Nanxi River, a key scenic resort of the State is adjacent to Yandang Mountain Scenic Resort, and is at a distance of 23 km away from the city area of Wenzhou.  Nanxi River's divided into seven scenic areas, covering more than 800 scenic landscapes.  With its main stream extending 139.8 kilometers long, Nanxi River possesses 36 bays and 72 shoals, characteristic of an exciting panorama of pure water, crags of grotesque shapes and sizes, splashing waterfalls, hidden ancient villages and intriguingly beautiful beach forests.   

Nanxi River basin is proud of distinctive cultural features as well as rich cultural heritage.  In the Neolithic Age as early as 5000 years ago, the forefathers of Ou and Yue (respectively representing Wenzhou and eastern Zhejiang) people have labored, lived and multiplied on this land, and have cultivated Ou and Yue culture.  Up to now, there still retain in this place many cultural relics of Neolithic Age as well as a string of historic and cultural sites as ancient towers, ancient bridges, ancient pavilion and ancient archway buildings, etc, of Song, Ming and Qing Dynasty.  The ancient villages and buildings in the banks of Nanxi River are characteristic of carefully selected location, rigorous planning and simple and sophisticated style, greatly harmonizing with natural surroundings, being one of the four popular traditional civil residences in China.  The prominently are the villages as Yantou, Fenlin, Cangpo, Furong and Huatan, etc. and they are the historic and culture reserves of Zheiiang Province. 

The remarkable land has given birth to numerous outstanding people and created glorious culture.  From Tang Dynasty to Qing Dynasty, total 604 Jinshi (a successful candidate in highest imperial examination) coming from Yongjia County.  During the Northern Song and Southern Song Dynasty, the glorious "Yongjia School of Thought" and "Four Famous Scholars of Yongjia" held a prominent position in the cultural history of China.  In 2001, the Kun Opera of China was conferred the title "Masterpiece of Dictated and Non-Substance Legacy of Mankind" by the United Nations, and the Kun Opera of Yongjia, as an important embodiment of Kun Opera Culture, has become a common spiritual wealth of the whole mankind.  Besides, there are numerous life traces, voluminous poems and literal works of notables left in Naiixi River region.  The historically significant and literally reputed personages such as Wang Xizhi, Yan Yanzhi and Xie Lingyun were ever the local magistrates of Yongjia.  Tao Hongjing in Southern Dynasty, Zhang Zirong and Meng Haoran in Tang Dynasty, Lu You, Ye Shi and Xu Zhao in Song Dynasty, Wang Shuguo and Pan Shunchen in Ming Dynasty.  Zhu Yizun, Jin Jianan and Zhu Buxi in Qing Dynasty all had traveled to Nanxi River, and had left many popular and influential literal works.  Xie Lingyun, who was the originator of school of scenic poem of China, during his office as the local magistrate of Yongjia, had traveled round the waters and mountains of Yongjia and written a lot of popular and prestigious scenic poems that handed down from generation to generation.  This makes Nanxi River the cradle of scenic poem and a holy place in which men of letters generation after generation come to be inspired.  Because of her special charm, China Writers' Association and China Photographers' Association name Nanxi River respectively as "Base for Nationwide Literature and Arts Creation and Photographic Creation Base". 

In the meantime, Nanxi River area is a revolutionary base, the source of the No. 13 Army of the Red Army as well as the center of revolutionary activities in southern Zhejiang Province.  The former site of No. 13 Army of Red Army has been established as a key historic relics conservation unit and a base for patriotism education.  Nanxi River Scenic Resort is a high degree integration of scenic culture and ancient village culture, an intermingling between labor and education culture and clan culture, and an excellent agreement between human life and natural environment.  Just like an outsized art treasure, it is born a perfect land, deeply loved and infatuated by innumerable tourists domestic and abroad.

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click on the newspaper cover to get a story from Zhejiang's Intouch magazine about "Sticks & stones" - Nanxi River and beyond July 2006 / www.intouchzj.com