Hongcun and Xidi Villages

UNESCO World Heritage Site (Ancient Villages In Southern Anhui Xidi And Hongcun, 2000); National 5A Tourist Attraction · Yixian, Anhui

Two of the most beautiful villages in China, listed together as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2000: clusters of whitewashed Hui-style houses with black-tiled, stepped horse-head gables, carved wooden halls and stone lanes in the hills of southern Anhui below Huangshan. Hongcun, founded in the 12th century by the Wang clan, was laid out in the shape of an ox, with canals feeding the half-moon Moon Pond at its heart and South Lake at its belly; its reflections appeared in the film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Xidi, about 10 km away, grew rich on the trade of Huizhou merchants and is entered through a carved Ming stone memorial archway. Art students sketching by the water, lotus in summer and misty mornings make both villages favourites with painters and photographers.

Hongcun Village, Yixian County, Huangshan, Yixian, Anhui, China

Daily. Hongcun roughly 7:30-17:30, with later hours reported on holidays and for overnight guests; Xidi roughly 7:30-17:30. Village lanes remain accessible to staying guests in the evening.

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