Xiweng Village

　　Xiweng Village is blessed with picturesque landscapes and delightful scenery throughout the year. To the south you can gaze at the verdant Xingwu Arch, while to the north rises the elegant Lutai Peak. The village is embraced by rolling hills on both the east and west sides, hence the name “Mountain-Embraced Residence.” Established in the late Tang Dynasty, the village preserves a large number of ancient buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties. Eighteen ancient streets from those periods crisscross the area, spanning a total length of 1.5 kilometers. Three well-preserved Ming Dynasty courtyard homes—"Fragrance Drifting Under the Willow," "Steadfast as a Rock," and "Upholding the Ancestors’ Legacy"—still stand today. These traditional courtyard homes feature wing rooms and side chambers attached to the main houses, exemplifying the classic Shanxi-style “four large and eight small” layout. Among them, the “Liu Family Residence” is the most renowned. Originally built as the ancestral home of descendants of Liu Zongyuan, a celebrated Tang Dynasty literary figure, philosopher, essayist, and historian known as the “Yongzhou Prefect,” the Liu Family Residence is situated on a north-south ridgeline east of the village. Its overall layout and design symbolize the meaning of “both wealth and rank.” Surrounded by verdant hills, dense forests, and blooming wildflowers, the site offers a fresh and elegant ambiance, making it a classic example of Ming and Qing dynasty manor architecture.