Ancient Architectural Complex of Hongcun

Ancient Architectural Complex of Hongcun

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

The Ancient Architectural Complex of Hongcun is located 11 kilometers northeast of Yixian County in Anhui Province. It is a collection of residential buildings from the Ming, Qing, and Republic of China periods.

Hongcun, also known as Hong Village, was established in 1131 AD when its founding ancestor, Wang Yianji, relocated his family from Qishu Village in Yixian County to higher ground along the stream due to a devastating fire. They built thirteen houses in the area around Leigang Mountain, marking the beginning of Hongcun. Wang Yianji constructed the Suiyang Pavilion at the village entrance as a symbolic landmark. With the development of feudal economy and cultural prosperity, Huizhou — the birthplace of Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism — also reached its heyday. Many Wang clan ancestors became officials or engaged in business outside, and they invested in purchasing land, building houses, constructing bridges, and paving roads back in their hometown. This led to two major construction booms in Hongcun: one between 1401–1620 and another between 1796–1911. Between 1403–1424, the Wang family — father and son Wang Siqi and Wang Shengping — invited geomancer He Keda to “survey the mountains and rivers and examine the veins” in detail. They diverted water from Xixi Stream into the village, dug a 100-zhang-long (approximately 330 meters) irrigation channel, and expanded the Moon Pond to about 1,000 square meters. Over the following 199 years, the population of Hongcun grew and the architecture became denser. In 1607, 16 village clan leaders pooled funds to purchase hundreds of acres of paddy fields. They dug deep and connected springs, caves, pools, and low-lying fields south of the village to form an annular pond — the South Lake. Thus, a complete water system for the entire village was established. Between 1425–1596, over a span of 170 years, Hongcun adopted a feng shui layout for its water outlets, known as the “Four Earth Controls”: the Eastern Earth Control (Longpai Temple), the Southern Earth Control (Red Poplar and White Fruit trees), the Northern Earth Control (Leifu Hazelnut Forest), and the Western Earth Control (Guanyin Pavilion, representing Buddhism). They built ancestral halls and temples such as the Leshu Hall, Taizi Temple, and Zhengyi Hall. Gradually, Hongcun developed into a settlement of clans and families bonded by bloodlines and geographical ties. From 1662–1911, large-scale academies and residences such as the Nanhu Academy, Shuren Hall, Lexiong Hall, and Chengzhi Hall were constructed. During the late Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China period, with the decline of Huizhou merchants and the breakdown of the feudal clan system, the development of Hongcun gradually slowed down.

The protected area of the Ancient Architectural Complex of Hongcun spans 280,000 square meters, featuring 103 buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties and 34 structures from the Republic of China period. Nestled against mountains on three sides and facing south, it includes the Nanhu Academy, Leshu Hall, Chengzhi Hall, and over a hundred Ming and Qing residential houses. The natural landscape is integrated into the village, with water systems designed in the shape of an “ox.” Streams flow through the village, forming the Moon Pond and South Lake within and around the settlement. Houses and streets are built along the waterways, paved with stone slabs, showcasing distinctive features. The architecture mainly consists of residences and private gardens, as well as public facilities such as academies and ancestral halls, forming relatively intact architectural complexes. All types of buildings emphasize intricate ornamentation, including delicate and exquisite wood carvings, brick carvings, and stone carvings, all of which hold high artistic value. Most streets and alleys are built alongside water, and residences are centered around the Moon Pond. Homes typically have two-courtyard layouts, and some families even divert stream water into their courtyards to create water yards with fishponds.

On November 30, 2000, during the 24th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee held in Cairns, Australia, the ancient villages of Xidi and Hongcun in Anhui, China, were inscribed on the World Heritage List. In 2001, the Ancient Architectural Complex of Hongcun, recognized as a historic structure from the Ming and Qing periods, was listed by the State Council as part of the fifth group of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units. In 2003, Hongcun was awarded the title of China’s Famous Historical and Cultural Village.

Protected Area: East to 50 meters east of the village, west to the western bank of Xixi Stream, south to Nanhu Highway, and north to Leigang Mountain.

Construction Control Zone: Outside the protected area, east to the ridgeline of Dongshan Mountain, west to the ridgeline of Shigu Mountain, south to Qishu Reservoir, and north to the ridgeline of Leigang Mountain.

Hongcun Town: Hongcun Town is located at the southern foot of Huangshan Mountain, only 29 kilometers from the southern gate of Huangshan Scenic Area and 60 kilometers from Huangshan Airport, offering very convenient transportation. The town administers 21 villages and 142 villager groups, covering an area of 187.1 square kilometers. It has a permanent resident population of over 20,000 and a floating population of 5,000. The area features overlapping mountains, lush forests and bamboo, meandering streams, and pleasant scenery. It boasts 14,318 hectares of forest, with a forest coverage rate of 77%. It is currently recognized as an Environmentally Beautiful Township of Huangshan City, an Eco-Civilization Township of Huangshan City, and an Environmental Education Base of Anhui Province.

The area is scattered with numerous... Hongcun Town Detailed Information++

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units