Sixi Village

Sixi Village

Most of the ancient buildings in Sixi Village date back to the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. At its peak, there were over seventy structures, and about thirty remain today. Among them, the “Jingxu Hall,” a large residence built during the Yongzheng reign of the Qing Dynasty, consists of a courtyard, main hall, rear hall, flower hall, kitchen, and garden, covering an area of over one mu. The guesthouse features exquisitely carved architecture, with a rectangular algal-shaped ceiling inside, giving it an antique charm. It served as a major exterior filming location for “Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio.” Even rarer is the “Hundred Longevity Characters” artwork, composed of 96 “longevity” characters in different calligraphic styles, engraved in the centers of twelve doors, making it a true “masterpiece.” Additionally, the village also features other ancient dwellings and the Tongji Bridge among other scenic spots.

Time Needed

Half a day

Ticket Price

38 RMB

8:00-18:00

Opening Hours

Sixi and Yancun Villages are located in Sikou Town, Wuyuan County, Jiangxi Province, approximately 13 kilometers from the county seat, Ziyang Town. Established in the fifth year of the Qingyuan era during the Southern Song Dynasty (1199), the villages have a history of over 800 years. The founding Yu family named the place after their longing (“si”) for the clear stream (“xi”). Over the centuries, descendants engaged in business across Jiangxi, Zhejiang, Shanghai, and even Hunan and Guangxi, primarily dealing in timber, tea, and salt. Many who prospered in trade returned to their hometowns to purchase land, build houses, and establish academies, constructing numerous mansions, ancestral halls, and memorial archways.

The entire village is dominated by Ming and Qing dynasty architecture. The settlement is paved with bluestone slabs, with the ancient building complex backed by green mountains and facing clear streams and rice paddies. Surrounded by greenery, the village blends harmoniously with the elegant natural scenery of pristine waters and mountains. Currently, there are 172 households and 667 residents, covering an area of about 8.6 hectares. There are 156 ancient dwellings, including five from the Ming Dynasty and over eighty from the Qing Dynasty, with the existing ancient buildings covering an area of approximately 16,000 square meters. Most of the ancient houses feature white walls and black tiles.

The overall color scheme of black and white creates a simple and elegant aesthetic. Viewed from a distance, these ancient houses present a large expanse of blank white walls, punctuated by small windows of varying heights, creating a contrast between the whole and the parts, the surface and the points—embodying the concept of “following the laws of nature.” Both interior and exterior walls prominently feature architectural elements such as horse-head walls and gable walls. In particular, the upturned eaves of the horse-head walls outline the silhouette of the rooftops against the blue sky, adding layers and rhythm to the spatial beauty. A notable feature of Sixi’s residential architecture is the presence of skywells in the homes, where commercial culture is perfectly reflected.

In Wuyuan, the architecture of official residences differs from that of merchant houses. Official homes emphasize grandeur, while merchant houses focus on prosperity. The ancient buildings of Yancun embody this merchant aspiration. According to historical records such as the “Wuyuan County Place Names Gazetteer” and genealogical texts, Yancun was initially established during the Yuanyou era of the Northern Song Dynasty (1078–1085). The earliest settlers were from four families: Zha, Wu, Cheng, and Lü. By the Zhengde era of the Ming Dynasty (1506–1521), the Jin family, now comprising about 80% of the village’s population, migrated from Tuochuan in northern Wuyuan.

The village was originally called “Yanchuan,” because it faces an ever-flowing clear stream. The villagers hoped for their descendants to thrive for generations, hence the name. Later, Yanchuan gradually became commonly known as “Yancun.” Today, 56 well-preserved ancient merchant houses from the Qing Dynasty remain in the village, earning it the title “Qing Dynasty Merchant Residence Cluster.” At the time, Wuyuan was under the jurisdiction of Huizhou. As a formidable force among the historic Huizhou merchants—mainly tea and timber traders—Wuyuan people transported the region's abundant tea and timber elsewhere for trade. After amassing wealth through commerce, they often sent silver back home to buy land and build houses, thereby glorifying their family heritage.