Zhilan Village

　　Zhilan Village was first established during the Song Dynasty. Inns, grocery stores, and other commercial buildings appeared during the Ming and Qing periods. With a history of over 850 years, the village developed as a settlement of the Chen family. The residential buildings in Zhilan were constructed from the early Ming Dynasty to the end of the Republic of China, spanning nearly 500 years. Each building has a relatively clear construction date, and the evolution of the village’s architecture is well-documented. Originally named Zhixi Village due to the presence of the Zhixi Stream and water weirs in the area, Zhilan Village is situated about 20 kilometers northwest of Lanxi City. The village faces south and is backed by mountains and fronted by water, with a flat terrain. To the east of the village, Peach Peak stands tall, while the undulating Zhishan resembles a green dragon leaping forward. To the southwest, steep green peaks and rolling hills feature two majestic mountains—Shi Mountain and Hu Mountain—that resemble a lion and a tiger guarding the western side of the village. To the north, Chentuo Mountain, backed by thousands of ridges and peaks, cradles the entire village like a “golden throne.” Coupled with the crescent-shaped pond at the southern entrance of the village, symbolizing the “Vermilion Bird,” the overall layout forms a classic feng shui environment characterized by “the Green Dragon on the left, the White Tiger on the right, the Vermilion Bird in front, and the Black Tortoise behind.”