Ancient Villages in Southern Anhui: Xidi, Hongcun

Author: Wang Yansong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-01-01
Features: Xidi is located in the southeastern part of Yi County, Anhui Province, with geographic coordinates of 117°38′ east longitude and 30°11′ north latitude. The village covers an area of 12.96 hectares. Xidi Village is surrounded by mountains on all sides, with two streams flowing from the north and east sides of the village, converging at the Huiyuan Bridge in the south. The village is primarily structured around a longitudinal street and two streamside roads, forming a street and lane system that extends mainly eastward and further north and south. All streets and lanes are paved with Yi County blue stone. The ancient buildings are of wooden structures with brick walls for maintenance, featuring rich wood carvings, stone carvings, and brick carvings. The lanes, streams, and architectural layout are harmoniously integrated. The spatial variations of the village have a distinctive charm, with buildings displaying a simple and elegant color scheme, reflecting the outstanding talent and achievements in creating the human living environment of southern Anhui ancient villages. It holds significant historical, artistic, and scientific value. Xidi Village is an ancient village where the Hu family lived together based on kinship ties. It originated in the 11th century and flourished between the 14th and 19th centuries. In the early 20th century, with the decline of feudal patriarchal systems in China, the development of Xidi Village also slowed down. Due to minimal impact from wars and economic development over history, the original form of the village has been well-preserved, maintaining its authenticity and completeness in historical development. Currently, 124 Ming and Qing Dynasty ancient residential buildings and 3 ancestral halls are preserved, all listed as key cultural relics protection units of Anhui Province. In 1999, Xidi Village was designated by China as a candidate for world cultural heritage nomination and submitted an application to UNESCO. It passed expert evaluation and inspection. On November 30, 2000, UNESCO included Xidi Village on the World Heritage List.