In the vast land of China, there are many picturesque ancient villages. These villages retain their unique architectural style and rich historical and cultural heritage, and are known as "Painted Villages". Among them, there are four that are particularly famous - Hongcun, Xidi, Pingshan and Xitang.
Most of these villages are located in a beautiful environment surrounded by mountains and rivers, backed by green mountains and facing clear water, forming a harmonious and moving natural scenery. Hongcun is located in Huangshan City, Anhui Province, only a stone's throw away from the eastern foothills of Huangshan Mountain. Pingshan is located on the shore of Taihu Lake in Huzhou City, Zhejiang Province, surrounded by secluded mountains and rivers. Xidi and Xitang are located in Suzhou and Jiaxing in Zhejiang Province respectively, and are also built on the landscape and are picturesque. These ancient villages are not only strategically located, but also have beautiful natural scenery and are desirable.
As the most famous of these four ancient villages, Hongcun can be said to concentrate on the essence of traditional Chinese residential architecture. The buildings of Hongcun are mainly Hui style dwellings, with blue bricks and tiles, cornices and corners, and the staggered layout constitutes a charming architectural landscape. Most of these buildings were built in the Ming and Qing dynasties, showing the rich architectural art and humanistic charm of Huizhou at that time.
Hongcun's long history dates back to the Song Dynasty and started as an ordinary village settlement. Until the Ming and Qing dynasties, with the prosperity of the Huizhou merchant economy, Hongcun gradually developed into a wealthy gathering place for Huizhou merchants. Some of the top merchants built grand mansions here, forming the Hui style complex we see today. After hundreds of years of vicissitudes, Hongcun has been completely preserved and has become a treasure of traditional Chinese residential architecture.
The reason why these ancient villages are known as "painted villages" is because they have fascinating natural and cultural landscapes.
In Hongcun, the Hui style houses with blue bricks and gray tiles are scattered among the hillsides, and the winding stone paths wind through them, giving people a sense of tranquility in the ancient times. At the turn of spring and summer, peach blossoms and pear blossoms bloom one after another, dotted among the quaint buildings, like a moving ink painting. In autumn and winter, the autumn leaves are even more memorable. This perfect integration of natural landscape and architecture has created a unique charm of Hongcun.
Xidi, Xitang and Pingshan are famous for their water town characteristics. These villages are surrounded by mountains and rivers, and the quaint buildings are reflected in the tranquil river, forming a poetic ink painting. The mist fills the morning and the smoke curls in the evening, just like the scene in an ink painting. Such a natural and cultural landscape is like a fairyland, which makes every visitor unforgettable.
These ancient villages are not only simple and elegant in architecture, but also have charming natural scenery. Hongcun sits in the embrace of the Yellow Mountain Range, with many peaks and streams. Whenever the sun hits these peaks, it reflects a dazzling light. The wild vegetation around Hongcun is also very rich, with flowers in spring, green in summer, and red maple leaves in autumn and winter, showing the beauty of nature.
Xidi, Xitang and Pingshan are famous for their water town scenery. Tranquil rivers, verdant ponds, and aquatic vegetation such as weeping willows and reeds form a poetic ink painting. Here, visitors can take a boat ride and enjoy the scenery of the water towns along the way, feeling the quiet and peaceful atmosphere.
These colorful natural landscapes, combined with the simple and elegant cultural landscapes, have made these ancient villages unique and charming.
In addition to the natural scenery, these ancient villages also have a rich cultural landscape. The well-preserved Hui style dwellings in Hongcun not only show the essence of architectural art, but also contain profound historical and cultural connotations. The prosperity of the Hui merchants has left many exquisite wood carvings, stone carvings, brick carvings and other works of art here, exuding a strong humanistic atmosphere.
Xidi and Xitang are prominent in the characteristics of water towns. There are a large number of historical heritages such as ancient bridges, ancient houses, and ancient theaters, which are reflected on the rippling blue water, which is even more simple and moving. Pingshan, on the other hand, is known for its unique Huizhou residential architecture, exquisite old streets and alleys, and long history and culture.
In these ancient villages, visitors can not only admire the precious historical buildings, but also get a close feel for the unique lifestyle and folk culture of the locals. Walking through it, it is like returning to a time and space full of poetry and art, which is desirable.
It is precisely because of the unique natural scenery and cultural landscape of these ancient villages that they have become popular tourist destinations favored by tourists.
At the turn of spring and summer, Hongcun will surely welcome a large number of tourists to enjoy the poetic Hui architecture and gorgeous natural scenery. Xidi, Xitang and Pingshan attract many tourists who yearn for the life of a water town, enjoy the scenery on the quiet river, and feel the simple and quiet atmosphere. These unique landscapes provide visitors with a poetic visual experience that is desirable.
At the same time, these ancient villages have preserved a rich historical and cultural heritage, and have also become a window for many tourists to have an in-depth understanding of traditional Chinese culture. Here, visitors can not only appreciate the excellent architectural art, but also experience the unique local folk customs and gain an unforgettable cultural experience.
Therefore, these "painted villages" have become a holy place for domestic and foreign tourists, known as a fairyland on earth, attracting countless tourists to come and see the charming charm in it.