Songyang County 松阳县, a fairyland in Jiangnan

Located on the southern hillside of Changsong Mountain in Zhejiang province, the history of Songyang can be traced back to the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220), more than 1,800 years ago.

Filled with tea plantations dotted amongst the mountains, tofu factories nestled in forests, and hidden traditional villages rising out of the mist, Songyang county has, in many ways, remained unchanged for centuries.

Artisans cast traditional iron knives in street-side stores, and communities participate in ancient fengshui practices. Local chefs steam hand-cut noodles and farmers grow local green tea that is now thought of as some of the best in China.

However, beyond the county's traditional lifestyle has sprouted a surprising modern art scene. Tea fields have become home to modern teahouses where young entrepreneurs reinvigorate the culture of their ancestors and dusty sugar factories have been transformed into modern architectural masterpieces for art centers or boutique hotels

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A four hours drive from Shanghai, Songyang is one of China's hidden gems, a fairyland.

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pictures wildchinatravel, others