Xidi and Hongcun：Ancient Villages in Huizhou
It was decided at the 24th Meeting of the World Heritagecommittee held in Cairns，Australia，on November30，2001 to add the two ancient Anhui villages ofXidi and Hongcun to the list of world heritage sites.
Hongcun
Hongcun lies 11 kilometers northwest of the countyseat of Yixian in southern Anhui Province and 65 kilometersfrom Tunxi，location of the airport for HuangshanMountain tourists.Construction on the village beganduring the Northern Song Dynasty（960–1127），nearly1，000 years ago.The ancient people of Hongcun wereunique.They were at the forefront of the science of bionics，a unique talent they demonstrated in planning andbuilding this buffalo-shaped village and manmade watersystem.The water system is designed in the image of abuffalo.The system brings in fresh spring water throughthe“buffalo’s intestine”that then runs in front of everyhousehold so that“though the river is far，every householdhas fresh water at their doorstep.”When the waterflows from the“intestine”and enters the village，it goes into the crescent-shaped pool called the“buffalo’s stomach.”
After filtering，the water then makes its way aroundto all the households in the village and then out of the villageto the South Lake，known as the“buffalo’s belly.”Itis then filtered one more time before releasing the waterback into the riverbed.The overall layout of the villageresembles a water buffalo lifting its head and holding upits hooves.The building of this kind of water system hasbeen called a skill that is unique among the ancient villagesof China.It has attracted experts from Japan，theUS，and Germany to observe and carefully study it.
The village contains 140-some well-preserved examplesof Ming and Qing dynasty residential buildings.
One of the most representative of these is the beautifuland imposing Chengzhi Hall，a Qing Dynasty residencecalled the“Forbidden City of common People’s Houses，”which could be called the best in southern Anhui Province.
The extremely well crafted groups of wooden carvingsin the residence known as“One Hundred Childrenat Play during the Lantern Festival”and“Tang EmperorSuzong Invites Officials to a Banquet”and the stone carvingsin the windows without glass are exquisite beyondcompare.The world renowned architect Ieoh Ming Peionce remarked，“The buildings and cultural relics ofHongcun in Yixian County are national treasures.”Thevaried appearances of the buildings in the village combinewith the lake and the mountains to form beautifulscenes wherever one looks.From the natural environmentoutside of the village to the water system，streets，buildings，and even the interiors of the houses in thevillage，everything in the village has been preserved asit was in the ancient village with practically no trace of the modernity.With its unique appearance and supremebeauty，Hongcun has been called the“Chinese village inthe picture.”
Xidi
Xidi lies 8 kilometers east of Yixian County.Constructionbegan during the Huangyou years（1049–1054）of theNorthern Song nearly 1，000 years ago.Yixian County wasonce part of the ancient Huizhou and was located in thewestern part of Huizhou Prefecture.It became famous becauseof the posthouse that was located there.The naturalenvironment and scenery of Xidi are like those describedby Tao Yuanming in his Story of the Peach Blossom Valleyand Xidi is known as“Home in the Peach Blossom Valley.”
Experts and scholars call Xidi“a concise picture oftraditional Chinese culture”and“museum of Chinesehomes of the Ming and Qing dynasties.”
Xidi is famous throughout China for its longstandingand brilliant traditional culture，outstanding Hui stylehomes of the Ming and Qing dynasties，simple and purefolk customs，and the extremely well crafted Hui stylewooden carvings，engraved bricks，and stone sculptures.
The most unique residences include Daifudi，Yingfutang，Hengrentang，Xiyuan，and Ruiyuting.Most of the houseswere built near water and have exquisitely and intricatelycarved pointed arches over the doors，curving walls withstone carving windows，each with its own unique character，and stone benches，wells，and stone block bridgesin the streets.These buildings and objects all preserve theappearance they had during the Ming and Qing dynasties.
The overall outward appearance of the village is inharmony with the local topography，topology，and naturalscenery.It is very aesthetically pleasing and embodies thespecial flavor of the ancient villages of southern Anhui.
Many of the buildings in the village use black marbleand two streams run through the village.Along with the99 high-walled lanes and unique residences，they make the tourists feel as though in a maze.
At the main entrance to the village is a five-storystone memorial arch with three rooms and four columnserected in the sixth year of the Ming Emperor Wanli（1578）called the“Hu Wenguang Memorial Gateway，”
also known as the“Xidi Memorial Gateway.”The gateway，which is imposing and carefully built，is an obvioussymbol of the status of the Hu family，as well as a fineexample of Ming Dynasty Hui style stone gateways andthe symbol of Xidi.
The village also has the grand and imposing LüfutangHall built during the reign of Qing Emperor Kangxi（1661–1722）in the lobby of which is a couplet that is aperfect melding of academia and architecture.
The fertile ground of Xidi has produced a number offamous and important officials and business magnates，including Ming Dynasty Prefectural Governor Hu Wenguang，Qing Dynasty grade II official Hu Shangzeng，and the extremely successful Qing Dynasty businessmanHu Guansan.
