village in China.
The village retains more than 200 residential houses from the Ming and Qing Dynasties, many of which are still inhabited by local residents. Daily rural life—cooking, living, and neighborly interactions—continues inside these old houses. Historical relics such as a Song Dynasty ancient bridge, Ming Dynasty pavilions, and ancient stone carvings are scattered throughout the village streets, blending seamlessly with everyday activities like walking, washing, and farming.
There has been no excessive tourism development here. Villagers still rely mainly on traditional farming and maintain a lifestyle centered around clan living and mutual neighborhood support, preserving the original ecological living patterns and authentic life of ancient villages in southern China’s mountainous regions.