Taiji Lake Village

Taiji Lake Village

Taiji Lake Village is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction.

In Jixi, one of the most frequently heard words is "quaint," and the place locals talk about the most is Taiji Lake Village. Only when you approach Taiji Lake Village can you feel it’s a "hidden gem," and be amazed by the beauty this ancient town offers.

Taiji Lake Village represents the unity of yin and yang, cradling a naturally blessed environment where the Yuanci River flows in an "S" shape around the southern part of the village. Together with the western hamlet and eastern fields, it forms a natural "Taiji" landform spectacle. There are also three exceptional water inlets unique to Huizhou: "Lions and Elephants Guard the Gate," "Sun and Moon Stand Sentry," and "Turtle and Snake Block the Water," which leave even feng shui masters in awe. Historical changes and coincidences have also revealed a mysterious "Emperor’s Tomb." Taiji Lake Village is a key historical and cultural preservation area in Anhui Province and an important heritage site for intangible cultural heritage. This ancient village, with over 800 years of history, features numerous ancient bridges, pavilions, dwellings, ancestral halls, temples, thousand-year-old trees, the Ming Dynasty Yinquan Street, and large-scale brick-carved gate towers. Built along the mountains, they stretch out like a three-dimensional landscape painting. The village also retains residences of notable figures (such as Zhang Xianghua, founder of Huizhou cuisine, and writer Zhang Yiping), local specialties like the "Swing and Lifted Stage" performance, and the unique "Medicine King Stone." It is a living fossil of Huizhou’s ancient architecture and culture.

Entering Taiji Lake Village, a grand and imposing ancestral hall of the Zhang family stands at the west end of the village. Inside the hall is a Ming Dynasty coiled dragon incense pavilion, with six dragons carved on its pillars that appear ready to take flight—truly a masterpiece of wood carving. The village has a traditional cultural performance: the Swing and Lifted Stage. The swing is windmill-shaped, with a rotating chair hanging from the wheel. Young women dressed in ancient costumes sit bound to the chair, singing Huizhou melodies accompanied by wind instruments. The lifted stage is a square wooden box adorned with carvings, holding two or three young children dressed as opera characters. Steel wires secure the actors to the stage seamlessly, creating a thrilling and spectacular sight—truly a regional specialty.

The brick carvings on the gate towers of Taiji Lake Village are considered the finest in Huizhou, with each piece being a rare treasure. There are numerous brick carvings covering a large area—20 in total—with the largest decorative piece spanning 4.2 square meters. The gate tower designs vary, including scroll styles, watchtower styles, and pendant column styles. The carving techniques are masterful, producing a strong sense of dimension and texture, reaching the pinnacle of craftsmanship. The carvings feature rich content, vivid imagery, well-balanced compositions, and prominent themes. Spanning over 300 years, the brick-carved gate towers of Taiji Lake Village are invaluable historical and cultural resources. Hence, the village is also known as the "No.1 Village of Gate Towers in China."

At the eastern edge of the village lies the "Emperor’s Tomb," the burial site of Hu Yuanyong, the 25th-generation ancestor of the Longchuan Hu clan and a Song Dynasty Privy Councilor (Qian’er Gong). The tomb is situated on Laulong Mountain, with the distant Qigu Mountain resembling a reclining Buddha. Above the tomb stands a 1,500-year-old ancient chinkapin tree with a sprawling canopy. Though struck by lightning, it remains resilient and majestic, like an umbrella sheltering the imperial tomb—an awe-inspiring sight. On either side of the ancestral tomb are guardian tombs of literary and martial champions, blessed with excellent feng shui.

During the Yuan Dynasty, a Hu clan physician practiced medicine and was revered as the "Medicine King." Legend says Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang suffered from a severe illness that wouldn’t heal until treated by the Medicine King, who cured him within two days. Overjoyed, Zhu Yuanzhang bestowed the phrase "Dragon and Phoenix Grace Eternal" to honor the doctor’s healing gift. Later generations built the Medicine King Temple to enshrine him and continue his benevolent legacy.

The most captivating sights in the village are the weathered old houses with their gray-black fish-scale tiles and white horsehead walls. Standing in the village, your feet tread on stone slabs worn smooth by time. Looking up, your eyes are filled with lush greenery, and if you listen closely, you can hear the murmuring springs from the valley below.

This is Taiji Lake Village—a harmonious union of mountains, waters, heaven, and earth, creating a society of perfect balance. It captures the hearts of all who visit, leaving them lingering in admiration and sighs of wonder. It awaits your arrival to explore its ancient charm and mysteries...

As a key historical and cultural preservation area in Anhui Province and an important heritage site for intangible cultural heritage, the village boasts over 800 years of history. Numerous ancient bridges, pavilions, dwellings, ancestral halls, temples, thousand-year-old trees, the Ming Dynasty Yinquan Street, and large-scale brick-carved gate towers are built along the mountains, stretching out like a three-dimensional landscape painting. The village also retains residences of notable figures (such as Zhang Xianghua, founder of Huizhou cuisine, and writer Zhang Yiping), local specialties like the "Swing and Lifted Stage" performance, and the unique "Medicine King Stone." It is a living fossil of Huizhou’s ancient architecture and culture.

Taiji Lake Village embodies the unity of yin and yang, cradling a naturally blessed environment where the Yuanci River flows in an "S" shape around the southern part of the village. The western hamlet and eastern fields form a natural "Taiji" landform spectacle, complemented by three exceptional Huizhou water inlets: "Lions and Elephants Guard the Gate," "Sun and Moon Stand Sentry," and "Turtle and Snake Block the Water," which leave even feng shui masters in awe. Historical changes and coincidences have also revealed a mysterious "Emperor’s Tomb." This is Taiji Lake Village—a harmonious union of mountains, waters, heaven, and earth, creating a society of perfect balance. It captures the hearts of all who visit, leaving them lingering in admiration and sighs of wonder. It awaits your arrival to explore its ancient charm and mysteries.

The "Turtle Mountain" and "Snake Mountain" across the water from the "water source" on the northern bank of the Yuanci River look toward Taiji Lake Village. Viewed from the village entrance, the millennia-old bitter chinkapin tree stands out prominently.

Entering Taiji Lake Village, a grand and imposing ancestral hall stands at the west end—the Zhang Clan Ancestral Hall. A colorful mural of mythical beasts is painted prominently on the screen wall in front of the hall. Inside the hall is a Ming Dynasty coiled dragon incense pavilion, with six dragons carved on its pillars that seem ready to take flight—representing the pinnacle of Huizhou wood carving and truly a masterpiece. This is also part of the props used in the Swing and Lifted Stage, a traditional cultural performance in Taiji Lake Village. Every Huizhou man turning 40 must host a "performance event"—a grand celebration featuring the "Swing" and "Lifted Stage" activities. The swing is windmill-shaped, with young women dressed in ancient costumes seated on a rotating chair, singing Huizhou melodies accompanied by wind instruments. The lifted stage is a square wooden box adorned with carvings, holding two or three young children dressed as opera characters. Steel wires secure the actors seamlessly to the stage, creating a thrilling and spectacular sight—a true marvel of the Jiangnan region.

Exiting the ancestral hall and following the winding stone path leads to the water street—Yinquan Street. Built during the Ming Dynasty, the street stretches over 300 meters. Its water originates from Shijin Mountain, flows through the village, and joins the Shimen River. The stream runs year-round without drying up, its murmuring sound as pleasant as music. Even during spring floods, the water never overflows onto the street, and the gurgling sounds grow even more delightful—hence the name "Yinquan" (Poetry Spring) Street. The street intersects the north-south main roads in a "T" shape, paved entirely with bluestone slabs. Two stone bridges, known as the Large and Small Stone Bridges, span the stream. Along the banks, over a hundred buildings in classic Huizhou style—featuring white walls, black tiles, and horsehead gables—are lined up, including residences, shops, pharmacies, and oil mills. Most date back to the Ming and Qing Dynasties, exuding an elegant and rustic charm in their well-arranged clusters. Stone steps lead down to the water for villagers to wash clothes. The scene of "small bridges, flowing water, and quaint homes" unfolds like a fresh and picturesque rural landscape.

The brick carvings on the gate towers of Taiji Lake Village are considered the finest in Huizhou, with each piece being a rare treasure, embodying a romantic beauty of fantastical distortion. There are numerous brick carvings covering a large area—20 in total—with the largest decorative piece spanning 4.2 square meters. The gate tower designs vary, including scroll styles, watchtower styles, and pendant column styles. The carving techniques are masterful, producing a strong sense of dimension and texture, reaching the pinnacle of craftsmanship. The carvings feature rich content, vivid imagery, well-balanced compositions, and prominent themes. Spanning over 300 years, the brick-carved gate towers of Taiji Lake Village are invaluable historical and cultural resources. Hence, the village is also known as the "No.1 Village of Gate Towers in China."

At the eastern edge of the village, the ancient tomb of the 25th-generation distinguished ancestor of the Longchuan Hu clan was discovered. The tomb belongs to Hu Yunlong, a Song Dynasty Privy Councilor. Originally, there were two thousand-year-old chinkapin trees atop the tomb, but only one remains. Though struck by lightning, it remains resilient, deeply rooted and lush—a spectacular sight. The tomb faces Qigu Mountain. Standing under the chinkapin tree and looking toward Qigu Mountain, it resembles a sleeping Buddha with striking likeness. Elders say the 25th-generation ancestor chose this site for its exceptional feng shui: the mountain is shaped like a dragon, the two trees are its horns, the two wells at the mountain’s base are its eyes, and the opposite Qigu Mountain is the sleeping Buddha. As the saying goes: "Born in Hangzhou, entertained in Yangzhou, buried in Huizhou"—perhaps reflecting how much Huizhou people value feng shui.

During the Yuan Dynasty, a Hu clan physician practiced medicine and was revered as the "Medicine King." Legend says Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang suffered from a severe illness that wouldn’t heal until treated by the Medicine King, who cured him within two days. Overjoyed, Zhu Yuanzhang bestowed the phrase "Dragon and Phoenix Grace Eternal" to honor the doctor’s healing gift. Later generations built the Medicine King Temple to enshrine him and continue his benevolent legacy. The temple’s Medicine Pill Stone is said to have healing properties. The monastery consists of three rooms and two wing chambers, with a medicinal herb garden, a liberation pond, and a waterside pavilion at the back—showcasing distinctive medical characteristics.