Huangtian Village

　　Huangtian Village is situated in ?gai Township, Jing County, with an area of 5.7 square kilometers. It governs 6 communities, 25 mutual aid groups, 922 households, and a population of 3,183. The village includes 3,570 mu of paddy fields and 650 mu of tea plantations, producing “Yongxi Huoqing,” one of China’s top ten famous teas. Within the area are military air-raid shelters built in the 1960s. A 5-kilometer-long national third-class standard road connects the 205 National Highway directly to Huangtian Natural Village, ensuring convenient transportation.

　　The village has a long history and profound cultural heritage. In October 2006, it was designated as a Historical and Cultural Village of Anhui Province. Nestled among green mountains and clear waters, the village preserves well-maintained ancient residential architectural complexes from the Qing Dynasty, representing precious historical and cultural assets. There are currently 57 ancient structures, consisting of 110 individual buildings with a total floor space of 33,000 square meters. In May 2006, it was approved by the State Council as part of the sixth batch of Major National Historical and Cultural Sites. Among them, the Huangtian Fengzi River landscape won the title of “China’s Classic Village Landscape” at the inaugural award. Its architecture combines the grandeur of imperial buildings, the style of Suzhou gardens, and the distinctive features of Huizhou-style architecture in southern Anhui.

　　The village features crisscrossing lanes, open and hidden drainage channels, and flowing water running through the settlement. Among its highlights is the unique cultural structure of Yangchuan House, the traditional craftsmanship of water-ground floral bricks, and the feng shui culture of the natural water outlet of the ancient village, together forming three major architectural characteristics of the traditional Huangtian village.

　　Notable attractions in the village include Yangchuan House. Also known as Duceng Hall, it covers an area of over 4,200 square meters and is shaped like a ship. It is surrounded by high walls, with deep ditches on both sides. Both the walls and the building itself mimic the shape of a ship, following the terrain. The “bow” of the ship is sharply angled, with the top of the wall slightly upturned. The midpoint of the front wall resembles the ship’s deck, avoiding significant height differences—thus, any elevation changes are cleverly positioned around the entrance to remain inconspicuous.

　　Inside the wall is a square garden and a private school. Their heights do not exceed that of the walls, except for the two-story “Meicun Family School,” which stands out like the “bridge cabin.” The middle and rear parts of the ship-shaped wall are taller, resembling cabins, enclosing higher residences and halls, with layered structures and a massive scale, closely resembling a grand ocean liner.

　　Yangchuan House contains 20 buildings, including nine one-bay living quarters, one seven-bay residence, and one five-bay residence. Other spaces include an ancestral hall and ceremonial hall for weddings and funerals, a banquet hall, a private school for children’s education, a garden for leisure, and service areas such as the gatehouse and stable for servants and horses.

　　The entire environment is highly suitable for the various needs of a feudal extended family, including daily living, dining, ancestor worship, studying, and resting. Visually, it masterfully utilizes the stream and mountain terrain to form an architectural complex resembling a large passenger ship.