In China , a 600-year-old Village Continues Iranian Tradition 23 July 2003

An Iranians’ village outside Yungju town in Jiangsu province is more than 600 years old with its residents living by Iranian traditions, while even some of them look like Iranians.



At the entrance of the village, the people have built a monument paying tribute to the Iranians who lived there. The name of the village "the Parsian Village” is engraved in Persian and Chinese on a slab of rock.



It is commonly believed that some 600 years ago, an Iranian businessman who had traveled to the region by the Silk Road settled in the village. His good Iranian manners made him popular among the villagers and earned him a special spiritual status.



As time passed, his children and grandchildren established the great Iranian community in the region and Iranian traditions prevailed in the village.



Despite the fact that the villagers are not Muslims, they still follow Iranian traditions in many ceremonies such as weddings and funerals after so long a time.



The village has a population of over 27,000. Its main street is called Fars, and its large river known as Fars, after the province located in southern Iran. It has an Iranian restaurant, shop, and most of its agricultural products such as different vegetables are of Iranian kind, called Iranian vegetables by people.



The consul general of Iran in China was the first Iranian official to visit the village in 1998. Top of Page

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