Xidi Village

Introduction to Xidi Village (西递村)

Located 8 kilometers east of Yi County, Xidi Village is 40 kilometers away from Mount Huangshan. Xidi is a very beautiful China folk culture villages of Anhui Province, which is an optimum place to see the old typical folk houses of the southern Anhui Province which residents have lived as they have for centuries.

You can stroll through this ancient village and will discover the beauty of the village.The traditional Hui-style houses, ancestral temples, academies of classical learning, stone archways, white walls and grey tiles, beautifully paned windows, projecting horse-head walls, and stone slab bridge. With a history of over 900 years, Xidi Village is segmented by over 40 ancient winding and narrow lanes which are paved with bluestones. The street pattern of Xidi is dominated by a main road which runs in east-west direction and is flanked by two parallel streets. 

These major streets are jointed by many narrow alley ways. Small open spaces are confined to areas immediately in front of the main public buildings, such as the Hall of Respect, the Hall of Reminiscence, and the Memorial Archway of the Governor.

The three carving styles including those on stones, bricks and wood are the most renowned. Tourists can appreciate these exquisite carvings on door frames, lattice walls, columns and beams in the halls. The birds, flowers, grass and figures on them are vividly presented. Both the Ming and Qing Dynasty carvings display poise and refinement.

Many villagers have kept many of these arts alive, and visitors can visit them and see their woodcarvings, murals, and gardens exhibition by the local villagers. In Xidi Village, the arrangements of the antique furniture, and the lay of the paintings in the houses are as they were during the Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368—1911AD).

From that moment when visitors step into this village they feel that every inch of it was designed by artists. Xidi Village appears like a page in a fairy tale. This quiet and peaceful village was listed on UNESCO's World Cultural Heritage List along with Hongcun Village in 2000. Ever since, architects, planners, sculptors, industrial artists, and painters have been heading to Xidi as it provides them with abundant sources of inspiration.

Location

In the southwestern foot of Mount Huangshan, Yixian County, Huangshan City, the South of Anhui Province, China

Main Sights

Xidi Village, Huangshan Mountain

Travel Information

Admission for Xidi Village: 104 Yuan

Opening Hours: Whole day

Transportation 

1. When you get to Huangshan by train, you can take a taxi (about 7 Yuan for the taxi fare) to Tunxi New Bus Station first. Then, please get off the bus about 40 minutes later at the cross road. Then change a minibus (2 Yuan per person, ten minutes) to Xidi Village. 

Travel Tips

1. Recommended duration for a visit is about half of a day.

2. It is not recommended to visit there during “May 1st” and “October 1st” these two golden vacation weeks. Because at that time, the hotel reservation and transportation will be in its climax, the price will be much higher than ordinary times.