What are the characteristics of Hongcun?

Characteristics of the ancient residents of Hongcun. Hongcun is adjacent to Leigang Mountain in the north, Dongshan Mountain and Shigu Mountain to the east and west. The mountain vegetation is lush, and the south of the village is open and has a large pond - Nanhu. The layout of the village basically maintains a north-south orientation, and the village site is in the center surrounded by mountains and rivers, forming an ideal Feng Shui environment of "piling on mountains, surrounded by water, and facing a screen" with mountains and flowing water on the side. Hongcun adopts a "cow"-shaped layout in plan. The cow's intestines - the water inlet of Xixi River from Shuizhen City, flows through the village through nine twists and turns, and finally flows into Nanhu Lake, giving full play to its production, life, drainage, fire protection and ecological improvement. environment and other functions. Residents can drink, wash, water gardens, dig ponds to raise fish, and plant flowers and grass for self-cultivation without leaving home. Hongcun has a street and alley system similar to a square grid, paved with granite, and artificial water systems running through every household to form a unique water street and alley space. In the center of the village, the half-moon-shaped pond "ox heart" - Moon Marsh is the center, and it is surrounded by residences and ancestral halls, which is very cohesive. The Moon Marsh and Nanhu Lake, which best reflect the landscape and artistic value of Hongcun, set off the simple buildings and still maintain vitality amid the green hills, further demonstrating Hongcun's unique residential environment value and landscape value. Water, architecture, and environment are the three major elements that constitute the Ming and Qing residential buildings in Hongcun. Hongcun's water network consists of Shuizhen, Yuenma, Nanhu, water lanes and residential "water gardens", which form the overall spatial characteristics of the waterscape. The artistic characteristics of water are fully displayed in the residential buildings of the Ming and Qing Dynasties in Hongcun. The water system has a positive effect on the ecology, landscape, and environment of the village, creating a good living and ecological environment for village residents, making the village more beautiful, charming, crystal clear, and friendly. Water in Hongcun fully embodies its ecological value, practical function and landscape value. The Ming and Qing residential buildings in Hongcun are basically well preserved, including academy buildings, ancestral halls, numerous residential buildings and private gardens. They are outstanding representatives of Huizhou's architectural culture. In particular, the academy buildings represented by Nanhu Academy, the residential buildings represented by Chengzhi Hall, and the private gardens represented by Deyi Hall and Biyuan reflect the prosperity of Huizhou's Confucian culture from the 14th to the 18th century. Hongcun's residential buildings of the Ming and Qing Dynasties have a simple and elegant temperament. They make full use of local materials such as wood, stone, bricks, etc. for carvings of various themes, as well as interior decoration, courtyard furnishings and greening layout, reflecting the profound connotation of Huizhou culture. It has high historical, artistic and scientific value. Because the local climate is mild and the air is humid, it is suitable for plant growth. The hazel forests in Leigang Mountain, willows, ginkgo and other ancient and famous trees along streams and lakes complement the ancient buildings. Most residential houses have flower beds and bonsai combined with water gardens. , with exquisite landscaping and full of interest, it is a masterpiece of ancient Huizhou private gardens. Due to the utilization of water, villages and houses are given vitality and spirituality. The combination of water, architecture and environment can better reflect the profound cultural accumulation of the village and the comprehensive value of Feng Shui theory guiding the layout of village construction. There are 103 ancient buildings from the 14th to 19th centuries in the Hongcun residential complex of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The building types include academies, ancestral halls, and residences