Xidi Village-a land of peach blossom

0 CommentsPrint E-mail TravelBlog, January 27, 2010
Adjust font size:

Xidi village is a very beautiful village located near Huangshan Mountain in Anhui Province. It is a perfect place for visitors to see typical folk houses where residents have lived as they have for centuries. It boasts 124 well-preserved dwelling houses and 3 clan temples dating back to the Ming and Qing Dynasties.

At the entrance of the village, your attention will be caught by a magnificent memorial archway, which was built in honor of a celebrated official in mid-Ming Dynasty. Inside the village you will find that all the houses were built with one common feature: the wood-bricked structures with two storeys, elaborately carved beams, and colorfully painted pillars. The designs of the wood carvings are all originated from Chinese legendary stories and ancient routine practice.

The ornaments with superb workmanship can be seen everywhere in the houses, which really reflect the prosperous period of the former dwellers whose business covered salt trade, pawnshop, etc. The representatives of such houses are several ancient clan halls and merchants' residences, the Hall of Kindness, the Hall of Auspices, etc. to name a few.

It is called "the Land of Peach Blossom" or "Home in Wonderland" for its beauty and tranquility. It is also called "a treasure house of ancient resident architecture" for its well-preserved ancient houses and archways in Ming and Qing dynasties. Just as Hongcun Village, it was also accepted by UNESCO as the World Cultural Heritage Site in 2000.

Print E-mail Bookmark and Share

Go to Forum >>0 Comments

No comments.

Add your comments...

  • User Name Required
  • Your Comment
  • Racist, abusive and off-topic comments may be removed by the moderator.
Send your storiesGet more from China.org.cnMobileRSSNewsletter