Hongcun Village

Explore Village Life in Huangshan with Chinatour.com

A world cultural heritage site, Hongcun Village was built during the Southern Song Dynasty and enjoys a history of more than 800 years. Situated more than six miles (10 kilometers) from Yixian County, Hongcun is embraced by green mountains and blue waters all year round. Nestled at the foot of lofty Leigang Peak, the village is often enveloped by clouds and mist. In Hongcun, natural scenery blends with the historic landscape in harmony and thus it is known as “Village in Picture” in China.

Hongcun Village is also famous for its the resemblance its structure bears to a cow, interestingly enough. It takes the magnificent Leigang Peak as the cow’s head; towering trees, the cow’s horn, dwellings lines on both sides, the cow’s body; pond in the south, the cow’s stomach; the zigzag ditches, the cow’s intestines, and the later-built four bridges, the cow’s legs. This jaw-dropping man-made water system not only supplies the water for fireproofing and irrigation but also adjusts the air temperature, a marked improvement in the daily lives of the villagers.

Dwellings in Hongcun village are white-walled and gray tile-roofed. There are 140 well preserved dwellings built during the Ming and Qing dynasties, among which Chengzhi Hall is the most well-known. Chengzhi Hall, reputedly “the imperial palace of folk flavor”, is characterized by its exquisite carvings. Other renowned attractions in Hongcun, such as Nanhu Collage, Leigang Hill under Sunset, Shuren Hall, Luxu Hall, Wood-Carved Pavilion and Qishu Lake, also captivate travelers from around China and abroad. Traveling in Hongcun is just like lingering in a mesmerizing picture, where people blend into architecture, mountain, and water perfectly. In Hongcun, visitors are quite often intoxicated by the harmonious atmosphere.