Lu Village is a quintessential Huizhou-style settlement, home to the Lu family. The village’s main attraction is the exquisite wood carving buildings, a complex constructed by the wealthy Qing Dynasty merchant Lu Bangxie for his six wives, which took 20 years to complete. Both the Huangmei Opera ‘Huizhou Women’ and the TV series ‘Walking into the Blue River’ have filmed scenes here. Also known as Zhishan Village or Lu Village Wood Carving Scenic Area, it is said to have been established during the Tang Dynasty and is located 2 kilometers northwest of Hongcun, making it a convenient stop for visitors to Hongcun. However, Lu Village is less crowded than Hongcun, making it an ideal spot for photographers and explorers. You can take a local trishaw to Lu Village, but it is recommended to walk or rent a bicycle from a farmhouse in Hongcun, enjoying the pastoral scenery along the way. In April, when the rapeseed flowers bloom, the scenery is particularly beautiful. The Yangzhan River flows from west to east through Lu Village, and the Luci River flows from north to south, both converging at the Ye Village River. The clear streams at the water’s mouth are home to ducks swimming freely, while locals continue their traditional washing by the stream. As you walk along the paths into the village, you will often see art students sketching under the white walls and black tiles characteristic of Huizhou architecture.
The Zhicheng Hall within the wood carving complex features a porch, main hall, and rear hall, which were the residences of Lu Bangxie’s first and second wives and his parents. The carvings in the main hall are particularly beautiful, with eight doors and windows on each side, the upper halves of which are engraved with fine patterns, and the lower halves with auspicious symbols and historical legends. Look closely at the left door and window for a three-dimensional carving of a scholar encountering a monkey on horseback, symbolizing ‘immediate success.’ Unfortunately, many of the carved figures in Zhicheng Hall had their heads removed during the Cultural Revolution. From the side door of Zhicheng Hall, you enter the private school built by Lu Bangxie for his 24 children. The wood carvings here were preserved with yellow mud during the Cultural Revolution, so the figures you see today still have their heads intact. Passing through the kitchen with many stoves, you reach the Si Ji Hall, where the beautiful carvings on the winter melon beams and the official couch on the right side of the living room are worth noting. Then, passing through the high walls and deep alleys, you arrive at the Si Cheng Hall, home to the third and fourth wives. The small pistons on the ground, the stone drums carved to resemble bundled bamboo, and the wooden buckets for heating are all interesting items. Another part of the wood carving complex is the Glass Hall, home to the sixth wife, where the glass, imported from Germany, is only 2 millimeters thick and showcases exquisite craftsmanship. Lu Village is less commercialized than Hongcun, but accommodations and meals are still convenient. There are local farmhouses and vendors selling snacks like marinated duck legs at their doorsteps. If you are tired of the crowds and conformity of Hongcun, consider staying in Lu Village for a peaceful experience. Open all year round from 07:30 to 17:30. Preferential policies for children: under 6 years old (inclusive) or with a height of 1.Free admission for children under 2 meters (inclusive). For minors aged 6 (exclusive) to 18 (inclusive), there are concessions. For the elderly: free admission for those aged 65 (inclusive) with senior citizen card or ID card. For elderly people aged 60 (inclusive) to 65 (exclusive), there are concessions. For students: full-time undergraduates and students below undergraduate level can enjoy concessions with their ID cards and student ID cards. For active servicemen/military retirees: free admission with valid certificates. For people with disabilities: free admission with valid certificates. For fire rescue personnel: (on-duty/retired/disabled) fire rescue personnel and students of fire rescue academies are free of charge. For members of Photographers Association: free admission with valid certificates. For journalists: free admission with valid certificates. Service facilities Parking lot: [Scenic Area Parking Lot] Reference price: free; Address: Lucun Village, Hongcun Town, Yi County, Huangshan City, Anhui Province; Parking spaces: 50. Must-see tips: Guides in Lucun Village are free. At least one tourist who has purchased a full-price ticket and one tourist who has purchased a half-price ticket are required to be assigned a guide. If the number of people or the types of tickets purchased do not meet the conditions, you can find other tourists at the ticket office at the entrance of the village to form a group, so that a guide can be assigned.
