|
Niangzhai, a traditional castle designed and built by women, rests in Liangzhai village of Shenghuang, Minqing county in Fuzhou, Fujian province. Built during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), Niangzhai is more than 300 years old, but people rarely visit it because of inconvenient traffic.
However, a road construction project designed to relieve the issue is nearing its end. A new road connecting Niangzhai with other parts of Minqing county is expected to be open to traffic by the Chinese Lunar New Year, providing opportunities for visitors to explore the historic architecture.
Niangzhai covers an area of more than 7,000 square meters. Similar to other historic architecture built on hills in Fujian province, Niangzhai not only served as housing for villagers but also functioned as a defensive fortification against outside attackers.
In 2018, a tourism development project was started in Niangzhai, with an estimated investment at 200 million yuan ($30 million). The project is expected to be finished by the end of this year. As a part of the project, the new road was built — 6.5 meters wide, with two lanes.
Other tourist attractions are found near Niangzhai, including waterfalls and bed-and-breakfast inns. A visitor center is under construction. Tang Ziye contributed to the story. |
