Langu, though only steps away from the central Wuyishan Scenic Area, is a place seldom known even to the locals of Wuyishan.

The Lanfeng Pagoda, first built during the Guangxu Reign of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), is said to be the only pagoda that can be found in and around Wuyishan area. The six-sided pagoda has seven storeys, each decorated with many eaves. Moreover, the arched doors on each floor are opened on different sides of the building, truly a very unique phenomenon. The waterfall named "Bai Mi Xia Guo (White rice down the Pot)" and the mystic residential dwellings of the Peng Family are also must-sees.

Across a ridge in the Langu village fields, the Lanfeng Pagoda, which is accessible though traversing a small riverbank, stands tall and upright, bathing in the golden morning sunshine. In front of the pagoda, reeds and bamboos can be seen waving in the wind, while a small river on one side of the pagoda shimmers in the sunlight. Although great changes have happened over the last century, nothing has happened to the pagoda's white color, which remains as pure white as it were a hundred years ago.

A mountain path on the village's other side leads to the "Bai Mi Xia Guo" waterfall. Along the shaded path, tree leaves shine in the sunshine with a golden lining, and the sunlight slants on the ground through the green leaves. A winding mountain brook stays partly hidden and partly visible, sometimes hiding in the dense forest and sometimes exposing itself under the blue sky.

The roaring sounds of the waterfall can be heard from afar, which often drivestourists to run towards it. The water falls from a cliff over 60 meters high, striking the rocks below and breaking into numerous pearl-like water sprays, before finally ending in a crystal-clear pool. With a diameter of more than 50 meters, the pool looks much like a big pot and the water flowing, like white rice, hence the local people named it "Bai Mi Xia Guo."

Most of the local people are surnamed Peng, and thus worship Peng Zu, Peng Wu and Peng Yi as their ancestors.

The ancient dwelling of the Peng family faces the east, and the gateway's lintel is decorated with a set of brick carvings on the theme of "seeking fortune".

The method employed on the rectangular design pattern of "Liu Hai Playing with a Golden Toad is low relief, featuring the charmingly na?ve Liu Hai as the main part. With a colored thread in hand, he is trying to play tricks with a big golden toad, whose mouth keeps emitting copper coins, which symbolize endless fortune and good days. The upper part of the carving features floating auspicious clouds and flying cranes, and the lower part focuses on the divine mountains, with Liu Hai standing upon money, looking both classic and romantic.

Inside, four big gates, with dazzling arches, windows and girders, connect three layers of halls and rooms within the old building. The wooden carvings are mostly of flowers and birds, which are all exquisitely designed and carved.

Author: Jessie

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