Watch the exquisite Huizhou architecture, such as Hu Paifang and Ai Jingtang, and enjoy the three sculptures of Huizhou architecture.
Xidi, located 8km southeast of yi county and 50km northwest of Huangshan City, is a typical Huizhou ancient village. The village looks at water, and the west mainly looks at architecture. Remember to pay attention to the three Huizhou carvings, brick carvings, stone carvings and wood carvings on the building. The branches of these patterns are so fragile that they seem to be broken when pinched. Students from the Academy of Fine Arts come here to sketch is another scenery. Enjoy the exquisite Huizhou architecture such as Hupaifang and Aijingtang, and enjoy the three sculptures of Huizhou architecture.
Most of the residents in Xidi Village are surnamed Hu, who is said to be a descendant of Emperor Taizong and changed their surnames to avoid war. The village was founded in the Northern Song Dynasty, developed in the middle of Jingtai in the Ming Dynasty and reached its peak in the early Qing Dynasty. At that time, wealthy Huizhou merchants in Xidi built their hometown comfortably, and now the buildings we see in Ming and Qing dynasties still maintain their former grandeur.
This ancient village was built in the shape of a boat, spanning three streams. Qianxi and Houxi in the south meet Xixi at Huiyuan Bridge in the village, and Xixi and Shewu Creek in the north meet at the entrance of the village. The stream flows from east to west, so the village was named Xidi. Village roads extend in all directions and there are many entrances. The main entrance is in the southwest corner, and people usually visit ancient villages from southwest to northeast.
main entry door
At the main entrance, the first thing you see is the Hu memorial archway, which was built in the sixth year of Wanli in the Ming Dynasty (AD 1578). It is magnificent and represents the prominent position of the Hu family. The archway is made of local "first-line green" marble, with five floors above, and each floor has different exquisite stone carvings. Next to the archway is Mingjing Lake, where you can shoot the reflection of Huizhou architecture.
Enter the village and come to Ruiyu Pavilion at the corner of Luheng Street. This is the representative residence of Huizhou merchants, which was built in Xianfeng period of Qing Dynasty. The most interesting thing is a couplet. For example, the couplet composed of all the words at the bottom of the word is "far away from each other, advance and retreat late, enjoy yourself." Another example is "Happiness comes from hard work, but it is cheaper, but it also contains the philosophy of doing things".
Go east and cross the Qian Qian River. The Aijing Hall on the East Coast was built in Wanli period of Ming Dynasty and rebuilt in Qianlong period of Qing Dynasty. This is the largest ancestral temple in the village. Dear Hall used to be the place where the Hu family discussed, held weddings, taught and condemned their black sheep. The word "filial piety" hung in the room impressed me the most. The word "earth" on "filial piety" looks like a bowler on the right and a monkey on the left, indicating that you should be filial, and vice versa.
Sightseeing
Go along the stream ahead, and then go northeast. Shangdetang in the upper reaches has a history of 400 years, and it is the oldest existing Ming Dynasty residence in the village. Along this road from the entrance, you can also visit Li Tao Garden, which is the only building in Xidi that matches the library. Huizhou Courtyard West Garden and East Garden; Hu Guansan, the richest man in Xidi in Qing Dynasty, lived in Ren Jiantang in his later years. Later, it was the former residence of Huang Xingxian, a famous family, and founded the first "Chongde Girls' School" in Yixian. In addition, Zoumalou, Xiulou and Zhumutang are also distinctive Ming and Qing buildings in Xidi.
In March and April, you can see the beautiful scenery of white wall and black tile rape flowers in Xidi, but there are too many tourists to avoid Tomb-Sweeping Day.
Xidi is highly commercialized. Many local people have opened farmhouses, and some of them sell snacks in the street. You can taste Huizhou specialties, such as Laba tofu, sesame cakes, bamboo shoots, hairy tofu and snakehead introduced by TV program China on the tip of the tongue.
If you want to enjoy the tranquility of the ancient village, you can stay for a few nights and visit the ancient village in the morning and evening to avoid the crowds during the day. Rural accommodation is mostly family hotels transformed from old buildings.