Xiaoqi Village
Consists of Upper Xiaoqi and Lower Xiaoqi, the two villages are connected by a 500 meter ancient stone path. As an eco-agricultural model village, Xiaoqi is surrounded by lush woods and ancient camphor trees, that’s how rare panda birds build their homes here. Xiaoqi is also a village that has distinctive historic and cultural influences in Wuyuan’s history with some well-preserved Ming and Qing-era Hui Style buildings and houses. Xiaoqi is well-known for its tea gardens and tea culture, the newly developed chrysanthemum tea and chrysanthemum field attract many tourists and tea lovers to visit every autumn.
An Eco-Agricultural Model Village
Built-in 787, Xiaoqi village is the hometown of a famous official who was in charge of salt at the time. Xiaoqi has some well-preserved Hui-style houses, each house has its unique characteristics. A few of these old houses have been converted into guest houses and inns. If you want to experience nice and quiet country life, choose to stay inside the village is the way to go. winding alleyways connecting all the old houses, make it a very walkable village to visit.
With rolling green tea gardens spreading out on the hills, and gorgeous tea fragrances filling in the air, Upper Xiaoqi is nice and quiet compare to Lower Xiaoqi, which is busy and commercialized. There is 20-minute ancient stone path linking the two villages, the walk is light and pleasant with changing views: blooming canola flowers in spring, lotus flowers in summer and golden chrysanthemum field in autumn. Don’t miss it!
As an eco-agricultural model village, Xiaoqi has a perfect ecological environment for trees and birds. Many camphor trees are planted in and near the village, there is this special one thousand and five hundred year old camphor tree that attracts a lot of visitors. Bird lovers come here to take photos of the rare panda birds which only have around 500 left worldwide.
Each autumn, Xiaoqi village grows acres of chrysanthemum flowers, the golden chrysanthemum bloom attracts numerous tourists, tea merchants, tea lovers, of course, passionate photographers. Among the variety of tea products produced in Xiaoqi, the Royal Chrysanthemum Tea has become very popular in recent years. With its bright yellow color and unique fragrance, it is the cup of tea everyone would enjoy.
Travel Tips:
- Lower Xiaoqi is close to the entrance. It has more options to eat and stay, but it is also busy and commercialized. If you want to see a nice and quiet village, you should head to Upper Xiaoqi.
- The best time to view the chrysanthemum bloom is early November to the 25th of November.
