Chexi (Waterwheels River) Folk Custom Tour Site

(National 4A-class)
Chexi is a national 4A class tour site, one of 10 new spots brought by the New Three Gorges, and the agriculture tourism example in Hubei province. Chexi is full of folk legends and Tujia folk customs. For most people living in cities, Chexi is a dream land to relax and enjoy simple life.
Chexi is beautiful for its landscape and folk customs. Here, you can find grand mountains, strange rocks, fantastic caves, flying falls and clean springs anywhere. Now, 8 main sights have been developed: the rare valley full of falls among Three Gorges - the Shixian Valley; the largest ancient workshop show of China - Native Garden of the Ba and Chu; the exclusive national village of folk custom - the Three Gorges Folk-custom Village; the first national farming museum; the first Waterwheel museum of China; the largest hill station for strange rocks in Three Gorges area; the rare geologic wonder of Three Gorges - the Tianlong Yunku and the first site of people's commune. All will take you into a world of agriculture, folk customs and nature sightseeing.
It’s said that, there used to be 16 paper mills and 7 burning incense plants powered by waterwheels. So we can say that, waterwheels are the soul of Chexi; and the life, is the folk people. In the language of Tujia people, “Che” means water, and there are hundreds of mountain and streams, therefore, the place called “Chexi” (the waterwheel river).
Here, most pillar supported houses are built at the front of hills, covered by bamboos; old waterwheels are running through the year; dock and goose groups are swimming in the river; and people are working in farmland or singing among the mountains… It’s the first folk-custom village built from a natural village, where you can enjoy the Ba and Chu cultures and customs from any aspects. On the stage, there is showing the Tujia wedding. The Tujia girl, acting as the bride, is singing the song to leave home and get married. Be careful, the bridegroom will be chosen from the audience. Once chosen, the man will put on full dress, and play with the bride to finish this wedding.

Anywhere, you will hear folk songs. Maybe, you don’t know their meanings, but you can feel enthusiasm in these songs. The Tujia people like singing for life and future. The small bridge over stream, combined with folk songs and Tujia girls, forms a beautiful image full of folk customs. Maybe, the image will occur only once in your life.
In the farming museum, many household goods and farming tools are on exhibition, such as the rice grind, the flour sifter, the bamboo hat and the coir raincoat etc. Here, these age-old goods are alive to tell the folk custom. In the main hall, it is the show of folk songs and dance.
Chexi is well-known by its waterwheels. In the waterwheel museum, you can find scores of kinds, such as waterwheel trekked by ox, waterwheel handled by two people, and waterwheel treaded by three people etc. Here, you can operate all waterwheels to imitate and enjoy the folk farming work.
The Tianlong Yunku is a treasure of Chexi nature scenery. Here, you can see the geologic wonder - Lianhua Tan (the Lotus Pond). And the hill station, full of strange rocks, ranks the top among Three Gorges. There are 3 typical rocks: 1) The rock “Damming the river” will show you the damming construction site. The damming moment will touch every tourist excitedly. 2) The rock “Million Liberation Army across the Yangtze” images the history of liberation army across the Yangtze River. 3) The “Fragrant Rock” gives off sweet scream smell all the year round.

Source:  en.hubei.gov.cn