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Xidi Village

The Entrance to Xidi VillageLocated at Yixian County Anhui Province, Xidi have about 400-500 years of history. The original residential style and features of the Ming and Qing Dynasties were preserved perfectly. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the businessmen carried out an extensive building program, such as building houses and ancestral temples, making roads, building bridges and so on. Nowadays, more than 100 old folk houses in Xidi maintain the basic appearance and feature they used to be.  Reputed as 'A Living Ancient Residential Museum' by experts and tourists at home and from abroad, it were listed as a world cultural heritage site by UNESCO in 2000.

Lying 8 kilometers northeast of Yixian County and built in 11 A.D, Xidi is 700 meters long and 300 meters wide. Encircled by surrounding mountains, two streams cut across the whole village. The wooden architectures in Xi'di is unique and elegant, the prettified walls preventing rain infiltration, the black tiles recording the history of the town, and the decorative gate towers standing for the particular flavor of the architecture. Rich and exquisite wood carvings, stone engravings and tile carvings are also very representative. Rockeries, fish ponds, various parterres can be seen in the courtyard, where the ground is paved with cobbles. Well-arranged laneways, streams and architectures in Xidi are garden-like scenery. It is pleasing to both the eye and the mind. At present, there are 122 ancient well-preserved residential areas in the village. People come to see it not only just for the architecture but also to enjoy the rich cultures.