A tale of three villages

Steeped in the culture of China's imperial era, a trio of communities in Jiangxi province offer a quiet look back at simpler times. Liu Xiangrui and Shi Xiaofeng go exploring in Nanchang.

While strolling in a maze of stone-paved lanes that crisscross the ancient villages of Luotian, Shuinan and Jingtai in Anyi county, in Nanchang of Jiangxi province, it's easy to feel lost in time.

More than 100 residences from the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911) are well-preserved in the villages, with ancient archways, gate towers, streets, lanes, stone wells and performance stages spread all over.