At the end of Southern Song dynasty (1127 -1279), Lin'an (to date Hangzhou in Zhejiang province) was rebuilt as capital and the city extended with many buildings. Among the artisans, "Hui Shang" (businessman from Huizhou, today's Anhui province) built many simple houses, from money he collected. Today's folk residences in Huizhou region, Chengkan village, Qiankou village in Shexian county are mainly from that period. Others have been found in Hongcun village and Xidi Village in Yixian county.

The houses was built under guidance of Fengshui, which follow the main principles to select locations based on their environment around. Fengshui contends the trinity of the Heaven, the Earth and human and seeks harmony between selected site, orienting, natural doctrine and human fate. The site is prudently chosen.

The house is surrounded with lush trees and green mountains feature black-and-white color. The unique structure - Ma Tou Wall, a further tier-structure higher in the middle with upturned eaves on the wall, of which the beautiful curve presents a beautiful skyline is much higher than the roof and functions as the firewall in case of fire. The contrast between the gray-tile eaves and the white color is very impressive. Lattice windows are set into the wall to add change, simple but elegant. The interior design is quite complicated compared with the exterior.

Decorative patterns of flowers and birds on pillars, parapet, windows and eaves add much luster. The inner complex is set to a square layout, with rooms on each side and a "Tianjing" - a dooryard for enough lighting and draught. The design was said to enable water to drip into the yard in rainy periods. This design is considered an auspicious symbol.

Private Residence

Private residences in Huizhou region feature a unique layout studded with rockery, pavilions, slab pavement and ponds. Displayed in the "Zhengtang" - a hall used as a drawing room is of simple style. Chinese traditional furniture, which has a strong aesthetic appeal due to its apparently simple lines and the natural materials in the hall, finely carved wooden ornaments and Chinese paintings often by famous artist - all present literary grace.

Residential House in Tangmo Village

Near Shexian County, a village called Tangmo is another typical spot to explore the Huizhou dwellings culture.

It is a unique village of tranquility and inspiration. The age-old pavilions at its entrance, the old trees, the memorial arches and a tranquil river cut through it, all present an amicable earthly paradise that brings man into harmony with nature. The residential houses in the village were built in the earlier Qing and were a microcosm of the charming scenery of the Western Lake (a picturesque spot in Hangzhou).

An octagonal tri-eaved pavilion at the entrance to the village is of typical ancient style. Several minutes westwards is a memorial arch, which displays the grandeur and exquisite craftsmanship of artisans.

Tanganyuan Garden in Tangmo is a must for each visitor. Right beside the entrance, a pair of tablets have fancy inscriptions, which record the building of the garden. A cobble pavement extends forwards to a great hall. The spirit tablets of two Qing officials are enshrined. After several minutes walk , the "Quegao Jingshe - the grand main hall in the garden, exhibits fancy bonsai. A long corridor zigzags through the central yard for about one hundred meters. Further to north is another pavilion named "Jing Ting (Mirrior Pavilion)." On the marble parapets, pictures were engraved in relief. Also in the garden, inscriptions of the noted calligraphists lure many lovers of oriental culture.

Admission Fee: 30
Opening Hours: 08:00 to 17:50
Recommended
Time for a Visit: One hour

Qiankou Folk House Museum

The complex is a collection of an arch bridge, a curb pavilion, three ancestral temples and four dwelling houses. The restoration work began in 1984, and in 1999 it opened to the public. Located in Qiankou town of Huizhou district, it covers an area of 16,000 square meters and centralizes 10 representative buildings of the Ming dynasty scattered in Huizhou. It remains the original style feature both architecturally and culturally. Known as the "Museum of Dwelling Houses of Ming in Qiankou," it is a must for each visitor.

Admission Fee: 32

Baolun Hall in Chengkan Village

Chengkan village in Huizhou District, Anhui province is famous for the residential architecture of the Ming and Qing style. Baolun Hall in the Ancestral Temple of Luo's, built during the Jiaqing's reign, is a representative collection of typical Huizhou architecture.

The temple covers an area of 5 mu (1/3 hectare), Baolun Hall were well-designed and constructed with extreme delicacy. Through the first entrance, visitors reach "Tianjing" - a square dooryard with rooms on each side designed for enough lighting and draught. Secondly, comes a great hall, in which four vermilion posts support the timber frame. Further across a yard is the main hall - Baolun Hall.

The design of this timber frame hall is delicate and unique. Exquisite engravings of flowers and geometric pattern on the bluestone parapets and creative colored paintings on the beams, lintels and doorframe lure many foreign visitors. The colors remain bright and fresh although throughout ages. A pair of wooden staircases ascend to the second floor on which through the finely engraved casements, visitors can have a perspective of the Huangshan mountains.

The residential houses in Chengkan village are of high value on the research of China's folk architecture and have been designated as a provincial preservation.