Exploring the Hidden Gems of Southern Anhui | Chengkan Ancient Town: A Thousand-Year Legacy in the Eight Trigrams Layout

Stepping into Chengkan feels like entering a traditional Chinese ink painting. Nestled at the foot of Huangshan Mountain, this thousand-year-old town is renowned for its "Yin-Yang Eight Trigrams" layout. Cobblestone paths meander through Ming and Qing dynasty-style Hui architecture, with streams flowing gently beneath horse-head walls and dappled light casting shadows upon them. Chengkan is not only the poetic embodiment of Zhu Xi's verse, "Chengkan, the village of two sages, the first village in Jiangnan," but also a place of hidden mysteries. Every alley in the village is arranged according to the Eight Trigrams, making it feel like stepping into a giant feng shui labyrinth. Wandering through the intricately carved beams and painted eaves of the Luo Dongshu Ancestral Hall, savoring the sweet aroma of Hui-style pastries, and listening to elders recount the rise and fall of the Luo family, one can truly immerse in the town's rich history. As dusk paints the eaves red and lanterns gradually light up, the entire ancient town is enveloped in a dreamy glow, as if time has stood still. Visiting Chengkan is not just about exploring the past; it is also a philosophical journey into the dialogue between heaven, earth, and the balance of Yin and Yang.