With a history of more than 1100 years, this intriguing and labyrinthine village, 5km to the west of Yīxiàn town, is famed as the setting of Zhang Yimou’s 1989 tragedy Judou and, of course, scenes from Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon . Numerous ancient ancestral halls, clan shrines and merchant residences survive within Nánpíng’s mazelike alleys, including the Chéngshì Zōngcí (程氏宗祠) and the Yèshì Zōngcí (叶氏宗祠).
The Lǎo Yáng Jiā Rǎnfáng (老杨家染坊) residence that served as the principal household of dyer Gongli and her rapacious husband in Judou remains cluttered with props, and faded stills from the film hang from the walls. Admission includes a guide with limited English-speaking skills.
