Wufu Ancient Town: Echoes of neo-Confucian heritage

Wufu Ancient Town in Fujian Province, southeast China, was home to the famous 12th-century neo-Confucianist Zhu Xi for more than 50 years. Running alongside Xingxian Street, the canal is a marvel of water management. Its zigzag path serves multiple functions, from providing water for people’s daily needs to vital fire protection. Today, the canal remains central to daily life, evoking scenes from the Tang and Song dynasties (618-1279), where residents still wash their vegetables and clothes.