Xucun Scenic Area

Xucun Scenic Area

Xucun Scenic Area is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Xucun was historically known as Xiyuan or Rengong Village. With a long history, during the Liang Dynasty of the Southern Dynasties, Ren, the then Prefect of Xin’an, was so captivated by the place that he lingered here. Beyond fishing, he even designated Twelve Scenic Spots of Xucun to capture its charm: Martial Peaks Piercing the Clouds, Scholar’s Peak Piercing the Sun, Verdant Mountains in Embrace, Huangshan’s Hidden Beauty, Fishing Songs of West Creek, Woodcutters’ Ballads on Ruoling, Morning Plowing on Flat Fields, Night Reading by the Window, Ren’s Fishing Terrace, Huaiyang Loyalty Temple, Evening Greenery of Sandy Dike, and Morning Bell of Ancient Temple. This is the earliest recorded depiction of Xucun’s landscape.

The Xu family was a prominent clan in ancient She County. Before the Tang Dynasty, families with surnames Yan, Ren, Yang, and Jiang successively settled here. The Xu ancestors, led by ancestor Zhi Chou, migrated to this area, and their descendants flourished, now spanning over forty generations. Even Wang Anshi of the Song Dynasty wrote a preface for the “Genealogy of the Ancient She County Xu Clan.” From the Tang to the Song Dynasty, the area thrived culturally, with eighteen individuals from the township achieving the rank of Jinshi (advanced scholar) or higher. The Ming and Qing Dynasties saw even greater prosperity, producing many heroes and notable figures.

After the Southern Song Dynasty, Huizhou merchants rose to prominence. “Traveling between Huai and Chu, they built fortunes worth millions.” As Xucun lies on the key trade route between Anqing Prefecture and Huizhou Prefecture, it quickly prospered thanks to its strategic location. Strong economic power greatly promoted the development of residential architecture in Xucun. By the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the village reached its zenith. Its glorious history has left behind a rich cultural legacy, among which the rare and uniquely distinctive ancient village architectural complex is the crown jewel.

Xucun preserves a relatively intact historical village appearance, featuring a diverse range of architectural styles, rigorous layouts, exquisite craftsmanship, and profound cultural connotations. Along the 1,500-meter Old Street from Gaoyang to Qianxi, nearly 200 well-preserved Ming and Qing buildings remain, holding significant value in terms of architecture, history, academia, environment, and anthropology.

Traditional residences and ancestral halls in Xucun are mainly wooden structures, with outer walls built from hollow brick. Public buildings such as memorial archways and bridges are primarily made of stone. There are six stone memorial archways, three brick gateways, one pavilion, one covered bridge, as well as numerous ancestral halls and residences. Their functional design, floor plans, as well as brick, wood, and stone carvings, plaques, and inscriptions reflect the local economic conditions, social customs, and architectural aesthetics, possessing unique research and appreciation value.

The village layout and original water systems of Xucun are also integral parts of its cultural heritage. The site selection of Xucun village applied traditional Chinese “Feng Shui” theory. The entire village is embraced by hills on three sides, with West Creek and Fang Creek converging in front of Gaoyang Bridge to form the Fuzi River, meandering southward. The village nestles against mountains and water, boasting an outstanding landscape that embodies the four core Feng Shui principles: symbiosis, coexistence, mutual prosperity, and shared joy. Meanwhile, the distribution of natural water systems and village layout still retain the basic Feng Shui configuration chosen by ancient settlers: “built by the water, twin dragons playing with a pearl, inverted gourd of flowing water.” In 1996, Xucun was approved as a Provincial-Level Historical and Cultural Reserve. In 2006, the Xucun Ancient Architectural Complex was designated as a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit by the State Council (15 sites). Currently, Xucun is applying for recognition as a National Historic and Cultural Town and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.