Located in Anhui Province in southeastern China, this historic area is known for its well-preserved Ming and Qing dynasty buildings. The real Huizhou was formerly known as Huizhou Mansion, which refers to the area around Huangshan District (formerly Huizhou City) of Huangshan City, please be careful not to confuse it with the current Huizhou District. These ancient buildings not only show the architectural art of ancient China, but also reflect the rich connotation of social culture and religious beliefs at that time.
Shuttling through the ancient stone streets of the ancient town of Huizhou, you can enjoy the orderly arrangement of horse-head walls, elegant and exquisite carved window lattices and tall and spacious archways. Together, these buildings form a vivid historical picture, which makes people feel as if they have traveled back in time and placed themselves in the life scenes of Huizhou merchants in the Ming and Qing dynasties.
The most representative of the ancient buildings in Huizhou are the three carvings, namely stone carving, wood carving, and brick carving. Most of these carvings are based on traditional Chinese mascots such as dragons and phoenixes, lotus flowers, etc., and the craftsmanship is complex and exquisite, and each carving reveals the painstaking efforts of the craftsmen and the soul of art. In particular, wood carving is considered to be the essence of Huizhou's ancient architectural art. Traditional Huizhou dwellings, such as Chengkan and Xidi, are decorated with wood carvings on doors, windows, beams and columns, rendering strong local characteristics.
In addition to the dwellings, there are many well-preserved ancestral halls, temples and academies in the Huizhou area. These ancient buildings are not only the inheritance of Huizhou architectural art, but also a kind of inheritance of Huizhou's cultural history. For example, the Xu Guo Stone Workshop is a giant stone workshop erected to commemorate Xu Guo, a senior scholar of the imperial examination high school in the Ming Dynasty, showing the social atmosphere of Huizhou people attaching importance to literature and religion.
Walking into the ancient town of Huizhou, the heavy sense of history comes to the face, and the deep rut marks on the stone street witness the frequent trading activities of merchants in the past. It used to be a gathering place for Huizhou merchants, who left a strong mark in China's economic history with their shrewd trading ability and arduous and simple business style. The ancient town of Huizhou is not just a static historical site, every brick and tile here carries rich cultural significance and unique philosophy of life.
Further out of town is the rolling Yellow Mountain, known for its spectacular natural scenery and picturesque cloud scenery. Huangshan is not only the backdrop of Huizhou culture, but also provides inspiration and tranquility for the residents of the ancient town of Huizhou. Mountains and rivers depend on each other, and humanity and nature are in harmony here, creating a place that makes people feel refreshed and happy.
Today, the ancient town of Huizhou is part of the World Heritage List, which shows the world the wisdom of ancient Chinese architecture and town planning. It not only attracts domestic tourists, but also many overseas tourists come to appreciate the quaint beauty here and experience the tranquility and peace away from the hustle and bustle. The protection of the ancient town of Huizhou is also ongoing to ensure that these precious historical and cultural heritage can be passed on for a long time.