Hongcun Scenic Area

The Hongcun Scenic Area is a representative of ancient Huizhou villages and has the reputation of ‘a village in Chinese paintings’. When coming to Hongcun, one can see the water features brought by the water conservancy system. Nanhu Lake and Yuezhao Pond are the essence. Second, one can see the three carvings of Huizhou style on architecture, brick carvings, stone carvings, and wood carvings, which are as fine as paper-cuts.


The cultural landscape and natural landscape are well integrated. Hongcun is located 11 kilometers northeast of Yixian County and 68 kilometers northwest of Huangshan City. It was built during the Shaoxing period of the Southern Song Dynasty (1131 – 1162 AD). Starting from the Yongle period of the Ming Dynasty (1403 – 1424 AD), it gradually developed into the magical shape of a ‘cow-shaped village’.


The ancient trees at the entrance of the village are the ‘horns’. The row upon row of Ming and Qing Huizhou-style buildings in the village are the ‘body of the cow’. The four bridges on the Xixi River in the west of the village are the ‘legs of the cow’. Yuezhao Pond is the ‘stomach of the cow’. Nanhu Lake is the ‘belly of the cow’. The water channels (ditches leading clear springs) flowing through every household are the ‘intestines of the cow’.


The roads in the village lead in all directions. There are multiple entrances, and the main ones are three. One is the ‘entrance of the village’ in the local people’s mouth in the west of the village, where there are two ancient trees, red poplars and ginkgoes. One is the entrance leading to the west bank of Nanhu Lake through Jisi Bridge. Another one is on the east side of Nanhu Lake, where there is a parking lot.


This is the larger entrance of Hongcun and also the location of the main gate. Generally, tourists enter from this gate and tour the ancient village from south to north. First, appreciate Nanhu Lake, one of the essence scenic spots at the southern end of Hongcun. It is a bow-shaped artificial lake excavated in 1607 AD during the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty. The water surface is wide, and the painted bridge crossing the lake is the place where Li Mubai led his horse in the movie ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’.


On the north bank of the lake is Nanhu Academy. In the Qing Dynasty, the original six private schools by the lake were merged into one academy, so the academy appears very spacious. After seeing Nanhu Lake, walk northward and you can visit Jingde Hall and the former residence of Wang Daxie (Zhenqi Hall) on the way. Then come to the essence scenic spot in the center of Hongcun – Yuezhao Pond excavated in the Yongle period of the Ming Dynasty.


The surrounding Huizhou-style buildings are reflected in it, which is a good place for taking photos. Regrettably, there are often many tourists gathered by Yuezhao Pond, so it is difficult to take a photo without people. In the middle of the north bank of Yuezhao Pond is Lexu Hall, a ancestral hall. Most of the residents in Hongcun are surnamed Wang, so it is also called Wang’s Ancestral Hall. All the other houses in the village are from the Qing Dynasty.


Only Lexu Hall is from the Ming Dynasty. Compared with the complexity of Qing Dynasty buildings, Ming Dynasty buildings appear simple. On the west side of the north side of Yuezhao Pond is Jingxiu Hall built in the Qing Dynasty. Continue to walk northward and visit Chengzhi Hall, the residence of Wang Dinggui, a wealthy salt merchant in the late Qing Dynasty. Chengzhi Hall has a study, kitchen, stable, bodyguard room, maids’ and servants’ rooms for both men and women, and even a ‘Paishan Pavilion’ for playing mahjong.


There is a pond and a well inside the house, so there is no need to go out for water.


Worth seeing is the exquisite Huizhou three carvings. Some wood carvings are also coated with gold powder, which can be described as magnificent. In addition, you can also see ancient buildings such as Deyi Hall, Shuren Hall, and Taoyuanju in the village.
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Opening hours: Open all year round and all day.
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Preferential policies:
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Children: Those under 6 years old (inclusive) or with a height of 1.2 meters (inclusive) or below can enter for free with valid certificates.


Minors: Those aged 6 years old (excluding) to 18 years old (inclusive) can enjoy half-price tickets with valid certificates.


Elderly: Those aged 60 years old (inclusive) to 65 years old (excluding) can enjoy half-price tickets with valid certificates. Those aged 65 years old (inclusive) or above can enter for free with valid certificates.


Students: Full-time undergraduate and below students (excluding graduate students) can enjoy half-price tickets with valid certificates.


Families of active-duty military personnel and veterans: They can enjoy half-price tickets with valid certificates.


Disabled people: Disabled people (second-generation disability certificate, one-card disability certificate, disability military certificate, disability people’s police certificate) can obtain an admission certificate after verification at the scenic area office with valid certificates and enter for free.


Military personnel: Active-duty military personnel, retired military cadres, “three types of dependents” (martyrs, military personnel who died on duty, and dependents of military personnel who died of illness) as well as on-duty, retired, and disabled fire rescue personnel can obtain an admission certificate after verification at the scenic area office with valid certificates and enter for free.


Journalists: With the 2019-style press card issued by the National Press and Publication Administration, they can obtain an admission certificate after verification at the scenic area office and enter for free.


General managers of travel agencies: With the general manager qualification certificate of a travel agency (or the general manager with a travel agency manager training certificate) and more than two business cards (engaged in the tourism industry), they can obtain an admission certificate after verification at the scenic area office and enter for free.


Members of medical teams aiding Hubei: For all members of national medical teams aiding Hubei, including all members of medical teams from the state, the military, and all provinces (autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the Central Government), with valid certificates (ID cards, relevant certificates of medical teams aiding Hubei), they can enjoy unlimited free admission within five years in practice (implementation time until December 31, 2024).


Social supervisors of tourism service quality: With the “Social Supervisor Certificate of Tourism Service Quality” issued by the National Tourism Administration (confirmed by the supervisor list), they can enter for free.


Tour guides accompanying groups: With the national tour guide identity card, they can enter for free.


Service facilities:


Parking lot: [Scenic area parking lot] Reference price: ¥10/time; Address: Outside the main entrance of the scenic area; Parking spaces: 500.


Luggage storage: Reference price: Free; Address: Tourist service center of the scenic area.


Scenic area map: Tourist center of the scenic area.


Toilets: There are multiple toilets, all with signs.


Smoking areas: Location: There are designated smoking areas in multiple locations in the scenic area. Tourists can only smoke in designated areas.


Catering: There are multiple restaurants in the scenic area, all with eye-catching signs.
Vending machines: Tourist Center.


Convenience stores: Tourist Center, main visiting routes.


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