Jiangpu village is ranked by the Ministry of Agriculture as one of the top villages in China. [Photo from WeChat account zhangpulvyou]

Jianghang village in Zhangpu town, Kunshan city, has been recently ranked by the Ministry of Agriculture as one of the top villages in China.

A total of 150 villages, featuring rich culture and history, simple and unique folk customs, along with modern developments, were among the types of villages that were ranked highly.

Located in the southwest of Zhangpu town, Jianghang village is open to the most beautiful part of Jiangli Pool and forms a picturesque view of the Eight Diagrams, or Bagua, a philosophical and ritual tradition of Chinese origin which embodies the idea of living in harmony.

It also has an 800-year-old Dongyue Temple, or Temple of the God of Mount Tai, built by Taoist monks, which makes this village a Taoist site.

Dongyue Temple, or Temple of the God of Mount Tai, has a history of 800 years and was built by Taoist monks. [Photo from WeChat account zhangpulvyou]

By integrating its easy access to Shanghai and surrounding cities, along with its profound culture and history, Jianghang village has been dedicated to the development of its tourism sector in recent years, and has developed a variety of creative and energetic programs, such as seasonal fruit-picking activities, and "smart" farm, which combines the traditional style of farms with advanced technology like the Internet of Things (IoT).

People can pick mulberries in May, raspberries and blackberries in June, blueberries and honey peaches in July, and yellow peaches in August. [Photo from WeChat account zhangpulvyou]