Chinese Ancient Villages in Southern Anhui—Xidi and Hongcun

Chinese Ancient Villages in Southern Anhui—Xidi and Hongcun

On 30th ,November 2000, the 24th World Heritage Committee conference which was held in Cairns , Australia decided to listed Aihui ancient villages( Xidi, Hongcun) into World Heritage Directory.

Hongcun
Hongcun is located to the westnorth of Yi Xian, 65 kilometers away from Tunxi, 11 kilometers away from Yi county. This village was built in North Song dynasty with nearly one thousand years’ history, used to be a settlement of Wangs. There are 140 Qin and Ming dynasty residential buildings which are well-kept till now. Folk Palace Museum “Chengzhitang ” is so magnificent to the No.1 among the residential buildings in south of Anhui. Buildings and yards are standing shoulder by shoulder with lakes and mountains, Static and dynamic harmonized, everywhere can be a scene, every step into a picture. From the natural atmosphere outside the village and the water drainage, street, building inside the village ,even the layout inside the room are well-kept with the primitive condition, without any signs of modern civilization. With unique modeling and extraordinary Rural scenery,Hong village is called “the village in the painting of China”. Among the hundreds of residential buildings in Hongcun,”Chengzhitang” is the most noted. It was built by salt merchants in Qin dynasty, with 2000 square meters by brick and wood building. The building is magnificent, exquisite skilled, wood carvings on the beam, door and window of the main hall are with complicated levels, numerous figures, affluent expressions, which are the boutique in wood carving art.

Xidi
Xidi is most representative of ancient residential building tour spot in Huangshan, which is located to the south of Hunagshan , 54 kilometers away from Tunxi, only 40 kilometers away from Huangshan scenic area, 8kilometers away from Yixian.The village is 700 kilometers long from east to west, 300 meters wide from south to north, with more than 300 households and more than 1000 residents. Because it was a post sending letters in the old times, it was called “Xidi”, with a name of “household in the Xanadu ” there are 200 Qin and Ming dynasty residential buildings which are well-kept till now. The Hui style buildings are harmonized standing, with brick , wood and stone carvings embellished into them. There are scenic spots which have been explored Ling Yun Pavilion, Ci shi Pai lou, Rui yu Chamber, Taoli Garden, East Garden, Da fu di, Jing Ai Tang, Lv fu Tang, Qing Yun Xuan, Yin Fu Tang, Ying Tian Qi Museum, and so for more than 20 scenic spots. There is another ancient building ”Da Fu Di” which was built in 30 year of Emperor Kang Xi of the Qing Dynasty(1691 AD). It is a pavilion style building near the street used to sightsee, there are “ Tao Hua Yuan Li Ren Jia’ six characters on the forehead of the building. The wealthy buildings , exquisite gardens, windows and doors made of black marbles, singular and rare flowers and grass carved from stone, birds and breasts, pavilions carved of brick, figures and drama text and exquisite color paintings, wall paintings in every household ,all of which are the essence of Chinese ancient art .