Nanjie Village

Nanjie Village is a national 4A scenic area at No. 1 Qianjin Road in Chengguan, Linying County, Luohe, in Henan province, China, about 25 km north of the city centre. The village covers 1.78 km2 and is among the best-known red-tourism sites in the country because it returned to collective farming and industry in 1986 after the household-responsibility reforms had spread elsewhere. Visitors see Mao-era statues, slogans and murals, collective housing, and the village's food-processing factories, which have made it a talking point in discussions of China's economic history. The experience is part museum, part working community: the visitor route passes squares with large statuary and propaganda-style displays, and explains the village's organisation, its enterprises and its political outlook. A typical visit takes three to four hours. Listed admission starts from ¥39 (about $5.8), though the price should be confirmed at the gate, and hours are not confirmed, so telephoning (0395) 3310969 or checking Amap is advised. A weekday daytime visit is preferable, because tour groups, particularly from other provinces, arrive in numbers at weekends and holidays and can fill the main squares. Photography opportunities centre on the monumental statues and the avenues lined with slogans; early morning light gives a cleaner result than midday haze. Interpretation is principally in Chinese, and visitors without the language may want a translation app or a local guide. The Linying County Museum stands beside the scenic area and makes a natural second stop. Reaching the village by taxi or DiDi from central Luohe costs about ¥60-90, while coaches run to Linying town, from where a short taxi ride completes the trip. Views of the site vary widely, so it is best approached as a window on a particular political and economic experiment.