Xidi Ancient Village | This once-forgotten place is the distant land we yearn for

Xidi Ancient Village is located to the east of Yi County in Anhui Province, within the Huangshan Scenic Area of Yi County, Anhui Province. Covering an area of nearly 13 hectares, the village has a history of over 950 years and currently has 3 ancestral halls and 1 archway from the 14th to the 19th century, as well as 224 ancient residential buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties. Xidi Village has preserved the typical style of ancient Ming and Qing villages to this day, earning it the nickname 'a living museum of ancient residences'. Entering the village, you are greeted by a tall archway, and as you walk along the main road by the lake, the ancient waterwheel turns slowly and heavily. A pond of clear water reflects the black-tiled and white-walled Hui-style architecture, perfectly blending with the golden rapeseed flowers in front of the doors, presenting a beautiful and enchanting Jiangnan ink painting. Along the way, there are many students and artists painting en plein air, each focused on their brushwork, capturing these beautiful scenes on canvas... Compared to the bustling Hongcun, Xidi feels more authentic and simple, with a much lower degree of commercialization. The village has one main street, which is a commercial street, but beyond that, most of the inhabitants are locals and there are quite a few guesthouses. Walking through the narrow alleys and lanes, you can look up to see tall horse-head walls and white walls and green tiles covered with moss, adorned with festive and auspicious red lanterns🏮. Here, you will forget the passage of time and only feel that the years are peaceful... If you are tired of the hustle and bustle of the city, Xidi is a great place to visit, and it won't be overcrowded even on holidays. Walking on the bluestone-paved roads through the alleys, you can see these pink walls and black tiles that have witnessed a thousand years of historical changes; in the evening, buy a pot of locally brewed rice wine, sit by the window of your room for a drink, and watch as the red lanterns on the street light up one by one, enjoying the utmost comfort. Main attractions of Xidi: Hu Wenguang Archway, Zhuimu Hall, Duyi Court, Jing'ai Hall, Zoumalou, Kuanggu Zhai, Ruiyu Court, Dujing Hall, Taoli Garden, West Garden, East Garden, Dunren Hall, Lufu Hall, Qingyun Xuan, Yingfu Hall, Yanggao Hall, Shangde Hall, Dafu Residence, Diji Hall, etc. Recommended sightseeing route: Zoumalou, Mingjing Lake, Hu Wenguang Archway, Ruiyu Court, Zhuimu Hall, West Garden, East Garden, Hu's Ancestral Hall, Gula Bridge. Best photography spots: Walking to the right along Mingjing Lake, you can see a large waterwheel and rapeseed fields, with the time-worn Ming and Qing buildings opposite, the red couplets on the door lintels against the white walls, and a large expanse of golden rapeseed flowers at the door, which are very photogenic. In addition, each alley in Xidi has its own characteristics, and it's quite atmospheric for portrait photography, so give it a try! Transportation tips: The ancient villages in southern Anhui are quite scattered, so it's best to drive there. Alternatively, now that the Hangzhou-Huangshan high-speed train is in operation, you can take the high-speed train to Huangshan North and then rent a car or charter one. Xidi Ancient Village is not very large, and a general tour of 3.4 hours is enough. Of course, if you have time, you can stay in the scenic area, taste the local cuisine, learn about the local customs, and also see the beautiful night scenery🌃!