Zengcuo An is located on the Huandao Road in Xiamen. It has slowly transformed from a simple coastal fishing village into a popular cultural and creative village today. Behind the hustle and bustle, there is still a deep-rooted charm. Here, you can brew a pot of clear tea, sit on a wooden old wicker chair, with the sparse sunlight scattered through the melon and fruit trellis above your head, and the salty seafood blowing from the seaside at your nose, enjoying a moment of quiet and soothing amidst the busy city.
Highlights of the trip:
#The ancient simplicity inherent in the fishing village#
Even today, when it is bombarded by literature and art, its bones still conceal the ancient persistence of the fishing village. Its history, charm, and posture are all hidden in subtle and secluded alleys, hidden in the murmurs of red brick ancient houses. There are few tourists in the early morning, shops have not yet opened, and the alley is filled with a quiet and lazy atmosphere. You can see residents going out to buy groceries in the early morning, workers cleaning the streets, and elderly people crowded in narrow alleys drinking morning tea. Take advantage of the lack of people to visit the red brick ancient houses and the Nanyang style "Fanzi Tower"; Take a stroll through the yet to be crowded Fifth Street and Eighteen Alleys, searching for the footprints of fishing villages in the alleys.
#The Great Fusion of Customs and Beliefs#
There are few indigenous villages in the world that can accommodate so many customs and beliefs. Zengcuoan not only has the presence of the four major religions of Taoism, Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam, but also has the folk Mazu with Xiamen characteristics. Mazu is a representative belief in southern Fujian, and the Buddha enshrined in each temple is different, such as Shengma Palace, Yonghu Palace, Fuhai Palace, Wenling Palace, Qiming Temple, etc. Each temple has its own history and charm, which is worth studying and savoring.
#The Big Party of Minnan Snacks#
Food is another label of Zengcuo An besides literature and art. Almost every alley in Zengcuo An is filled with a variety of mouth watering delicacies. Crispy and delicious thick tusi, Fujian and Taiwan style large intestine wrapped small intestine, strong and rich sand tea noodles, a dazzling array of fruits, and most notably, the fresh seafood displayed at the doorstep. Almost everything you can name is available here, sold by weight and cooked on-site, and you can taste fresh seafood in no time. In addition to freshly made and sold snacks, there are also various exquisitely packaged specialties that can share their deliciousness with more people.
#A gathering place for characteristic homestays#
Although the homestay in Zengcuo An lacks the charm of Dali and the retro charm of Gulangyu, it carries a full bourgeois atmosphere, comfortable and fresh. In the small village, various characteristic homestays are gathered, including traditional courtyards with deep courtyards, Baroque style detached villas, quaint and unique fishing village houses, and lively youth hostels. The combination of tradition and modernity, as well as the collision of inspiration and ideas, can be seen in the homestays in Zengcuo An.
#Inspiration source for cultural and creative products#
The cultural and creative land is the new label of Zengcuo An, the "point cultural and creative city" of deep cultural and creative composite space, exquisitely carved handicrafts, quaint tea houses with flowers and plants everywhere, and "flower without shortage" showcasing the art style of dried flower arrangement. It is diverse and intricate, with a hundred flowers blooming in full. This is the cultural and creative derivative force brought by Zengcuo An, which is still spreading
Featured Experience:
#Strolling through characteristic neighborhoods#
There are many small streets and alleys in Zengcuo An, which are very suitable for walking through the streets and alleys to experience slowly. The modern and ancient alleyways intersect and blend together in the alley, and with just one turn, you can encounter different small shops, where surprise and comfort coexist. During holidays, various small stalls make the already small alley even more crowded, and the various cute objects make it even more dazzling. It's a great place to stroll around and not be able to move around.
#Cycling around the island#
Zengcuo An faces the sea, and once out of the village is the beautiful roundabout road in Xiamen, where the annual international marathon is held. It is surrounded by mountains and the sea, with bridges built along the coast, and each section of the road has a different scenery. The unique subtropical climate features warm and gentle winds, deep blue seawater, and towering coconut trees on both sides of the road, making it impossible to see the end at a glance. Taking advantage of the sunshine and gentle sea breeze, renting a bicycle to ride is perfect. Appreciate the swaying green shadows of Dongdang Lake and feel the shimmering mirror like lake; Go to the pristine Wuyuan Bay Wetland Park and feed the elegant and graceful black swans; Go to the beach and enjoy the water and waves to the fullest. When you're tired, just sit on the beach and sunbathe, fully enjoying your own leisure time.
#Soak in wine and listen to folk songs#
The late nights in Zengcuo An belong to folk songs. Every night, countless young people come to the bar here to sing and chat about their lives and ideals, telling their joys and sorrows. Under the low and hoarse voice of folk songs, drink with emotions and stories, and reminisce about unforgettable moments.
#Watching the sunrise by the seaside#
There are many reasons to fall in love with Zengcuo An, and the sea is definitely one of them. If you squint your eyes and see the sea of Zengcuo An under the sunshine, you will definitely fall in love with it. The best time to watch the sunrise here is from November to March of the following year. Around 4am or 5am, you can stroll to the beach, leaning against the wooden boardwalk that still lights up, quietly waiting for the sunrise to come. Such memories and emotions must be wonderful and unforgettable.
#Slow delivery of postcards#
Writing a letter is a wonderful and private experience, where the distance of space and the interval of time always allow one to express what they cannot say at the moment in a way that avoids embarrassment. You can send it to the person you miss, the person you want to roast about, the future self, or the stranger you have never met. In the village of Zengcuo An, there are many art shops that can slowly deliver postcards. If you are not at ease, you can also go to Xiamen University or the postal service on Lujiang Road to send them.
Address:No. 110 Huandao South Road, Siming District, Xiamen City, Fujian Province
Telephone:0592-2089787
Opening Hours:Open all day
Admission ticket:free