Day 1 - Xu Village (Shexian County).

Shexian County is not easily accessible. In the afternoon, we contacted a ride-hailing driver and rented a car to Xu Village. Upon entering Xu Village, we saw only a few elderly people playing chess in the Octagonal Hall. The village was quiet and simple, completely isolated from the outside world. It was as if we had traveled back in time. Xu Village, the first village in Huizhou to produce a jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations). The village originated in the Eastern Han Dynasty and was originally known as Fuzili. During the reign of Emperor Wu of the Southern Liang Dynasty, Ren Fang, the governor of Xin'an, resigned and retired here, renaming it "Fangxi", also known as Ren Gong Village. At the end of the Tang Dynasty, Xu Ru, the Minister of Revenue, fled here to escape the chaos. His descendants flourished, and the village was renamed "Xu Village" during the Song Dynasty. Xu Village has produced 48 jinshi throughout history. Xu Guo, a Grand Secretary, and Xu Chengyao, the last Hanlin scholar, were both from Xu Village. After the Southern Song Dynasty, Huizhou merchants rose to prominence. Xu Village quickly prospered due to its location on the Ruo Ridge Ancient Road, reaching its peak during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. These merchants built houses, repaired ancestral halls, and erected archways in their hometowns to honor their clans, turning Xu Village into a prosperous small town known as the "Ten Li Long Street". In modern times, Xu Village has produced "five doctors from one family" and "four academicians". The ancient village of Xu Village is well preserved. On the 1,500-meter-long old street, there are nearly 200 Ming and Qing Dynasty buildings, 6 stone archways, 3 brick archways, 1 pavilion, 1 covered bridge, and many ancestral halls and ancient houses. Gaoyang Bridge, originally known as Lihé Bridge, is a perfect combination of pavilion and bridge. It was built by Xu Youshan, a scholar of the Yuan Dynasty, and was originally a double-hole stone pier wooden bridge. During the Hongzhi period of the Ming Dynasty, the righteous official Xu Keyun changed the bridge to a stone arch bridge. In the 36th year of the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty (1557), Xu Hanqing, Xu Dezheng, and Xu Shengsheng donated money to build a stone bridge and a wooden bridge gallery, and renamed it "Gaoyang Bridge". The two words "Gaoyang" are intended to commemorate the ancestors who originated from Gaoyang County, Hebei. In the 58th year of the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty (1719), it was repaired again, basically forming the current bridge shape. Daguan Pavilion is located on the bank of Gaoyang Bridge. It was first built in the 18th year of the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty (1539) and was initiated by Xu Zhengyan, Xu Mengsun, and others. It was rebuilt in the 12th year of the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty (1673). It is a place for merchants and laborers to rest, and a gathering place for local literati. The Three Dynasties Dianhan Archway was built in the 14th year of the Chongzhen period of the Ming Dynasty (1641) for Wang Bojue, the Zhongshu Sheren of the Ming Dynasty, and his son Wang Dezhang. Zhongshu Sheren was a secretary in the Ming Dynasty palace, and was elegantly called "Dianhan". His son Wang Dezhang also received the title of Zhongshu Sheren, hence the name "Yishi". Wang Dezhang is the youngest Hanlin scholar in Chinese history. Wuma Archway, built in the second year of the Zhengde period of the Ming Dynasty (1507), was built to commend Xu Bosheng, the prefect of Tingzhou, Fujian during the Ming Dynasty. Because the ancient governor or prefect was elegantly called "Wuma", the name of the archway came from this. The gate of the Great County Lord's Mansion was built in the Ming Dynasty. It is a four-pillar, three-bay, and non-tower archway. The beams and rafters are exquisitely carved and full of flowers. The three eaves are all upturned at the four corners, with a diwen, and the ends of the central ridge are decorated with ao fish. The word board is inscribed with the words "Great County Lord's Mansion". Cunxin Hall is an ancient house built by Xu Juheng, a grand minister of the Daoguang period of the Qing Dynasty, and is also the residence of his family for generations. It has a long history and profound cultural heritage. Of the six or seven ancient villages (towns) we visited in Huizhou, the most unforgettable one was Xu Village. The small Xu Village has 15 national cultural heritage sites, which is amazing! There are many more historical stories about Xu Village. Interested friends can find out more through the Internet.