Have you been to Xidi, Yixian County, Anhui?

Xidi is 8 kilometers away from the county seat of Yixian County. It was first built during the Emperor You period of the Northern Song Dynasty and has a history of nearly a thousand years. According to legend, the ancestor was the son of Li Ye, Emperor Zhaozong of the Tang Dynasty. Because Zhu Wen rebelled against the Tang Dynasty, he changed his surname to Hu to avoid disaster. ?

In 1047, his descendant Hu Shiliang moved his family from Kaoshui, Wuyuan to Yixian County, where he worked, lived, settled and multiplied. After 1465, the ancestors of the Hu family in Xidi joined the ranks of Huizhou merchants and began to build a large number of houses, ancestral halls, and archways. The whole village is in the shape of a boat and is known as "the epitome of traditional Chinese culture" and "the Museum of Chinese Ming and Qing Folk Residences". There are nearly 200 well-preserved Ming and Qing folk houses in Xidi Village. The Huizhou architecture is well-proportioned, with bricks, wood and stone carvings dotted throughout.

Currently, Lingyun Pavilion, Cishi Archway, Ruiyu Pavilion, Taoliyuan, Dongyuan, Xiyuan, Dafudi, Jingaitang, Lufutang, Qingyunxuan, Yingfutang and Yingtianqi have been developed More than 20 attractions including art museums. ?

Located at the entrance of Xidi Village, there is the "Hu Wenguang Archway", commonly known as the "Xidi Archway". It was built in the sixth year of Wanli in the Ming Dynasty (1578). The three bluestone archways with four pillars and five floors are majestic and exquisite in structure. They are a symbol of the Hu family's prominent status. At that time, the Western Emperor Hu Wenguang was a Jinshi of the Yimao branch of Jiajing. He first served as magistrate of Wanzai County in Jiangxi Province, and later as governor of Jiaozhou. He moved to Prince Jing's Mansion for a long time and was awarded the title of four great officials. Because of his remarkable achievements, the emperor allowed the construction of this stone workshop. Historically, there were 13 archways built at the head of Xidi Village, most of which were dedicated to filial piety or chastity. The only remaining Hu Wenguang archway is the most majestic and exquisite, and can be called the masterpiece of Huizhou stone archway in the Ming Dynasty.

The "Zouma Tower", also known as "Lingyunting", located on the west side of Hu Wenguang Archway, was built during the Daoguang period of the Qing Dynasty. According to legend, Hu Guansan, the richest man in Xidi, was a relative of Shexian County and was built by the arrival of the Prime Minister Cao Zhenyong. Today's Zouma Tower was rebuilt according to the layout of that year and has become an attraction together with the adjacent ruins of Qizhe Temple. The Zouma Building is divided into upper and lower floors, with whitewashed walls and ink tiles, and cornices. There is a single-hole stone arch bridge downstairs called Wugeng Ancient Bridge. The Xixi River flows around the horse building and crosses the bridge. Here you can enjoy the beautiful scenery of "Wuqiao Night Moon", one of the "Eight Scenic Spots of Xidi".

Xidi Dafu Building was built in the 20th year of Emperor Kangxi's reign in the Qing Dynasty (1691). It is a street pavilion-style building, commonly known as "Miss Xiu Building". The embroidered architecture with cornices and corners is unique, exquisite and elegant. There are six big characters hanging on the forehead: "People in the Peach Blossom Spring". What’s interesting is that most of the neighbors regard this building as the place where the ladies in the costume drama choose their husbands through the “hot throat hydrangea”. Now it is the place where Xidi Village holds this folk event. There is also an inscription "take a step back" under the forehead of "Da Fu Di", which has a pun meaning and is thought-provoking.