The Premier Family of the South | A model of integrity among the clans of western Zhejiang since the Southern Song Dynasty

The Zheng family of Zhengzhaizhen, Pujiang, has been prosperous and harmonious since the Southern Song Dynasty, with many members serving as officials, renowned for their integrity and diligence. The family was honored by the founder of the Ming Dynasty with the title "The Premier Family of the South". During my visit, a member of the Zheng family vividly shared the origins of their lineage by the roadside, making for a pleasant chat. To navigate to Zhengzhaizhen, at the entrance there are nine stone archways strung together on the outskirts of the town. The archways indeed look as unimpressive and common as seen in online videos, but the park where they are located is filled with the lively atmosphere of a small town square, with stalls, singing, dancing, and live broadcasts, which I quite enjoyed. Walking into the old street, there's a creek that still retains some ancient charm, but the buildings on both sides are obviously old-style houses refurbished for tourism development, filled with a commercial tourism tone, yet not fully developed. If you come with the mood to stroll through an ancient town, you are likely to be disappointed. I walked around the nearby area, and apart from a few paid attractions and some small temples, there really aren't many old relics left in the town. Of the four paid attractions, besides the Zheng family ancestral hall with the plaque "The Premier Family of the South" at the entrance, there are two hall buildings and a clean governance culture exhibition hall. The Zheng family ancestral hall itself is certainly worth a visit. It's not as lavish as imagined, but one can still feel the long-standing heritage of a large family. The most touching part is the several ancient cypresses with their strong and vigorous branches, always evoking a sense of the passage of time. Also, the wood used for the beams and columns is not as thick and robust as many large traditional buildings in western Zhejiang, giving a rare overall impression of clarity and moisture. However, the other two hall buildings seem to be there just to justify the ticket price, representing a very common style of ancestral hall in the mountain villages of western Zhejiang, without any special highlights. Compared to Dongyang Luzhai, which also has a ticket price of 65 yuan, it's worth questioning. In conclusion, the trip to Zhengzhaizhen is merely for the architectural style of the ancient town and might not even fill a two-hour itinerary. Fortunately, less than ten kilometers away, there is a Songxi ancient village, a truly well-preserved and distinctive ancient village, even worth a separate visit.