Ancient Architectural Complex of Cuandixia Village

Ancient Architectural Complex of Cuandixia Village

The Ancient Architectural Complex of Cuandixia Village is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The Ancient Architectural Complex of Cuandixia Village is located in Zhaitang Town, Mentougou District, Beijing. Also known as "Ancient Relics Mountain Villa," the village has a history of over 400 years. It still preserves more than 70 sets of quadrangle courtyard dwellings from the Ming and Qing dynasties, totaling around 500 rooms, making it one of China’s best-preserved ancient mountain village architectural complexes. All villagers (household heads and their children) in Cuandixia Village share the surname Han, and it is said that their ancestors migrated from under the Great Locust Tree in Daxian County during the Ming Dynasty.

Most of the ancient buildings in Cuandixia Village were built in the late Qing Dynasty (with a small number constructed during the Republican era) as quadrangle or triple-courtyard homes. These structures were built along the mountain contours, following the terrain with varying heights. They spread out fan-shaped on both sides, centered around the Dragon Head at the back of the village and aligned along a north-south axis. The upper and lower parts of the village are divided by a 200-meter-long, up to 20-meter-high arched wall, while the front of the village is enclosed by a 170-meter-long bow-shaped wall. This layout keeps the village compact yet unified, with three pathways running through the upper and lower sections, enhancing its flood and bandit defense capabilities.

The residential decorations include brick carvings, stone carvings, wood carvings, calligraphy, and paintings. The carved ornaments mainly feature auspicious flowers and birds. The main decorative areas are concentrated on the roof ridges, eaves, wall bases, door sills, doors and windows, door knockers, door hoods, walls, and screen walls. The temple buildings mainly include the Guan Yu Temple (Main Temple), the Goddess Temple, and the Five-Way Temple.

The main house and reverse-facing house of the quadrangle courtyards in Cuandixia mostly have four beams and eight pillars, while the wing rooms have three beams and six pillars. The walls are solid at the corners, with double-sloped gable-and-hip roofs and clear-water ridges. The ends of the ridges are adorned with scorpion-tail ornaments, beneath which are flower stands. The roofing consists of clay tiles, stone battens, or wooden battens. Inside, there are heated adobe beds, floor stoves, square brick flooring, and strip-brick wainscoting. The window lattices of the doors and windows vary in design: including Gongzi brocade, lantern brocade, large grids, turtle-back brocade, starry sky, one horse three arrows, and slanted lattices. The foundation is entirely built with strip stones, and the lower parts of the wall bases on both sides of the house have windward cover plates, featuring diverse and non-repetitive stone carvings such as large grids, slanted grids, water ripples, or floral and auspicious patterns.

The streets and alleys of Cuandixia are paved with bluestone, gray stone, and purple slate, which are sturdy and attractive. After rain, the colorful stones reflect enchanting hues. The courtyards are mostly paved with square bricks, keeping them cool in summer, warm in winter, slip-resistant, and helping to regulate humidity. Underground cellars are built to store vegetables and fruits. By adjusting the temperature through vents and cellar covers, produce like radishes and potatoes can be stored for months. On the ground, six stone pits with square exteriors and central round holes are embedded. In autumn, six equally spaced and symmetrical stone pits hold forked wooden posts, which support bamboo mats for drying grain, while allowing passage underneath.

In May 2006, the Ancient Architectural Complex of Cuandixia Village was approved by the State Council to be included in the sixth batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units as a Qing Dynasty structure.

Cuandixia Village: Pronounced "Cuan (cuan) Di Xia" Village, it is located in the deep mountain valleys of western Beijing and has been renamed "Chuan Di Xia" Village. The entire village retains a relatively complete ancient architectural complex, situated on the gentle northern slope and built along the mountain with varying heights and clear lines. Paths paved with purple and bluish stones twist and turn, giving it a somewhat Jiangnan-style charm and a sense of a hidden paradise.

The architecture of the mountain village is divided into upper and lower levels, with the staggered heights of the settlement resembling an ancient fortress or a mountain city. It is referred to as the "Potala Palace of the Beijing area." It combines the charm of Beijing’s quadrangle courtyards with the scenery of mountain village alleys. Chuan Di Xia Village and... Detailed information about Cuandixia Village++

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of Municipal-Level Cultural Relics Protection Units in Beijing

· Sixth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units