Zi Yuan Scenic Area

　　Jixi Zi Yuan is situated in Shangmashi Village, east of Jixi County, Anhui Province, just 1.8 kilometers from the county town and on the way to Longchuan Scenic Area. The area encapsulates various architectural styles of Huizhou-style residences and was developed by Jixi Zi Yuan Ancient Residential Tourism Development Co., Ltd. Covering an area of over 10,000 square meters, Zi Yuan serves as a comprehensive tourist destination integrating sightseeing, accommodation, dining, conferences, and leisure. It is also an officially registered agritainment tourism operator in Jixi.

　　Anhui Zi Yuan condenses the diverse styles of Huizhou residential architecture, bringing together the essence of Ming and Qing-era Huizhou homes within a single garden. It is a garden-style architectural complex. Surrounded by mountains on all sides with a pool of clear water at its heart, the garden features pines and maples on the hills and densely packed houses at the base. The entire garden consists of structures including the Five Phoenix Tower, Cloud-Waiting Pavilion, Huan Cui Bridge, Gourd Pond, Songfeng Hall, Gaoyun Hall, and others, incorporating elements of traditional Huizhou architecture such as pavilions, towers, residences, and ancestral halls.

　　A team from the Anhui Provincial Tourism Administration’s National A-Level Scenic Area Inspection Group conducted an acceptance inspection for Jixi County’s Zi Yuan Tourist Area as a candidate for National 3A-Level Scenic Area status. After the inspection, the provincial team concluded that Zi Yuan Scenic Area is advantageously located along the Hualong Ecological Avenue, close to the county town, offering excellent accessibility. As a tourist site featuring Huizhou ancient residences, it embodies a classic Jiangnan aesthetic—compact, elegant, with small bridges over flowing water, delicate charm, and timeless antique beauty, highlighting the architectural style of ancient Huizhou. It boasts profound cultural heritage and strong development potential. The inspection team advised the scenic area to develop with foresight, restore and enrich the original furnishings typical of Huizhou residences of the past, and find ways to use text, images, and accurate, vivid guided tours to explain the historical origins and deep cultural significance of the old houses. The development should prioritize people-oriented design, emphasizing both heritage conservation and environmental harmony. All bilingual signage, stele explanations, and other informational materials must be accurate, incisive, and professional—no detail should be overlooked to ensure visitors gain insight from what they see. Efforts should also be made to enhance supporting facilities and overall functionality to better attract and retain visitors.

　　In recent years, Zi Yuan has attracted numerous film and television production crews with its distinctive ancient Huizhou charm. Movies such as “Huizhou Woman” and TV dramas like “Twin Phoenix Mansion” were filmed here. Dozens of renowned actors, including Gua Ya-lei, Ding Haifeng, Li Fazeng, Cheng Qian, Hou Changrong, and Wang Qianhua, have visited the site. One of the most iconic moments was the large round table in the official hall where actress Gua Ya-lei (playing the matriarch) dined during the filming of “Huizhou Woman”—it has since become a highly sought-after seating spot for diners.