Ancient Villages in Southern Anhui – Xidi and Hongcun
Two perfectly preserved Huizhou villages — whitewashed walls, horse-head gables, and hydraulic engineering from the Ming-Qing era. Hongcun is the one with the crescent-moon pond. ¥104 each.
unesco2026-10-27
At a glance
- ticket
- ¥104 (Hongcun) / ¥104 (Xidi). Combo tickets not standard — buy separately.
- hours
- 7:30–17:30.
- bestTime
- March–April (rapeseed flowers in surrounding fields, morning mist). October–November for autumn light. Arrive at opening to beat the Huangshan day-trip buses.
- transport
- From Huangshan North HSR station: bus to Hongcun (1.5h, ¥30). Or from Tunxi (Huangshan city center): bus (1h, ¥20). Hongcun to Xidi: 20 min by taxi (¥40–60).
- duration
- Half day each. Hongcun 3–4 hours, Xidi 2–3 hours. Both in one full day from Tunxi or Huangshan.
- Category
- cultural
- Year inscribed
- 2,000
- Category
- cultural
Why visit
Hongcun at 7:30 AM, before the tour buses arrive from Huangshan, is what you imagine ancient China looks like. The whitewashed walls reflected perfectly in Moon Pond, the horse-head gables silhouetted against misty hills, the canal water rushing past every doorstep — it is almost too beautiful, like walking into a Song Dynasty painting. The art students with their easels (hundreds of them, every day) add a layer of lived-in atmosphere. Xidi is earthier and less polished — the Hu Wenguang Memorial Archway at the entrance is the single best piece of Huizhou stone carving I have seen.
Highlights
- Moon Pond (月沼) — Hongcun's crescent-moon centerpiece, the famous reflection photo, flanked by the Wang Clan Ancestral Hall
- South Lake (南湖) — the larger pond at Hongcun's entrance, spanned by the arched Walking Bridge (from Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon)
- Hu Wenguang Memorial Archway (胡文光刺史牌坊) — Xidi's entrance landmark, Ming Dynasty stone carving at its finest
- Chengzhi Hall (承志堂) — Hongcun's largest merchant mansion, 60 rooms, gold-painted beams, built 1855
- Xidi's alleyways — 124 surviving Ming-Qing residences, 3 ancestral halls, narrower and less commercial than Hongcun
Tips
- Go at 7:30 AM — Hongcun is unrecognizably peaceful before the 10:00 bus crowds
- Both villages are charging-station stops for Huangshan visitors — plan accordingly and stay flexible
- Stay overnight in Hongcun (guesthouses ¥200–500) — the village after dark, with lanterns reflecting in the canals, is worth it
- The village maps given at entry are hand-drawn and confusing — just wander the lanes, you cannot get lost
- Eat the local specialties: hairy tofu (毛豆腐), stinky mandarin fish (臭鳜鱼), and bamboo shoots in season
FAQs
Hongcun or Xidi — which is better?
Hongcun is more beautiful (Moon Pond, better water system, more dramatic setting). Xidi is more authentic (fewer shops, more ancestral halls, deeper architectural detail). If you have one day: do both. If you have half a day: Hongcun. Photography: Hongcun. Architecture/quiet: Xidi.
What are horse-head gables?
Mǎtóu qiáng (马头墙) — the stepped, upswept whitewashed wall ends that define Huizhou architecture. They served as firebreaks between tightly packed wooden houses and symbolized the upward mobility of the merchant families who built them. The number of steps indicated the family's rank.
Can I visit Hongcun and Xidi on a day trip from Huangshan?
Yes — they are between Tunxi (Huangshan city) and the Huangshan mountain scenic area. Standard trip: arrive Huangshan North HSR, bus to Hongcun (1.5h), visit 3 hours, taxi to Xidi (20 min), visit 2 hours, then either stay in Hongcun or continue to the Huangshan mountain base.
Were these villages really in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon?
The fight scene where Li Mu Bai (Chow Yun-fat) and Yu Shu Lien (Michelle Yeoh) walk across a pond was filmed in Hongcun's South Lake. The Moon Pond and several alleyway chase scenes were also filmed here. The arch bridge at the South Lake entrance is the famous shot.
What is Huizhou architecture?
A style from the historical Huizhou region (southern Anhui, 12th–19th century) characterized by whitewashed walls, stepped horse-head gables, gray tile roofs, inward-facing courtyard homes with small exterior windows, and elaborate wood/stone/brick carvings. Built by wealthy merchants who valued discretion (plain exteriors) but displayed their wealth inside (ornate interiors).