What are the characteristics of folk houses in southern Anhui?

1. Green tiles and white walls are the outstanding impressions of Huizhou architecture.

The well-proportioned horse head wall not only has the beauty of shape, but more importantly, it has the practical function of fire prevention and blocking the spread of fire. One of the characteristics of Huizhou folk houses is the high walls and deep courtyards. On the one hand, it is to protect against thieves, and on the other hand, it is the need for psychological security for migratory families who have suffered from displacement. Another characteristic of Huizhou folk houses is the inward courtyard formed with a deep patio as the center, surrounded by high walls. There are almost no tiles visible from the outside. Only the narrow patio is used for lighting and ventilation to communicate with the outside world. This basic form with the patio as the center and enclosed by high walls is the focus of people's attention. On rainy days, the rainwater flowing from the roofs on all sides flows into the patio, which is commonly known as "the four waters return to the hall". It also vividly reflects the mentality of Huizhou merchants that "the rich water does not flow out of the fields", which is similar to Shanxi folk houses. ?

2. Ancient villages are generally composed of archways, houses, ancestral halls, water mouths, road pavilions, workshops, etc.

Some villages are very large, such as Chengkan, which has 99 streets and alleys. Strangers often get lost after entering. Many villages have a well-organized layout, and the water system in Hongcun is an example. Hongcun built a dam near the mountain at the head of the village. The water canals in the village enter each household from both sides of the street and merge into the Yuetang in the middle of the village. Then it is diverted to households and flows into Nanhu Lake. Each household has large and small channels for washing and drinking water. The layout of residential buildings is generally a three-heyuan or four-heyyuan with a patio as the center and two floors. Medium-sized and large-sized houses are composed of multiple courtyards, and the buildings are all painted with white walls and black tiles.