Ancient City Rock is located on the east side of Wan’an Town, Xiuning County, and was first established in the first year of the Yong’an period during the Three Kingdoms era. It served as the seat of county governance in ancient times. At the end of the Sui Dynasty and the beginning of the Tang Dynasty, Wang Hua once claimed kingship here. The scenic area is not large, and it does not attract as many tourists as Hongcun or Xidi. Many Huizhou-style buildings within the scenic area have been relocated from other places, but they still maintain the characteristic Huizhou flavor. Some TV dramas, such as ‘Little Flower’, ‘The Sky of History’, ‘Great Qing Hui Merchants’, and ‘Mother as a Slave’, have filmed scenes here.
Upon entering the central gate of the city wall, the main road of Ancient City Rock is singular, with the Yi Gate as the boundary. The first half of the road features a series of archways, including the Yi Archway, Shuang Jie Archway, Xiao Archway, and Zhong Archway, arranged in order. The second half of the road showcases old residences, including the Zhu Yu Residence, Jin Shunqing Residence, and Cheng’s Three Residences, all of which are classics of Huizhou residential architecture. The Huizhou-style carvings of bricks, wood, and stone are exquisite, with light patterns painted on the walls under the eaves, and beautiful carved flower beds placed inside the rooms. Also located in the second half of the road, the Huang Clan Ancestral Hall features a grand hall, with sixteen ‘Lai Tou’ lined up in a row being the highlight. Among the buildings worth visiting in Ancient City Rock, the Xi Garden and Wang Family Hall, which belong to the ‘richest man of Xiuning’ at the end of the Qing Dynasty, Wang Houzhuang and Wang Kuan, are also in the second half. The Xi Garden, also known as the Xiyuan, was originally large, and now there are remnants of a Ming Dynasty fish pond, a Qing Dynasty flower stage, and a corridor from the early Republic of China. During holidays, when larger tourist groups arrive, there will be Huangmei Opera performances on the stage. The Wang Family Hall is adjacent to the Xi Garden, composed of a gate court, front patio, main hall, back corridor, and back patio, with golden lions, cattle, and horses carved on the beams and columns. At the end of Ancient City Rock, on Shou Mountain, stands the Wanshou Tower, also known as the Ancient City Tower, built in the early years of the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty. It is a landmark building, but it cannot be climbed and can only be viewed from a distance. Additionally, the hiding hole where Zhu Yuanzhang once sought refuge is not necessarily open to the public. Opening hours: The scenic area is open all year round from 08:00 to 17:00. Preferential policies: Children under 1.2 meters (excluding) are free. Elderly people aged 65 (including) and above with their own elderly proof are free. Troops stationed in Xiuning with valid documents are free. Disabled people with disabilities from level 1 to 4 with valid documents are free. Additional notes: The above information is for reference only, and the specific information is subject to the scenic area’s disclosure on the day.
