If you want to choose a word from the southern Fujian dialect that best represents the local culture, it must be the word "厝". The magnificent red brick ancient houses in southern Fujian are mainly distributed in Xia, Zhang, Quan and other places in Fujian. Red brick absorbs the essence of traditional Chinese culture, Fujian-Vietnamese culture and maritime culture, becoming an important system of southern Fujian culture. "The red bricks and white stones are curved with double slopes, the bricks are inserted into the stone swallow-tail ridge, and the carved beams and painted buildings are like a palace." is an image expression of the characteristics of red brick architecture in southern Fujian.
In Xiamen, a city now full of high-rise buildings, it is difficult to see traces of ancient red brick houses. However, there is actually such a piece of land near the Xiamen Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine in the city center, but few people know about it.
Surrounded by skyscrapers, step into the ancient residential street of "Xiangdian". Several ancient houses with red bricks and red tiles and dovetail gables will bring the long-lasting days of the Ming and Qing Dynasties back to you. In the renovation of Xiamen's old streets, Xiangdian must have a name. There are more than 100 red ancient houses here, the longest of which is more than 200 years old, full of humanistic atmosphere and architectural mystery. Fortunately, there are still a few buildings showing new life before our eyes.
"There is wealth in Xiangdian, but there is no Xiangdian house." From this ancient saying in southern Fujian, we can get a glimpse of the wealth of Xiangdian in the past. Nowadays, there are many high-rise buildings here, and the few remaining ancient houses in southern Fujian are still telling the history of that year. After the renovation, the Xiangdian ancient house has taken on new vitality. You can walk into the red brick ancient houses, which are either gourmet merchants or cultural and creative spaces. Rather than being abandoned, perhaps such a transformation is the best cultural continuation.
The current Xiangdian old neighborhood can be seen from the alley next to the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital. A wall separates it from the bustling and modern city, but when you walk in here, you will feel that time slows down unconsciously. If the weather is good, when the sunshine shines on the red brick house, it will even make people feel a little trance. As time goes by for a hundred years, each mansion may hide the rise and fall of a family. With the growing economy, some old houses and objects have been abandoned, but what remains is cherished by everyone.
There is actually a red brick ancient house hidden in the center of Xiamen, surrounded by skyscrapers. It is amazing for time. There are few tourists and it is so beautiful!