Architecture on the Road
HONGCUN ANCIENT VILLAGE – THE MOST SCENIC VILLAGE OF ANHUI
The ancient village of Hongcun, about 70 km from Huangshan, is considered the most picturesque village in the Huizhou region.
With lush green hills and lotus-covered ponds and lakes, Hongcun is a truly beautiful place, enchanting thousands of visitors every year.
Along with Xidi, UNESCO declared Hongcun World Heritage Site in 2000, a title that the village absolutely deserves. The unique quality and impressive value of traditional Hui architecture make Hongcun one of the most important and well preserved cultural heritage sites for vernacular Chinese architecture. Not to mention the incredibly beautiful landscape and scenery of the region, which is one of the most famous and appreciated in China.
Established in 1131 during the Southern Song Dynasty, the village’s history is over 900 years old.
The village plan was designed to resemble the shape of a buffalo. Leigang Hill at the back of the village is supposed to be the head, the two big trees on the hill resemble horns, the buildings of the village form the body, the Moon Pond in the middle of the village is the stomach, the many streams that run within the houses are the entrails, and the four bridges across the lake are the legs.
There are many authentic Ming and Qing buildings that can be visited inside the village.
Some of the most majestic ones, usually residences for the most wealthy families, are now maintained as museums where visitors can tour their interiors.
The most picturesque, renowned feature of Hongcun is the Moon Pond, which is located in the center of the village.
Shaped like a crescent moon ( a reoccurring shape in Chinese villages to emanate good fengshui), this small artificial pond was created to supply the villagers with water. The blue sky and jagged edges of the Hui houses reflect off the water, creating stunning reflections in the ripples and an enchanting beauty that is peculiar in the ancient setting of a vernacular place, designed for utility rather than elegance.
Hongcun is very popular among tourists, thrown into the international limelight when it appeared on the big screen for “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon“.
To access the village you are required to purchase an entrance ticket that costs around 100 rmb.
HOW TO GET TO HONGCUN
BY BUS
From Huangshan Bus Station (from 8am to 4pm) and Huangshan North Railway (from 9:25 to 17:25) there are busses running every hour to Hongcun village.
BY CAR
A more expensive, but quicker and more convenient way to visit Xidi is to rent a driver for the day and combine this visit with other villages in the surrounding area (usually with the village of Xidi).
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Comments
Ritrovo nel tuo pezzo tutto quello che ho visto visitando questo villaggio. Un posto particolare che consiglio di visitare a tutti quelli che si apprestano ad affrontare un viaggio
in Cina . Grazie !