Ancient Villages in Southern Anhui (Xidi and Hongcun)

Ancient Villages in Southern Anhui (Xidi and Hongcun)

The Ancient Villages in Southern Anhui (Xidi and Hongcun) are a National AAAAA-level Tourist Attraction.

The Ancient Villages in Southern Anhui are located to the east of Yi County, Anhui Province, represented mainly by Xidi Village and Hongcun Village. These ancient residential villages are situated in the Huangshan Scenic Area within Yi County, eastern Anhui Province.

Xidi Village covers an area of nearly 13 hectares and has a history of over 950 years. It currently features three ancestral halls dating from the 14th to the 19th centuries, one memorial archway, and 224 ancient dwellings. Xidi Village has preserved the typical style of an ancient Ming and Qing village in excellent condition, earning it the reputation of a "living museum of ancient dwellings." Hongcun was first built in 1131 AD and now has 137 well-preserved ancient buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties. It serves as a representative carrier of Huizhou culture — a typical example of late feudal Chinese society culture — and showcases the exquisite craftsmanship of Huizhou-style residences.

In 2000, UNESCO included the ancient villages of Xidi and Hongcun in Southern Anhui, China, on the World Heritage List. In 2001, the Ancient Villages in Southern Anhui became one of the fifth group of Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level. In 2011, they were rated as a National AAAAA-level Tourist Attraction.

Hongcun and Xidi are the two most representative ancient villages among the Huizhou-style dwellings in southern Anhui. They are renowned worldwide for their idyllic pastoral scenery reminiscent of a paradise on earth, well-preserved village forms, exquisite Huizhou-style architecture, and rich historical and cultural heritage. In 2000, they were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as cultural heritage sites.

The ancient dwellings of Xidi and Hongcun are located within the Huangshan Scenic Area in Yi County, eastern Anhui Province. Hongcun was first built during the Shaoxing period of the Southern Song Dynasty (1190–1194 AD), originally as a settlement of the Wang family, and has a history of over 800 years. Backed by the Huangshan foothills including Yangzhan Ridge and Leigang Mountain, the village sits at a higher elevation where clouds and mist often gather. Sometimes the scenery resembles thick ink wash painting, other times like freehand brushwork — truly like a slowly unfurling landscape scroll. Hence, it is hailed as the “Village in a Chinese Painting.”

Famous attractions include the South Lake scenery, South Lake Academy, Moon Pond in Spring Dawn, Ox Intestine Water Channels, Twin Streams Reflecting Blue, Trees in Front of the Pavilion, Leigang Sunset, Shuren Hall, and the Ming Dynasty ancestral hall Leshu Tang. During the Shaoxing period of the Southern Song Dynasty, the ancient people of Hongcun, in an ingenious move to prevent fire and irrigate fields, pioneered a biomimetic water system — considered “a unique wonder in China” — making it “a great spectacle in architectural history.” The majestic and verdant Leigang serves as the ox head, towering ancient trees as the ox horns, and the well-arranged houses stretching from east to west resemble a colossal ox body.

Spring water is channeled as the “ox intestines,” flowing through the village into the Moon Pond known as the “ox stomach,” then filtered out to the South Lake outside the village, referred to as the “ox belly.” Four bridges were also built over the streams around the village, symbolizing the ox’s legs. This ingenious and scientific water system design not only provided a solution for fire safety and irrigation but also helped regulate temperature, facilitated daily water usage, and created a pleasant environment where “one need not worry about the distance to fetch water — every household has clear springs at their door.”

Xidi is 8 kilometers from the county town. Established during the Huangyou period of the Northern Song Dynasty (1049–1054 AD), it has a history of nearly a thousand years. The entire village is shaped like a boat, surrounded by mountains, with two streams converging at Huiyuan Bridge in the south after passing along the north and east sides of the village.

The village layout centers around a main longitudinal street and two paths along the streams, forming a primarily eastward-oriented network that extends to the north and south. All lanes are paved with Yi County bluestone, and the ancient buildings are mostly wooden structures with brick walls. They feature richly carved woodwork, stonework, and brickwork, with coordinated designs between alleys and structures. The spatial variation of the village is flexible, and the color tones of the buildings are simple and elegant.

Development History

In 1986, Xidi Village, one of the major representatives of the Ancient Villages in Southern Anhui, was designated as a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the Provincial Level in Anhui Province.

In 1998, the Ancient Villages in Southern Anhui were recognized as a Provincial Model Window for Civilized Scenic Areas.

In 1999, Xidi Village was designated by the state as a candidate site for World Heritage nomination, officially submitted to UNESCO and passed expert evaluation and inspection.

In 2000, at the 24th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee held in Cairns, Australia, it was decided to include Xidi and Hongcun in the Ancient Villages of Southern Anhui, China, on the World Heritage List. This marked the first time residential villages were listed as World Heritage.

In 2001, the ancient building complex of the Ancient Villages in Southern Anhui was announced by the State Council of the People's Republic of China as one of the fifth group of Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level.

On October 8, 2003, the Ancient Villages in Southern Anhui were approved as one of the first batch of Famous Historical and Cultural Villages in China.

In 2011, the Ancient Villages in Southern Anhui were rated as a National AAAAA-level Tourist Attraction.

In 2013, the Ancient Villages in Southern Anhui were listed by the National Cultural Heritage Administration as one of the national model projects for cultural relics maintenance and protection.

Further Reading:

·Top 50 Existing Ancient Architectures in China