Xidi Village

In Xidi, don't follow the tour guide. You will be busy walking through the streets and alleys, visiting the big mansions, but you may not even remember the name of the ancient house after walking out. You will be busy buying local specialties and too busy to take a close look at the culture of Xidi. You should be quiet and calm, walk leisurely through the narrow paths, look at the beam carvings on the gatehouse buildings, understand the differences between official residences and folk houses, and then read the Confucian spirit of Hui style architecture to relive the expectations of the unity of man and nature.

I heard that at midnight in Xidi, there were still villagers who followed the ancient way of night watch, shouting "It's dry, be careful with candles; do not leave any fire in front of the stove or in the living room; turn off all gas and electricity," and patrolling the village twice.

It’s a pity that due to itinerary issues, I had to rush through Xidi this time. Next time, I will stay in this ancient village for a few more days to learn more about its stories.

Although Xidi and Hongcun are both ancient villages in Huizhou and are listed as World Cultural Heritage, Xidi is far less popular than Hongcun. Some people say that "Hongcun is a painting, and Xidi is a book", which is a very appropriate metaphor.

 

Hongcun is stunningly beautiful and has a stronger commercial atmosphere, while Xidi is actually better preserved and has a stronger cultural atmosphere.

 

There is Mingjing Lake at the entrance of the village, and the whole village and the surrounding hills are reflected in the lake. Beside the lake is Xidi's landmark building: the Hu Wenguang Governor Archway.

 

Walking between the white walls and black tiles of the horse-head walls, you can see a large number of artistic masterpieces such as brick, wood, and stone carvings, and feel the strong scent of books.

From a bird's eye view of Xidi Village, which is surrounded by mountains, the houses are densely packed and the sky above the village is full of vitality, which is an expression of the endless prosperity of the Xidi Hu family. The ancestors of the Xidi Hu family paid much attention to architectural feng shui and pursued the harmony between man and nature. They chose Xidi, a blessed land with mountains, water and screen, as their place of residence.

Xidi Village has many alleys, up to 99 in its heyday. The alleys vary in length and width, but all have the same style, with flying eaves and corners, and protruding horse-head walls everywhere, which can be said to be of the same origin and have a long history.

Walking into the ancient alleys of the village is like walking into the depths of the village's history. These ancient alleys scattered throughout the village are not only the transportation network of the village, but also the place where the villagers live. They record the changes in the village's history, the style of the times, and contain a strong cultural atmosphere. They are like folk customs museums, leaving marks of people's various social lives.

As the sun sets, people stroll through the alleys bathed in the sunset glow, sometimes dragging long shadows, and sometimes being blinded by the sun's rays. The afterglow of the sun tries hard to pass everything in the alley to the west, including the pink walls, black tiles, horse-head walls, bluestone floors, red lanterns... It's like a light layer of golden oil paint, full of the atmosphere of prosperity. Only the somewhat mottled walls look particularly vicissitudes and gorgeous.

I came here for sketching in 2008. After so many years, it is more beautiful than I remembered.

With mature commercial development, it can be seen that the villagers are fully involved in the development of Xidi, which is just right.

The light show was nice and the villagers were working hard to make the tickets straight.

If you drive yourself, remember to choose a parking lot based on your hotel.

Xidi, ticket price: 104

The tickets to Huangshan City are notoriously expensive. Xidi, Hongcun, and Chengkan are all around 100 yuan, and there are not many places to visit in the ancient villages, so the cost-effectiveness is really not high. Just think about how much the Forbidden City costs.

This summer, Huangshan offers a 50% discount to tourists from Hangzhou, which is a good deal. However, after visiting the ancient village, I didn't feel very good. The attractions of the ancient village are nothing more than archways and ancestral halls, and the layout of Xidi is not as charming as Hongcun. In addition, the scorching sun is really unbearable, so it's not very meaningful to come here specially.

The name of Xidi is "East Water Flows West", which is said to be the origin of the name Xidi. The history of this place can be traced back to the Northern Song Dynasty, and it was at its peak in the early Qing Dynasty. At that time, there were hundreds of high-walled courtyards. After years of hardships, it is now much smaller than before, just like the lonely archway at the entrance of the village. Walking into Xidi, it is obvious that this is another quiet place, which is completely different from Hongcun, which we will visit later. The houses in Xidi are not very large, but they are very delicate and durable. The village does not have a grand view, but each street is fresh and elegant. The beauty of Hongcun can be seen at a glance, but the taste of Xidi needs to be carefully experienced, so there is a saying that "Hongcun is a painting, Xidi is a book", which is indeed correct.

Climb up to the viewing platform and overlook the panoramic view of Xidi Village. It doesn't look as beautiful as the lake and mountains of Hongcun. The natural landscape is overshadowed by Hongcun.

No wonder there are so few tourists in Xidi Village and many inns have closed down. However, for us tourists, the few people allow us to leisurely appreciate the culture of the ancient buildings in the village.

Xidi Town, also known as Xixi and Xichuan, belongs to Yi County, Huangshan City, Anhui Province. It was built in the seventh year of the Qingli period of the Northern Song Dynasty (1047 AD). It is known as the junction of ancient and modern Chinese history, the ancient residential museum of Ming and Qing Dynasties, the Peach Blossom Spring, and the art treasure house of ancient residential architecture.

Xidi and Hongcun are a 5A scenic spot, but they are not together, 20 minutes' drive apart. Compared with the high popularity of Hongcun, Xidi is more peaceful and tranquil, with profound cultural heritage and free tour guide service. With the explanation of the tour guide, you can truly understand why Xidi is called a village with a story. Every tile in the village is very exquisite, and visually, Hongcun is more poetic and picturesque with the backdrop of Nanhu Lake and Yuezhao Lake. So Hongcun is a painting and Xidi is a book, both are treasures of ancient Huizhou.

A typical representative of Huizhou culture, the architecture here best represents the characteristics of Huizhou. The white walls and black tiles are very artistic.

Xidi is quieter than Hongcun. It is so pleasant to see autumn sun drying and deserted alleys.

A representative of Hui culture, with blue bricks, black tiles and horse-head walls, if Hongcun is a painting, then Xidi must be a book, and you need to slowly savor its charm.

It has a different feeling from Hongcun. I don’t know if it’s because there are more people going into official careers here, but it feels spiritual 2333. You can see the ancient village and rape flowers at the same time.

A world heritage site - one of the ancient villages in southern Anhui, it has a better business atmosphere than Hongcun and is relatively quiet.

The buildings in Xidi Scenic Area are ancient Hui-style buildings preserved from the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The ticket price is the same as that of Hongcun Scenic Area, which is a bit high. The entire tour is led by a tour guide with very detailed explanations.

I have visited many ancient villages, each with its own characteristics and tranquility.

It was great. It snowed in Xidi the day before we went there.

Hui-style ancient buildings, a very distinctive ancient village

We bought tickets to enter, and after walking around we found a small path that leads directly in, right next to the road. I think Xidi is just average, I don't know how Hongcun is. There is a hilltop where you can see the panoramic view of Xidi Village, that's nice, but the rest are really average. The ticket cost nearly 100 yuan.

This is an ancient town with a very representative Huizhou style of architecture. No matter when you go there, the scenery is amazing. I have visited it once in spring and once in autumn, and I am thinking of visiting it again in winter.

Xidi, like Hongcun, is a Hui-style residential area. But the details are different. After all, there are many high-ranking officials here, and the taste and grade are several levels higher.

The Hui-style buildings are spectacular, but overall they are not as beautiful as Hongcun. The tickets are too expensive.

I feel that Xidi is different from the charming women of Taierzhuang Ancient Town and Dayan Ancient Town. It was only around 19 o'clock, and many shops closed down. The streets were very quiet. Occasionally, I met young people, who walked by in groups, noisily, and laughed happily. I actually looked at them with the mentality of an elder and kind eyes. My mentality is really old (crying expression with face covered).

The ancient village is still very quiet at 6 o'clock. Walking on the bluestone road, I can hear my own footsteps and the sound of birds singing in the distance. The singing of birds makes the mountain more secluded and quieter. Occasionally, I will meet local people who get up early, some of them are washing by the almost dry river, some are cleaning, and some are making breakfast. The smell of breakfast in the early morning is particularly tempting. The location is west of Xidi Village, west of the highway, on the top of an unnamed hillside, in front of a broken pavilion, and a small open space. Yes, it is quiet, remote, and deserted here.

The ancient village of Xidi seems to be the most beautiful in the breeze and drizzle, just like a woman with light makeup, beautiful and gentle. The white walls, black tiles and wet bluestone roads travel through time and tell stories of the past and present. There are not many tourists, and the streets are not as quiet as at night, but they are not noisy either. Walking slowly, occasionally wiping the rain off your face, is a unique experience.

The picture would be even better if a woman holding a colorful paper umbrella appeared in the quiet streets.

When we reached the entrance of the village, we finally felt the atmosphere of a scenic spot, with bustling tour groups, guides waving flags, and vendors hawking their wares.

This is the view outside Xidi. The ticket price is 104. Inside, there is a view every five steps. It is very comfortable! I recommend visiting this ancient village of Xidi in Huangshan!

Compared with Hongcun, the houses in Xidi are more old. It is said that Hongcun has more businessmen, while Xidi has more officials, so the houses in Xidi are bigger than those in Hongcun. After all, officials are the most powerful in any era. The Xidi tour guide gave us about 30 minutes of free time, and then we gathered under the red poplar trees and got on the bus together. To be honest, my friends and I felt that we didn't visit enough. It would be perfect if we came by ourselves.

As for ancient towns, I think they are similar all over the country. It all depends on your mood. You will find different scenery depending on your mood.

Xidi Ancient Town, also known as Xixi and Xichuan, is located in the eastern part of Yi County. It was built in the seventh year of the Qingli period of the Northern Song Dynasty (1047 AD). It is known as the junction of ancient and modern Chinese history, the ancient residential museum of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the Peach Blossom Spring, and the art treasure house of ancient residential architecture.

All the streets and lanes in Xidi Ancient Town are paved with bluestone from Yixian County. The ancient buildings are wooden structures and brick walls. The wood carvings, stone carvings and brick carvings are rich and colorful. The layout of lanes, streams and buildings is appropriate. The village space changes in a charming way, and the color of the buildings is simple and elegant, reflecting the outstanding talents and achievements of the ancient villages in southern Anhui in creating a living environment, and it has high historical, artistic and scientific value.

I think Xidi is a bit unworthy of the 5A title. If you book your ticket online, you must go to the site to exchange it for a paper ticket before entering. The most important thing is that there are a lot of people during the National Day holiday. Since there is only one machine available, you can imagine the queue. I really hope it can be improved soon.

The three wonders of Xidi are the ancient memorial archway, ancient dwellings and ancient ancestral hall. The biggest impression of Xidi should be the memorial archway, which is also the symbolic building of Xidi.

According to local people, Xidi is more like an official residence complex, majestic and grand, while Hongcun is a village ink painting. There is indeed a big difference between the two.

Because I came to Xidi in winter, there were very few tourists in the scenic area. I seldom saw tourists when walking through the alleys of Xidi, and I didn’t take pictures of other people. It was very comfortable to have fun there. You don’t have to visit this kind of place in summer because it is a cultural landscape and the architecture is the same no matter what season it is.

Xidi is particularly quiet. There is a viewing platform on the hillside behind the village (in the scenic area) where you can see the whole view of Xidi Village. Parking is not allowed in the village. There are several parking lots along the X031 township road on the west side of the village. There are small roads leading to the village from the parking lots.

China-TravelNote bought tickets for Xidi and Hongcun, which was 66 yuan cheaper for two people. We took a bus from Huangshan Bus Station to Xidi first. The tourist center even stored our luggage for free. How thoughtful! I give it a thumbs up! Then we walked around the village. The style of Huizhou architecture and the embellishment of little painters really made us feel like we were in a painting! The scenery by the lake is unique! The blue sky, white clouds, white walls and black tiles are reflected on the lake, and the ripples are like a poem and a painting!

A village I want to visit again. I met a famous hostel. The aunt was very nice. I could try the Mao tofu. It was delicious.

Xidi is inferior to Hongcun in terms of overall layout, environmental sanitation, building scale, etc.

We live in the village, and practice has proved that it is more convenient to live at the entrance and exit of the village. The roads in the village are bumpy, and motorcycles are not allowed to pick up and drop off. If you live in the center of the village, it is really troublesome to drag your luggage into the village. Locals say that you can only visit one of Xidi and Hongcun. If time is really tight, I recommend Hongcun, which has a developed water system and a stronger sense of picture. If you have a little spare time, it is recommended to visit both places, after all, the styles are slightly different. Xidi is quieter and less commercial. At eight o'clock in the evening, there are basically no tourists. You can enter and exit the village many times with your ticket and ID card. There are free tour guides at the main entrance of the village. As soon as you enter the village, the typical Hui style of architecture hits you. White walls, black tiles, and horse head walls are windproof, fireproof, and anti-theft. Stone carvings, brick carvings, and wood carvings are three unique things. In particular, the fineness of the wood carvings is amazing. An expression, a feather, and a piece of utensil are all carved to life. It is said that Xidi has produced more than 100 officials. The whole village has a stronger political color, and every household emphasizes reading and educating people. On the hill on the south side of the village, there is an observation deck from which you can overlook the entire village.

The feeling Xidi gave me... low-key (almost no tourists), quiet (the alley is very quiet), delicious (Anhui cuisine is delicious), simple and mercenary (merchants). To be honest, I don’t know what I came to see with the ticket of 104. It is probably to satisfy my vanity. This is a place you must check in because of its fame. Personally, I think it will be boring. If you don’t have that kind of petty bourgeois sentiment and don’t want to hire a tour guide to explain in detail, or you are not a big shot in the history field, then you can give up the Xidi Scenic Area. The bus passes by a section of villages and towns in the scenic area, and you can just click...click...click outside the door, haha.

The attractions in Xidi are similar to those in Hongcun, with some old buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties, but the scale is slightly smaller than that of Hongcun. There is a large memorial archway at the entrance of the village, which is very impressive. Halfway through the tour, it started to drizzle. It was beautiful to visit the Jiangnan water village in the rain. If you have a chance, you can experience it yourself. It is indescribable. Compared with Hongcun, Xidi is not heavily commercialized and has a stronger original style.

The most famous thing in Xidi Ancient Town is the memorial archway, which witnessed the rise and fall of Xidi. However, it is not as well developed as Hongcun, and there are not many tourists. The key is that it lacks the finishing touch like Yuezhao. From the perspective of scenery, I prefer Hongcun. Xidi has produced many celebrities. I hope that with better planning, more people will like this place.

The half-price discount for teachers is actually like this: 104 yuan for one ticket bought on site and 94 yuan for one ticket online. For teachers, Xidi tickets are full price and cannot enjoy discounts. However, there are several scenic spots: Xidi Stone Forest, Mukeng Bamboo Sea... There are about five or six scenic spots where you can choose one for free.

[Excerpt from my travel notes: http://www.mafengwo.cn/i/9988290.html]

I was in Xidi for less than 24 hours and was in a hurry.

But everything was just right: the lingering spring rain, the fresh countryside, the deserted streets in the early morning, the cute little animals, and the most flavorful Huizhou architecture - all the most Xidi elements were fully appreciated and not missed.

People often complain that ancient towns all over the country are the same. In my opinion, this statement certainly cannot be applied to Xidi.

A small paradise in Yi County, with mist and haze covering hundreds of miles - Xidi

Xidi got its name because of the river flowing westwards beside the village and because of the post station for delivering mails in ancient times. Xidi is known as "the home in the Peach Blossom Spring". The winding bluestone road leads to the old archways, old houses and old ancestral halls that have been dormant for hundreds of years, reflecting the vicissitudes of Xidi over the past 900 years.

There are 124 existing ancient dwellings from the Ming and Qing dynasties and 3 ancestral halls in Xidi, including Lingyun Pavilion, Governor's Archway, Ruiyu Courtyard, Taoli Garden, East Garden, West Garden, Dafudi, Jing'ai Hall, Lufu Hall, Qingyunxuan, Yingfu Hall, etc., all of which can be regarded as the model of Anhui style ancient dwelling architectural art.

Xidi Village is surrounded by mountains on all sides, with two streams running through the village. The streets and alleys in the village are built along the streams, and the entire village space is natural and flowing, with a good combination of movement and stillness.

Huizhou is located in a mountainous area with many mountains and little land. It is said that "80% of the mountains are water, 50% of the fields, and 10% of the roads and manors". In order to save land, the houses of Huizhou folk houses are connected in rows to form streets and alleys. "High walls and narrow alleys" have become the typical form of Huizhou folk houses. This will inevitably lead to two major problems: fire prevention and lighting.

To prevent fire, each house has a tall fire-proof gable, also known as a "wind and fire wall". There are solid walls, hollow walls, and mud walls, which have the functions of separating space, resisting and shielding. They have both fire prevention and decorative functions. Wind and fire walls generally use straight lines, with five layers of steps. To prevent rain erosion, the white walls are decorated with dark green mandarin duck tiles, flying eaves, and high animal ridge brackets. The top of the gable is decorated with flying eaves. From a distance, it looks like a horse with its head raised and neighing, or like mountains piercing the blue sky, so the locals figuratively call it "horse head wall" or "Five Mountains Facing the Sky".

After the Huizhou merchants became rich, they all returned to their hometowns to renovate their houses. However, they still used the closed courtyard layout, but only made it higher and thicker, leaving only small windows on the outer wall, like a fortress, to protect property and imprison the women who stayed behind. The courtyard space design has special functions, which can play the role of lighting, ventilation, air exchange, drainage, sunshade, and summer heat relief. Stone pools and bonsai rockery are set up in the courtyard, and a few strands of green are dotted between the high pillars of the white wall, enriching the visual of the hall.



Tin or ceramic gutter troughs, also known as water troughs, are installed on the eaves above the patio, with drainage pipes extending down to the underground ditch. The patio is paved with stone slabs and has drainage channels underneath. The roof tiles on the four sides of the patio are tilted inward, and rainwater flows into the trough along the tiles. Even if it rains heavily, the rainwater will not affect the neighboring buildings, avoiding unnecessary disputes between neighbors. Businessmen call water wealth, rain gold, and snow silver. They collect rainwater from all four sides into the lobby, which is beautifully called "Four Waters Return to the Hall", or "Fat Water Does Not Flow to Outsiders' Fields".

Walking in the alleys of Xidi in the drizzle, it seems as if time has stopped for you.

The first thing that comes into view when entering Xidi Scenic Area is the Hu Wenguang Archway in Xidi Village.

The village is not big, but every step brings a new view. The roofs of Hui-style buildings are magnificent.

Many tourists choose to tour the entire Xidi here. Xidi is not big, but the layout is very exquisite, with a unique water system. One has to admire the wisdom of the ancients.

The night in Xidi is particularly quiet, in stark contrast to the daytime. I am still not used to it, and it is very quiet when I walk outside alone.

The beauty of Xidi lies in its high walls, narrow alleys, winding and deep alleys, and the drizzle and wet stone roads, which are even more charming.

Xidi and Hongcun, people named them: villages in paintings.

The main feature of Xidi is the ancient buildings. It feels like going to Xidi is to walk through the streets and alleys. Remember to follow the tour guide. The scenic area provides free tour guides. If you don't follow the tour guide, you will basically be confused. It only takes two hours to visit this ancient town. It is not big. What impressed me about Xidi is the exquisite wood carvings. I feel that there is too much money to spend, so I can only start with such small things. This place is also particularly suitable for children who are studying at home, because Huizhou merchants attach great importance to reading. Various plaques are to persuade future generations to study seriously. If you don't study for three years, it is better to raise a pig. There are many truths about life on the plaques, such as being thrifty, tolerant, and filial. Huizhou merchants are really worthy of being Confucian merchants. The more regrettable thing is that although there are many houses in the streets and alleys, most of them only stay in the front hall for a while, because these houses are actually inhabited, so they cannot be fully visited.

Compared with Hongcun, Xidi has a more historical sense. The houses in Xidi are all standard Hui-style buildings, which is in line with the saying "white walls, black tiles, and horse-head walls". There are not many people in Xidi, and there are not many renovated buildings like Hongcun. It basically maintains the oldest appearance. Most people are either basking in the sun at the door or concentrating on their own things in the house, carving, painting, and selling small handicrafts. They don't care even if you go in to visit. If you like mountains and rivers, Xidi probably won't satisfy you, because it is too old and the pace of life there is very slow. Only when tourists pass by, you will feel, ah, there are so many people... But if you are interested in history and architecture, Xidi is still worth a visit.

After checking your ticket and entering the gate, you will see a sea of lotus flowers. After passing the memorial archway, you will reach the Xidi Ancient Buildings, where you will be taken for a free tour. There are many people where the tour guide is, so the photos you take will not be very good. Just listen to the tour guide's explanation. The ancient buildings in the village are basically inhabited. When you are accompanied by a tour guide, you can go in and out without any psychological burden. When you are walking by yourself, you will see the owner of the house (usually an old man) sitting there quietly, and sometimes he will sell some inexpensive small things, which is actually a bit embarrassing.

Suggestion: Don’t take photos outdoors when you go with the tour guide for the first time, as there are too many people. You can take photos from a good angle indoors. The second time you go by yourself, go to less crowded places, take photos of the black tiles and white walls, or go into the houses to take more photos.

The tour guides in Xidi and Hongcun have different focuses. The tour guides in Xidi focus on the couplets in the buildings, which are very exquisite. In addition, the tour guides only choose representative houses of the richest people and high-ranking officials for explanations and tours. They will not explain all of them, so you can explore them when you walk around by yourself.

Almost every home you visit has a mirror, a self-ringing clock, and a bottle on the table, which means "a lifetime of peace (bell) (bottle) and tranquility (mirror)". There are two semicircular tables in the lobby. If the two semicircles are put together into a circle, it means the male owner is at home and you can come as a guest. If they are separated, it means the male owner is not at home and you can come back later. Isn't it interesting?

The culture, architecture and divisions of Xidi are similar to those of Hongcun, except that Xidi has ancient archways and "Xidi" stone tablets that have been passed down for thousands of years!

The archway was built to illustrate the loyalty of women.

Xidi has many inspirational plaques and couplets. One more horizontal line or one less vertical line has profound meanings. Forgive me for not remembering them.

Regarding tickets, I personally recommend China-TravelNote's Xidi and Hongcun package, which is 178 yuan per person. The Xidi ticket alone is 90 yuan, and the Hongcun ticket is 94 yuan.

The Xidi doorplate that once stood at the entrance of the village has gone through many changes and is now treasured by a resident in his yard!

There are all kinds of ancient buildings and quiet alleys inside, and each alley is like an ink painting. There are many traces of history, especially the fact that ancient people attached great importance to the education of children.

When visiting Xidi, stay at the nearby Huiqingshe, where you can find wild river fish that taste great.

Because it is called Xidi. Water is also a reverse thinking, purple air comes from the east and water flows to the west, so there is no worry about food and clothing.

Compared to Hongcun, Xidi is very quiet and simple. Tickets cost more than 100 yuan

Xidi and Hongcun are named by people as villages in paintings. The two inseparable landscapes are the perfect combination of human beings and natural environment. I am curious about what kind of landscapes people from all over the country are obsessed with. I went to search for harvest with questions in mind.

At first glance, the small storefront gave me little expectation, but after entering, I realized what a different world is. As a person with some knowledge, I wanted to recite a poem.

As soon as you enter, you will see the vast Mingjing Lake and the pavilion in the distant mountains. It seems as if you are far away from the hustle and bustle and time has stood still.

Visit one by one. If you get lost accidentally, it doesn’t matter, you can come back after a walk.

There are many ancestral halls of different sizes in Xidi. Each ancestral hall is washed by the rain water falling from the patio, with a hint of desolation and stories. Would you like to come and listen?

In addition to the ancestral hall, the most interesting things are the small shops.

Every shop in Xidi is worth a visit. The details are exquisite and the owners’ imaginations are extraordinary. There are always surprises. Whether you buy something or not, it is the best gift for us.

Passing through the small shops and deep alleys, on both sides of the winding paths, the exterior walls are carved into abstract paintings due to the humid years.

Although the rain was getting heavier, I was very satisfied to take photos of the fairy-like Xidi. Before leaving, I looked at Mingjing Lake reluctantly. If I had enough time, I would like to stay in the pavilion and watch the lake until late at night.

Xidi is known as the Museum of Ancient Buildings of Ming and Qing Dynasties.

Xidi is a world cultural heritage and a national AAAAA-level tourist attraction. Located in Yi County, Huangshan City, Anhui Province, Xidi is the most representative ancient village in southern Anhui. It is famous for its idyllic scenery, well-preserved village forms, exquisitely crafted Hui-style houses and rich historical and cultural connotations. It is known as the "village in the painting". Xidi was first built during the Huangyou period of the Northern Song Dynasty, developed in the middle of the Jingtai period of the Ming Dynasty, and flourished in the early Qing Dynasty. It has a history of nearly 960 years. It is 700 meters long from east to west and 300 meters wide from north to south. There are more than 300 households and a population of more than 1,000. Because there is water flowing westward beside the village and there was an ancient post station for delivering mail, it is named "Xidi" and is known as "the people in the Peach Blossom Spring".

Xidi Village gives people a good feeling, the folk customs are simple, quiet and peaceful, there are many ancient buildings, although there are shops, but the number is acceptable, eating and accommodation are convenient, the price is reasonable; there is no forced buying and selling. The ancient charm still exists, very suitable for in-depth and detailed tours.

This corner of the mountains is beautiful and grand, it is worth experiencing. It may be sunny or rainy when you come, but you will still feel the same when you leave.

When we arrived at Xidi from Yuting, it was getting dark and the ancient town was emitting dim lights.

The various roofs are paved with green tiles, which is very Chinese in style.

Speaking of Xidi, it is the first well-preserved, simple and elegant ancient residential village in southern Anhui. Here, you can see the tables and chairs in the corners, and the ingenious carvings of the transitions between them; the corridors, windows and pillars are smooth and gentle without losing the style of a master.

Take a stroll on the path paved with green mountain boards, and the clouds in the sky, the boats on the water, and the green mountains and trees in the distance perfectly blend into a picture of the southern Anhui landscape. In fact, Xidi is not a maze, but an interesting book.

In Xidi, almost every household has couplets with both form and meaning. You can learn a lot about the local culture while reading them while walking. For the people of Xidi, couplets are a way of cultural dissemination that is easy to understand. Culture is passed down from generation to generation under the guidance of the elders and the daily recitation of children. Walking into the alleys and touching the white walls that have a very old feel, you will feel that Xidi is a book, ancient and long. When you flip through this book, you will feel ashamed of your lack of knowledge and need to spend time to read it.

Slow down and taste the snacks in the ancient village: tea, rice wine, and hairy tofu.

The ticket to Xidi Village includes a guide's explanation. The driver told us to follow the guide. The tour only takes an hour. Only the guide can take you directly to visit the houses without taking detours. After entering the village, I realized that this model is very good. The old residents contribute their ancestral houses to tourists during the day, and they are still their own homes at night. The income from the tickets will also be given to the villagers who own the old houses. We are also very happy to see this kind of ancient houses in life. I call it: living attractions.

It is a very simple village that has not been corrupted by many tourists. When I came here, there were almost no other tourists in the village. I really like the quietness here.

It takes about half an hour to get from Yi County to Xidi. Xidi is quiet at night. After about seven o'clock, the tourists gradually leave, and only local residents and guests living in the village are left walking on the streets.

I stayed for one night in this misty town in the south of the Yangtze River. Although there were tour groups passing by in a hurry, I still liked to stay here for one night. It is a very small village, but every step is a story. It is surrounded by mountains and rivers, and is shrouded in clouds and mist. Compared with the hustle and bustle and commercialization of Hongcun, it is quieter here.

It was my first time to go sketching. I was excited for a long time, but when I got to Xidi, I had no intention of painting at all. I just picked up my phone to take pictures!

Xidi really gave me an unexpected surprise. It was not as noisy as Hongcun. The archway had witnessed history through wind and rain. There was also an unexpected sea of rapeseed flowers. I can only say it was too beautiful.

Every day, many tourists, photography enthusiasts and sketching students come to Xidi to enjoy the scenery, especially during the rape blossom season.

There have always been many people serving as officials and doing business here, and there are a large number of luxurious ancient houses built in the village.

The tall horse-head wall and the intricately carved gatehouse fully demonstrate the wealth of the owner of the house.

Looking at the village from the roof of a house in the alley, you can see rows of horse-head walls everywhere.

Xidi has a total of 99 high-walled alleys. If it weren't for the guide signs on the roadside, it would be really hard to find your way around.

Walking out of the high walls and deep alleys, you will see romantic flowers blooming in the fields outside. The golden sea of flowers sets off the white walls and black tiles. This is the typical spring scenery of Huizhou.

In the early morning of March in Xidi, the weather was indescribably cold, but the beautiful scenery in front of me was really exciting. The morning glow, the ancient stone archway, the cruise ship, the pond, the mountains, and the mist formed a perfect picture that made people reluctant to leave for a long time.

The thin mist on the pond adds to the fairyland color of Xidi.

Some of the ancient dwellings in Xidi Village are open to the public, but most of them belong to the villagers' private courtyards and are not open to the public. We didn't care about these when we visited. Regardless of whether they are open or not, we said hello to the people when we entered. Generally, there is no problem. However, some villagers will introduce you to them and sell some homemade bacon, cooked food, snacks, etc. during the visit...

Xidi Ancient Village has retained its "down-to-earth" feel due to the natural living conditions of its original inhabitants, and has not appeared overly "profit-oriented" just because it is a tourist area; the villagers are relatively friendly and simple, and have not appeared "unfamiliar" in their dealings with others just because it is a tourist area; the Anhui cuisine here still retains the unique flavor of the Anhui style, and has not lost its "ingredients" just because it is a tourist area.

You must stay in Xidi for one night to prove that you have been there. In fact, the styles of the two ancient towns are similar. Hongcun has water in the village, a small lake, and it is developed by a travel company, so tourists will choose Hongcun to stay. Xidi is a place where you can take a look and leave. There are very few people like us who stay in Xidi, most of them are students who come to sketch. The water in Xidi is outside the village, and because it is outside the village, it is overtaken by Hongcun.

Walked by the Mingjing Lake, passed the Hu Wenguang Archway, and entered Xidi Town. This is my third visit to Xidi. As for the difference between Hongcun and Xidi, I personally feel that Hongcun has more water, tends to be more elegant, and has a more rural atmosphere; Xidi has more buildings, tends to be more heavy, like a Ming and Qing architectural museum. Wandering in the alleys of Xidi, looking up, there are eaves on the corners of the house, and there are mottled walls around me. It is almost the same route as in 2014. I once again climbed up to the attic with "People in Taohuayuan" written on the corner. To go upstairs, you have to pay the owner of this house. An old man in his seventies or eighties would actually use WeChat on his mobile phone to pay. There are not many people selling snacks in Xidi, but there are many people selling old things and antiques. I guess they are all collected from the demolished villages in the nearby area.

It feels so-so. Tickets are 104 and include explanations.

Hongcun and Xidi are actually next to each other, and they are similar. We didn't buy tickets here, but walked around and they were all beautiful.

There are public explanations. It was built earlier than Hongcun Village. There are mountains and farmland behind it. But there is less water in the village. The overall situation is more regular.

I went there today. There were no people in many shops, no food, no tourists, it was super deserted. I walked around for 40 minutes and then went to Hongcun. I advise everyone not to go there. The tickets are expensive and it's not worth it.

A typical southern Anhui-style building complex, which is still well preserved.