Chongqing Youyang: Dongzituo-Spiritual Habitat

Dongzituo, formerly known as Shuicheba, was named after a Duanjiagou stream passing around the village. Later, because the stream was diverted and there were many beautiful caves in this area, it was renamed Dongzituo.

A corner of Dong Zi Tuo. (Photo: Chu Xiao)

Dongzituo is located in Longchi Village, Taohuayuan Street, Youyang Tujia and Miao County, Chongqing. Located at the northern end of Youyang, it is 5 kilometers away from the county seat/kloc-0, bordering Heishui Town, with an average elevation of 1 1,000 meters. Surrounded by mountains on all sides, it forms a natural "small basin" among the mountains, which belongs to a typical karst landform.

The mountains are surrounded by caves. (Photo: Chu Xiao)

Here the natural vegetation is intact, the water resources are abundant, the four seasons are distinct, and the mountain climate is pleasant. Qingxi flows around the village, and Qingshiban Road winds around the village.

Qingshiban road winding village. (Photo: Chu Xiao)

The village is shaded by old trees, and the natural vegetation is well protected, with a forest coverage rate of over 70%. There are 532 people in 13 1 household. Most of the buildings are traditional buildings such as quadrangles, dustpans and diaojiao buildings. Most of them were built in the Qing dynasty, built on the mountain and sitting east to west. There are 28 well-preserved wooden houses and 2 quadrangles in the village. Stone mill, stone mill, waterwheel and other primitive tools can be seen everywhere.

Characteristic houses. (Photo: Chu Xiao)

Primitive tools. (Photo: Chu Xiao)

Among them, the most representative building is Zhangfachang quadrangle, which was built in the Qing Dynasty, sitting west to east, built by the mountain, and behind it is a verdant and elegant forest. The quadrangle has a total area of 800 square meters, and green slate covers the whole courtyard. Exquisite carved doors and windows show the chic of the house. Siheyuan is a zigzag courtyard with 16 rooms. Entering the gate is the courtyard, which runs through the central axis. Houses are single-storey, surrounded by inverted rooms, main rooms and wing rooms, in which the north room is the main room, the houses in the east and west directions are wing rooms, and the south gate faces north, so it is called "inverted room". The courtyard houses are planted with flowers and trees for viewing.

Zhang's courtyard full of calligraphy and painting. (Photo: Chu Xiao)

In a small village surrounded by mountains on all sides, small bridges between the mountains meander, accompanied by diaojiao buildings, quadrangles, stone mills and waterwheels. Birds sing here, the breeze accompanies the village, strolls alone in the village, away from the hustle and bustle of the city, and feels the quaint village pastoral life, which makes people embrace nature, return to nature and return to the peace of mind.