Xidi Village

Sight 1

Hu Wenguang Memorial Archway

胡文光牌坊

Hu Wenguang Memorial Archway. Located at the entrance of Xidi Village, the Hu Wenguang Memorial Archway is a merit archway built during the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty to honor the official Hu Wenguang. Carved from bluestone, the archway features four pillars and five tiers, with upturned eaves and corners, adorned with exquisite patterns of dragons, phoenixes, qilins, and cranes, showcasing the superb stone-carving craftsmanship of Huizhou. As a landmark of Xidi, it embodies the charm of ancient official culture blended with traditional artistry, making it a must-visit spot for travelers.

Sight 2

Zhuimu Hall

追慕堂

Zhuimu Hall. Zhuimu Hall is an important ancestral hall of the Hu family in Xidi, built during the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty. It was used for ancestor worship and carries a rich tradition of clan culture. The hall features exquisite wood carvings, stone carvings, and brick carvings, with the most vivid patterns found on the corbel brackets and beam frames, showcasing the pinnacle of Huizhou's three carving arts. The architectural layout is rigorous, and the skylight design demonstrates the unique wisdom of Huizhou-style architecture. Visitors can experience here the fusion of traditional Chinese family values and architectural artistry, making it an unmissable stop for understanding the culture of the ancient village of Xidi.

Sight 3

Jing'ai Hall

敬爱堂

Sight 4

West Garden

西园

Xiyuan Garden. Xiyuan is a quintessential Huizhou-style garden within the ancient village of Xidi. Built during the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty, it originally served as the residence of a Huizhou merchant. The garden features an exquisite layout, where spaces are artfully divided by leak windows, winding verandas, and rockeries, revealing a new vista at every step. Its highlights lie in the stone and wood carvings: the pine-and-rock and bamboo-and-plum scenes on the gate hood, along with the openwork lattice windows in the halls, all stand as masterpieces of Huizhou's three carving arts. Seamlessly blending a residential compound with a garden, Xiyuan embodies the refined lifestyle of Huizhou merchants and is hailed as "a microcosm of Huizhou gardens." It is an ideal destination for experiencing the aesthetics of traditional Chinese garden design.

Sight 5

Ruiyu Courtyard

瑞玉庭

Ruiyu Hall. Ruiyu Hall is a typical Huizhou merchant residence in Xidi Ancient Village, built in the Qing Dynasty, renowned for its exquisite wood carvings and unique "商" (shang, meaning commerce) character layout. The central courtyard features a cleverly designed skylight, where rainwater from four sides converges into the hall, symbolizing wealth accumulation. The brick and wood carvings on doors, windows, and beams are rich in themes and masterfully crafted, showcasing the exceptional skills of Huizhou artisans. The courtyard is small and elegant, exuding a strong scholarly atmosphere, making it an ideal place to experience the fusion of Huizhou architecture and merchant culture.

Sight 6

Taoli Garden

桃李园

Taoli Garden. Taoli Garden is a refined Qing-dynasty residence within the ancient village of Xidi, named after the owner's hope that his students would flourish like thriving peach and plum trees. The garden features a clever layout divided into three sections—front, middle, and rear—with exquisite wood, stone, and brick carvings, particularly renowned for its lattice windows and potted landscapes, embodying the elegance of Huizhou-style gardens. Once a private school for teaching and nurturing talents, it served both residential and educational purposes, and its architectural details reveal the importance Huizhou merchant families placed on cultural inheritance. Strolling through the garden, one can appreciate the sentiment of "The peach and plum trees speak not, yet a path is worn beneath them," making it an ideal place to understand Huizhou residential life and traditional education.

Sight 7

Qingyun Pavilion

青云轩

Qingyun Xuan. Nestled deep within Xidi Ancient Village, Qingyun Xuan is a quintessential Huizhou-style residence. Its wood and stone carvings are exceptionally refined, with particular renown for the brick carvings on the door hood and the decorative beam framework indoors, showcasing the superb craftsmanship of Huizhou artisans. The courtyard is laid out with exquisite precision, with flowers and trees gracefully arranged, reflecting the refined living aesthetic of traditional Huizhou merchants. Stepping inside, one can soak in the tranquil ambiance of the ancient village and appreciate the architectural beauty and cultural depth of Ming and Qing dynasty residences.