Architecture on the Road
CHENGKAN BAGUA VILLAGE – THE HIDDEN GEM OF ANHUI
Forty kilometers from Huangshan city, the village of Chengkan was founded during the Ming Dynasty (1368 A.D. – 1644 A.D.) and is one of the most beautiful villages in the Huizhou Region of Anhui Province in China.
Living in the shadow of the two UNESCO Sites of Xidi and Hongcun located nearby, the village of Chengkan architecturally speaking achieves the same quality of its more famous counterparts.
It has over 150 ancient residences designed in the traditional Hui style, and among those, 21 are listed as major cultural relics under a special protection for heritage.
Chengkan is a bagua village (eight sided village), planned and designed to reflect the philosophy of the Taiji.
(what is a bagua village? click here to discover everything you have to know!)
The village is surrounded by eight mountains and is built around the Zhongchuan River that flows in an S-shape, forming the bagua plan.
In front of the village there is a small lake covered in lotus flowers and aquatic plants. The pond is crossed by stone paths over the water and traditional Chinese arched bridges.
There is a spectacular view of the village immersed in this idillic natural setting that can be admired from the square-terrace located right after the ticket office.
The most important building of Chengkan is the impressive Ancestral Hall, which is the biggest in Southern China. It is characterized by a majestic wooden structure with decorative features influenced by different cultures (not only classic Chinese, but also Greek-Roman and Persian).
Chengkan contains over 99 lanes, some of them extremely narrow and with no openings.
This fascinating feature creates a labyrinth effect, causing the inexperienced visitor to lose their bearings. And indeed this ancient village is a beautiful place to get lost! You may end up discovering splendid ancient residences which are now kept as museums, or meeting some of the old inhabitants going about their everyday activities.
Tourism has not developed wildly in the village, and unlike the bustling crowds of Xidi and Hongcun, the inhabitants still enjoy a pastoral lifestyle far from the swarm of tourists only a few miles away.
Changkan certainly deserves more tourism attention, but it is a blessing that it’s not more famous because it makes it a truly breathtaking destination that can be enjoyed at a leisurely pace without hundreds of selfie sticks lining the streets.
To access the village is required to purchase an entrance ticket that costs around 100 rmb.
BY BUS
1- From Huangshan Bus Station catch bus no. 3 and get off at Chengkan Ancient Village.
A bus from Huangshan North Railway Station is also available.
BY CAR
More expensive but quicker, rent a driver can be a solution to visit Chengkan together with other villages in the surrounding area (for example the village of Tangmo, which is relatively close).
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