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5A LevelAncient Towns and Villages

Hongcun Ancient Village

Hongcun Ancient Village

Anhui

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Category:Historical Sites

Hongcun, known as the 'village in a painting,' is a masterpiece of Hui-style architecture reflected in the serene waters of South Lake and the Moon Pond. Its cobblestone alleys whisper tales of centuries past, embodying the legacy of the Hui merchants and offering a tranquil retreat for the soul.

INTRODUCTION

About This Attraction

Village in a Painting: Hongcun

Overview: A Model of Water-Ink Huizhou

Hongcun, located in the northeast of Yi County, Huangshan City, Anhui Province, was first built during the Shaoxing reign of the Southern Song Dynasty (1131 AD), with a history of nearly 900 years. It is hailed as the 'village in a painting' and is an outstanding representative of Hui-style ancient villages, as well as one of China's first historical and cultural villages. In 2000, Hongcun, as a typical representative of ancient villages in southern Anhui, was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. With its unique 'ox-shaped' water system, exquisite Hui-style architecture, and profound cultural heritage, Hongcun has become a living fossil for the study of ancient Chinese rural planning, architectural aesthetics, and social life.

Basic Data

Geographic Location: Hongcun Town, Yi County, Huangshan City, Anhui Province
Founding Period: Shaoxing reign of the Southern Song Dynasty (1131-1162)
Area: Core protection area approximately 28 hectares
Main Water Systems: Moon Pond, South Lake, and water channels (total length approximately 1200 meters)
Main Buildings: Chengzhi Hall, South Lake Academy, Lexu Hall, Jingxiu Hall, etc.

PRACTICAL INFO

Travel Essentials

Opening Hours

Open all year round. Summer (Mar 1 - Nov 30): 7:30-18:00; Winter (Dec 1 - Feb 28): 8:00-17:30.

Ticket Price

Full-price ticket approx. ¥104/person (price may adjust seasonally, subject to the scenic area's daily announcement).

How to Get There

External Transportation: Take a high-speed train to Huangshan North Station, then transfer to a tourist shuttle bus directly to Hongcun (about 1 hour). Alternatively, from Huangshan Tunxi International Airport or Huangshan city (Tunxi), take a long-distance bus to Yi County seat, then transfer to a local bus to Hongcun. Internal Transportation: Motor vehicles are prohibited within the Hongcun scenic area; sightseeing is mainly on foot. The village roads are narrow, so it is recommended to wear comfortable shoes.

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Architectural Layout: Bionic Water System and Space

Hongcun's architectural layout is a rare 'bionic' masterpiece in the history of ancient Chinese village planning. The entire village is designed as an 'ox' shape lying quietly at the foot of the mountains and beside the stream, with its core being a sophisticated artificial water system.

Ox-Shaped Water System

Ox Intestines—Water Channels: A channel approximately 1200 meters long and 0.6 meters wide diverts water from the stream (Xixi) at the west of the village, winding through main and secondary alleys, passing by every household. The channels not only provide domestic and fire-fighting water but also regulate the microclimate and drain wastewater. The flow direction is cleverly designed to use the terrain gradient, allowing the living water to flow from west to east, from high to low, eventually merging into South Lake.
Ox Stomach—Moon Pond: Located at the village center, it is a semicircular artificial pond covering about 1200 square meters. The Moon Pond serves as the regulating hub of the water system and the core public space for villagers. Its shape embodies the saying 'the full moon wanes, the full water overflows,' reflecting the Hui merchants' philosophy of 'prosperity is not eternal.'
Ox Belly—South Lake: Located at the south of the village, covering about 20,000 square meters, it is the largest water body in Hongcun. The excavation of South Lake not only expanded the water storage capacity but also formed an open water landscape on the southern side, complementing the distant mountains and the nearby white walls and black tiles, creating the most classic image of the 'village in a painting.'

Streets and Building Complex

The streets and alleys of Hongcun, centered around the Moon Pond and South Lake, extend in an 'ox-shaped' skeleton. Main streets include Nanhu Road, Front Street, Back Street, etc., with widths of about 2-3 meters, paved with bluestone slabs. The alleys are narrow and deep, flanked by towering horse-head walls, creating a strong sense of spatial sequence. The building complex is centered on ancestral halls, with residences, academies, and shops distributed around them, reflecting the settlement organization principles under the patriarchal system.

Chengzhi Hall: Located north of the Moon Pond, it is a private residence built in 1855 by the late Qing Hui merchant Wang Dinggui, known as the 'Folk Forbidden City.' It covers an area of about 2100 square meters, with a building area of about 3000 square meters and over 60 rooms. Its interior wood, stone, and brick carvings are exquisite, especially the wood carvings such as 'A Hundred Children Celebrating the Lantern Festival' and 'Tang Suzong's Banquet for Officials,' making it a masterpiece of Hui-style 'three carvings' art.
South Lake Academy: Located by the South Lake, it was first built in the late Ming Dynasty and rebuilt during the Jiaqing reign of the Qing Dynasty (1796-1820). The academy covers about 6000 square meters and consists of Zhidao Hall, Wenchang Pavilion, Qimeng Pavilion, Huiwen Pavilion, Wanghu Tower, etc. It is one of the best-preserved ancient academies in Huizhou, witnessing Hongcun's tradition of 'no village of ten households without the sound of reading.'
Lexu Hall: The ancestral hall of the Wang clan, located on the north bank of the Moon Pond, is an important venue for sacrifices and discussions. The building has three bays with five sections, grand in scale with thick beams and columns, reflecting the solemnity and dignity of ancestral hall architecture.

Architectural Features: A Masterpiece of Hui-style Art

The architecture of Hongcun is a typical representative of Hui-style buildings, characterized by 'white walls, black tiles, horse-head walls, and lattice windows with hanging ornaments.' Its features are reflected in the following aspects:

Structure and Materials

Hongcun residences are mostly brick-wood hybrid structures, with wooden frames bearing the load and exterior walls made of blue bricks that do not bear weight but only serve as enclosures. This 'walls may fall but the house stands' structure reflects the wisdom of ancient Chinese wooden architecture. The roofs are of the hard mountain style, covered with black tiles, with steep slopes for drainage. The top of the walls is built with 'horse-head walls' (also called 'fire-sealing walls') that rise above the roof, providing fire prevention, wind protection, and theft prevention, and their stepped silhouette forms the most recognizable skyline of Hui-style architecture.

Decorative Art: Three Carvings

The decorative art of Hongcun's architecture is concentrated in the 'three carvings'—wood carving, stone carving, and brick carving.

Wood Carving: Mainly used on beams, sparrow braces, doors, windows, and partition panels. Themes are diverse, including figures, stories, landscapes, flowers, birds, and auspicious patterns. The wood carvings in Chengzhi Hall are considered the pinnacle, with the 'A Hundred Children Celebrating the Lantern Festival' on the beams depicting 100 children in various poses, grand in scale and delicate in craftsmanship.
Stone Carving: Mainly used on gate towers, column bases, stone lions, and lattice windows. Hongcun's stone carvings use Yi County bluestone, which is hard and grayish-green in color. The stone lions in front of South Lake Academy and the stone balustrades by the Moon Pond are fine examples of stone carving art.
Brick Carving: Mainly used on gate towers, gate hoods, and screen walls. Hongcun's brick carvings are mainly relief and openwork, with intricate patterns and clear layers. Many residence gate hoods are adorned with exquisite brick carvings, with themes such as 'Fortune, Prosperity, Longevity, and Happiness' and 'Fisherman, Woodcutter, Farmer, and Scholar.'

Natural Features: Symbiosis of Water and Architecture

Hongcun's most unique natural feature lies in the perfect integration of water and architecture. The water channels run through streets and alleys, allowing every household to have 'clear water at the doorstep.' The Moon Pond and South Lake not only provide scenery but also, through reflections, merge buildings, sky, and mountains into one, creating an artistic conception of 'wandering in a painting.' This 'leaning on mountains and beside water' site selection and 'diverting water into the village' planning embody the ancient Chinese philosophy of 'harmony between heaven and man,' making Hongcun a classic case for studying human settlement science.

Visitor Information

Best Time to Visit

Suitable all year round. In spring (March-May), rapeseed flowers bloom, turning the area around South Lake golden; in summer (June-August), trees provide shade and the water scenery is cool; in autumn (September-November), the weather is clear and crisp, with colorful scenery; in winter (December-February), after snow, the white walls and black tiles contrast with the white snow, creating a unique charm. Early morning and dusk are the best times for photography, when there are fewer tourists and softer light, capturing Hongcun's most tranquil and poetic side.

Recommended Tour Routes

Classic Route (about 3-4 hours): South Lake → South Lake Academy → Water Channels → Moon Pond → Lexu Hall (Wang Clan Ancestral Hall) → Chengzhi Hall → Jingxiu Hall → West Garden → Taoyuan Residence → Ancient Trees at Village Entrance (red poplar and ginkgo).
In-depth Route (about 5-6 hours): Based on the classic route, add exploration of surrounding alleys such as Back Street and Chahang Lane, visiting more unopened residences to experience the daily life of Hongcun.

Transportation

External Transportation: Take a high-speed train to Huangshan North Station, then transfer to a tourist shuttle bus directly to Hongcun (about 1 hour). Alternatively, from Huangshan Tunxi International Airport or Huangshan city (Tunxi), take a long-distance bus to Yi County seat, then transfer to a local bus to Hongcun.
Internal Transportation: Motor vehicles are prohibited within the Hongcun scenic area; sightseeing is mainly on foot. The village roads are narrow, so it is recommended to wear comfortable shoes.

Tickets and Opening Hours

Tickets: Full-price ticket about 104 RMB/person (prices may vary by season; check the official announcement on the day).
Opening Hours: Open all year. Summer (March 1 - November 30): 7:30-18:00; Winter (December 1 - February 28): 8:00-17:30.

Notes

Hongcun is a World Cultural Heritage site; please do not carve or write on the buildings.
The village water system is living water; please do not throw garbage or wash items in the water channels, Moon Pond, or South Lake.
Some ancient buildings have wooden interiors; smoking is prohibited, and be careful with fire.
During peak season, there are many tourists; it is recommended to book accommodation in advance and try to avoid holiday peak hours.

Hongcun is a flowing landscape painting and a solidified history book of Huizhou. Here, every bluestone slab carries the memory of history, and every lattice window radiates the light of culture. May you find your own tranquility and poetry amidst the white walls and black tiles of Hongcun.