Xidi is located in the southeast of Yixian County; Surrounded by mountains, two streams pass through the village from the north and east respectively, and meet at Huiyuan Bridge in the south of the village. The village is mainly composed of a vertical street and two roads along the river, forming a system of streets and alleys extending eastward to the north and south. All the streets and alleys are paved with bluestone slabs called "yi county Green", surrounded by ancient wooden buildings and brick walls, which are simple and elegant, with colorful wood carvings, stone carvings and brick carvings; Roads, streams and buildings are strictly and harmoniously laid out. The spatial change is full of charm and the architectural color is elegant, which shows the unique flavor of ancient villages in southern Anhui.

Xidi Village, a village inhabited by Hu family, originated in 1 1 century and reached its peak in14 ~19th century. Because the past was rarely destroyed by war and was not impacted by modern economic development, the village remained intact. At present, there are 124 ancient dwellings in Ming and Qing dynasties and 3 ancestral halls. In 2000, 165438+ October was listed as a world cultural heritage. Xidi used to be called Xichuan, because about 5 kilometers west of the village was the "birthing place" in the Qing Dynasty, so it was named Xidi Village.

According to the local Hu genealogy, Xidihu's ancestors were his sons. After 1465, Xidi's population increased sharply and wealth accumulated rapidly, and a large number of houses, ancestral temples and memorial archways began to be built. From 1573 to 1620, Xidi Village rebuilt Huiyuan Bridge and Gulai Bridge, and built many houses along the canal between the two bridges. Since then, the center of Xidi has gradually moved eastward to Huiyuan, and the development of Xidi has reached its peak.

Xidi Village is close to the mountains and waters, following China's traditional idea of harmony between man and nature, emphasizing the harmony between man and the natural environment, and the village is integrated with the local topography, landforms, landscapes and other natural scenery. Xidi Village is centered on Dear Hall and Zhuimutang, and it is arranged in a strip shape along Qianxi and Houxi. Main Street, Lu Heng Street, Qianbian West Street and Houbian West Street, which are about 3 meters wide, form the skeleton of the main road. "Hydrophilia" is the common feature of ancient villages in Huizhou. On both sides of the street, there are houses built with open ditches and canals, stone benches, wells and ponds at the end of the street, and stone bridges on the stream, which create a close relationship between people and water.

The ancient buildings in Xidi Village have distinctive Huizhou characteristics in layout and architectural technology. The basic structure of residential buildings is a herringbone top with beams or buckets, and the external wall enclosure is separated by gables. The bottom is made of yi county bluestone, the top is made into overlapping or convex arc, the blue tile is made into ridge, and the end is shaped like a horse's head. Based on the needs of anti-theft and safety, the external windows on the wall are very small, and most of them are decorated with flowers and geometric patterns carved out of Yixian bluestone. The gate is framed by Yixian bluestone, and the upper part is inlaid with a door cover. Masonry carvings are decorated with flowers, birds, insects, fish or historical scenes, each with different auspicious meanings.

Hongcun and Xidi ancient buildings, mainly in Ming and Qing Dynasties, not only inherited the achievements of historical buildings formed in this area for thousands of years, but also absorbed the essence of architectural art in other places because of the influence of Huizhou merchants and Huizhou officials, forming their own unique artistic style. Under the influence of the idea of "harmony between man and nature", Xidi's buildings are integrated with the surrounding environment. Elegant color; The gables are patchy, the patio is compact and unobstructed, the light is soft, quiet and comfortable; The beam frame is majestic and exquisite, and the shape is regular; Exquisite sculpture is indeed an amazing architectural art museum.