Hongcun Ancient Village

Welcome to Hongcun, a UNESCO World Heritage site and perhaps the most iconic example of Huizhou-style architecture in China. As we stand at the entrance, it is easy to see why it is often called the 'village in a Chinese…

We start our journey at South Lake, or Nanhu, a large expanse of water at the southern end of the village that represents the 'buffalo's head.' This lake was created during the Ming Dynasty to provide a larger reservoir for the…

As we enter the narrow alleys, we find ourselves walking alongside the water channels. These are the 'intestines' of the buffalo, a network of narrow stone gutters that wind throughout the village. …

In the center of Hongcun lies the Moon Pond, or Yuezhao. In the buffalo-shaped layout, this is the 'stomach.' It is a semi-circular pool surrounded by some of the most important ancestral halls and merchant homes in the village. …

We now enter Chengzhi Hall, the grandest residence in Hongcun. Built approximately 200 years ago during the Qing Dynasty, it belonged to a wealthy salt merchant named Wang Dinggui. …

Near the Moon Pond is Lexu Hall, the main ancestral hall for the Wang clan of Hongcun. Ancestral halls were the spiritual and legal centers of Huizhou villages. …

No visit to Hongcun is complete without experiencing its culinary heritage. As you walk through the village, you will encounter the unique smells of Huizhou cuisine—most notably the 'Stinky Mandarin Fish' (Chou Guiyu) and 'Hairy…

As we conclude our walk through Hongcun, we find ourselves back by the water, perhaps at a different section of the South Lake. We have traversed the 'intestines' and the 'stomach' of this great buffalo, seeing how a…