Xiuli in Huangshan: A Hidden Old Dream of Huizhou Among Mountains and Waters

As the grandeur of Huangshan unfolds in the clouds, Xiuli at the foot of the mountain becomes a gentle footnote. This scenic area, located in Hongcun Town, Yixian County, uses "mountains and waters as paper, Huizhou style as ink" to paint a living picture of southern Anhui’s charm, allowing every visitor to fall into the old dream of Huizhou deep in time.

The soul of Xiuli is the symbiosis of mountains, waters, and ancient architecture. The verdant mountains stand like a screen, isolating the noise outside, while the mist often drifts over the skyline, draping the white walls and black tiles in a hazy veil. The stream running through the village is crystal clear, with pebbles shining faintly underwater. Several ancient waterwheels stand quietly by the shore, creaking as they turn, grinding time into delicate poetry. Walking along the bluestone path, the horse-head walls layer upon layer resemble elderly guardians watching over their homes; the carved window lattices, arranged with rhythm, cut sunlight into mottled shadows. Every brick and tile is engraved with the craftsmanship of Huizhou people and stories of time.

This is also Huizhou in light and shadow. As Anhui’s first film and television base, Xiuli has witnessed the birth of works like "My Own Swordsman" and "King of Beggars." The signboard of "Tongfu Inn" remains prominent, with vermilion doors and windows and hanging lanterns, as if Tong Xiangyu and Bai Zhantang might step out at any moment, their laughter echoing through the courtyard. Although no opera sounds now come from the ancient riverside stage, the carved beams and painted rafters still evoke the grandeur of Huizhou opera performances, with the sound of gongs and drums seeming to linger among the mountains and waters. Strolling here, one may unexpectedly reunite with a scene from film or television, adding a layer of story to the scenery.

Time in Xiuli moves slowly. Sitting in a riverside teahouse in the afternoon, ordering a cup of Huangshan Maofeng tea, watching the black-awning boats leave shallow ripples on the water, and listening to villagers chatting in the Huizhou dialect, time gently flows amid the fragrance of tea and the sound of water. If you happen to visit during a festival, you might catch traditional folk performances, watch shadow puppetry behind the screen, or personally experience tie-dyeing and pottery, letting your fingertips touch the warmth of Huizhou culture. Xiuli in the rain is even more charming; raindrops wet the black tiles, drip down the horse-head walls, and the splashing water blends with the distant mountain mist, blurring the line between painting and reality.

Coming from the marvels of Huangshan, one settles in the gentleness of Xiuli. Here, there are no hurried footsteps, only the harmony of mountains, waters, and ancient buildings, only the dialogue between culture and time. Come to Xiuli, let your soul rest in the poetry of Huizhou, and let every breath be infused with the fragrance of mountains, waters, and old dreams.

Post by treasure.abe_28 | Oct 23, 2025