Hongcun

Welcome to Hongcun, a place that feels less like a village and more like a living Chinese landscape painting. Situated in the shadow of Mount Huangshan in southern Anhui Province, this UNESCO World Heritage site is the most…

Our journey begins at South Lake, or Nan Hu, located at the entrance of the village. In the 'buffalo' planning of Hongcun, this expansive lake represents the animal's belly. …

We now arrive at the Moon Pond, or Yue Zhao, the 'stomach' of the buffalo and the geographical and social heart of Hongcun. This half-moon-shaped pool is surrounded by some of the village’s most important buildings, including the…

As we walk through the narrow stone alleys of Hongcun, we follow the water channels, which represent the 'intestines' of the buffalo. This sophisticated drainage and water supply system is one of the most remarkable features of…

We now enter Chengzhi Hall, the grandest residence in Hongcun and a testament to the immense wealth of the Huizhou merchants. Built during the Qing Dynasty about two-hundred years ago, this house belonged to a wealthy salt…

Continuing our walk, we visit Lexu Hall, an ancestral temple that highlights the other pillar of Huizhou society: scholarship. In traditional China, the ultimate goal for a merchant family was to educate their sons so they could…

As we conclude our walk, we lose ourselves in the maze-like alleys of Hongcun, where the art of daily life is on full display. These narrow streets are a sensory delight, filled with the energy of a living community. …

As our exploration of Hongcun comes to a close, we stand once again by the shores of South Lake, looking back at the village’s shimmering reflection. We have walked the 'intestines' of the water channels, stood in the 'stomach'…