In Yixian County, not far from Huang Shan, there are two very interesting villages worth visiting.

The first is Hong Village where the movie “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon " was partly shot. Hong Village was first built during the SouthernSong dynasty, approximately 900 years ago, by the Wang clan. During the Ming dynasty,Wang Siqi, a powerful retired governmentofficial, hired a famous expert tocome and review the layout of the villagewhich resulted in the addition of a lake and water channels flowing through nearly everyhousehold within the village.

In the center of the village is a beautiful pond surrounded by houses and the Wang Clan Hall where banquets and important clan gatherings were held. Today, many artists can be seen sitting beside the pond putting the tranquil setting onto canvas. The scenery and village itself is so inspiring that many young artists rent rooms and extend their stay.

Close to Hong Village is Xidi, which is notable for the many archways that line the road to the village. In the past, it was a status symbol of wealth and distinction to build grand archways, so the bigger the better. Because many rich merchants once lived here, there are scores of archways in this hidden area. Each archway is made of local marble and is carved in typical Anhui style, decorated with multiple reliefs.

The houses in Xidi are also remarkable because the local merchants, in order to protect their families and belongings from bandits, built their dwellings with very high walls and small, if any, windows. As a result, strolling through Xidi, one can feel the insular atmosphere that must have permeated throughout the village, especially when walking down the narrow alleyways between the walls of two dwellings. Within the walls, the exquisite woodcarvings and delicately created reliefs throughout the entire dwelling confirm the wealth of its owner and the opulence the family once enjoyed.

Admission fee:
Xidi Village: CNY 80
Hongcun Village: CNY 80

Tour to Xidi and Hongcun:

12 days Exploring Rural China