| Most
of the old houses in Yixian County have stood more than
400 years inside their original villages. Despite
dramatic changes in nearby areas, the local architecture
remains unchanged. Even the local dialect is unchanged
and unintelligible to those living just a few kilometers
away in the neighboring countryside.
This tranquil
and secluded region at the foot of Huangshan Mountain in
Anhui province boasts some of China's best-preserved ancient
villages, with many houses dating from the late Ming dynasty
in the 16th century.
Xidi Village,
listed in 2003 as UN World Heritage Site, is considered
by scholars to be one of the most beautiful of ancient villages
still standing in China; it also ranks among the finest
example of traditional Chinese architecture.
Xidi had no
roads linking it to the outside world and was only accessible
by boat. Located at the southeastern corner of Yixian
County, the village also bears the name, The Land of
Peach Blossoms, a classical Chinese allusion for a peaceful
haven far from the maddening crowd. Tao Yuanming, a poet
of the Eastern Jin Dynasty (317-420), immortalized The Land
of Peach Blossoms in his famous poem about a fisherman,
who accidentally stumbles upon a mysterious place where
people dwell in peace without the turmoil of the outside
world.
Historical accounts
state that men from Xidi, who were noted for their business
acumen, had invested large sums to build and decorate their
houses. Their investment ensured the high quality
of the structures, helping them sustain years of erosion
and natural damage. Houses within courtyards were surrounded
by high walls and had no windows. This unique design
became known as huiju, or Anhui housing, an architectural
school in its own right.
Exquisite sculptures
sit on the corners of most houses; carved flowers or patterns
added elegance and beauty to the houses. Of particular
interest is an ancient building called Xiulou, which has
a gilded balcony overlooking the street. Tradition has it
that young women would sit upstairs from behind carved wooden
lattices to select their future husbands. Today, local
beauties still dress in ancient wedding gowns and throw
colorful balls from the balcony to handsome pedestrians
in the street below. Those catching a ball can win a maiden
to wife.
Another historic
spot in the village is a paifang, or arch, from 1578,
commemorating Hu Wenguang, historically known as an upright
and honest Ming official. The carvings of characters and
patterns are still clearly visible; its open latticework
and sweeping roof add to the elegance of this large structure.
More
examples of ancient architecture is located in Paifang Village
in Shexian County, about 45 minutes from Xidi Village.
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