Shexian Ancient City（歙县古城）Travel Guide
Nov 12, 2024
by orient china travel
Shexian Ancient City Travel Guide for Foreigners
Location and History
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- Location: Shexian Ancient City is located in the center of Shexian County, Anhui Province. It is at the southernmost end of Anhui Province. Geographically, it is adjacent to Jixi County and Lin'an City in Zhejiang Province to the east, and borders Xiuning County and Qimen County to the south2.
- History: The city was first built in the Qin Dynasty (221 - 207 BC) and has a long history of more than 2000 years. Since the Sui and Tang Dynasties, it has been a political, economic, and cultural center of Huizhou. It is one of the best-preserved ancient cities in China3.
Main Attractions
- Xu Guo Stone Archway: Built in October of the 12th year of the Wanli ruling period in the Ming Dynasty (1584), it is located in the ancient city. The archway is a remarkable structure with a history of over 400 years. It is a wooden-structured building decorated with delicate carvings, including a colored phoenix, flying dragons, and other unique fowls and beasts. There are 12 stone lions leaning on the pillars, each with a different posture. It is a masterpiece of ancient architecture and was named a national key cultural relic protection unit. It is also known as the "Eight-Foot Stone Archway" because of its eight columns, and is hailed as the "Oriental Arc de Triomphe"2.
- Doushan Street: This street is a cultural scenic spot integrating ancient folk residences, streets, carvings, wells, and archways. The narrow bluestone-paved roads are long and meandering. Here, you can find a typical Hui-style Wang's Residence, Officer Yang's Mansion, Xu's Ancient Private School, Merchant Pan's Residential Compound, and a rare wooden shield archway - "Ye's Chastity Archway", etc. It is a great place to experience the ancient Hui-style architecture and traditional culture.
- Hui Park: Known as the "Grand View Garden of Huizhou Culture", Hui Park is an archaic tourist city rebuilt from the original Huizhou government office in the center of Shexian County. Opened in November 2000, it reflects the landscape of Huizhou in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The buildings are well-arranged and the carvings are exquisite, inheriting the spirit of Huizhou culture and representing the essence of new Hui-style architecture and carving.
- Taoxingzhi Memorial Hall: Shexian is the hometown of Tao Xingzhi, a great modern educator in China. The memorial hall is dedicated to commemorating him and showcases his life story and educational achievements. It is a place to learn about the spirit and contributions of this great educator.
- Yuliang Town: Located near the ancient city, Yuliang Town is an ancient water town with a long history. It features the Yuliang Dam, which is an important water conservancy project in ancient times and is still in use today. The town has a unique charm with its ancient buildings, waterways, and bridges.
- Xin'an Stele Park: The park is home to many ancient steles, which are valuable cultural relics recording the history and culture of Shexian. The inscriptions on the steles provide insights into the past and are of great significance for studying history and calligraphy.
- South Gate Tower and North Gate Tower: These are the ancient city gates that have witnessed the changes of the city over the centuries. The towers are magnificent and have unique architectural styles, adding to the ancient charm of the city.
Cultural Features
- Architecture: The architecture in Shexian Ancient City is a typical representative of Hui-style architecture. The houses are usually white-washed walls and black-tiled roofs, with exquisite carvings on the doors, windows, and walls. These carvings include patterns of flowers, birds, insects, fish, figures, and landscapes, showing the superb craftsmanship of the ancient craftsmen.
- Culture and Arts: Shexian is the birthplace of Huizhou culture, which includes Neo-Confucianism, Xin'an painting, Xin'an medicine, architecture, and literature. These cultural elements have had a profound impact on the development of Chinese culture3.
- Folk Customs: The local folk customs are rich and colorful. There are traditional festivals and activities such as dragon boat races, lantern festivals, and temple fairs. During these festivals, people gather together to celebrate, adding a lively atmosphere to the ancient city.
Best Time to Visit
You can visit Shexian Ancient City all year round. Spring and autumn are relatively more comfortable seasons with mild temperatures, making it an ideal time for sightseeing. In summer, you can enjoy the greenery and coolness brought by the surrounding mountains and waters. Winter has a special charm with the ancient city covered in snow (if there is snow).
You can visit Shexian Ancient City all year round. Spring and autumn are relatively more comfortable seasons with mild temperatures, making it an ideal time for sightseeing. In summer, you can enjoy the greenery and coolness brought by the surrounding mountains and waters. Winter has a special charm with the ancient city covered in snow (if there is snow).
Practical Information
- Opening Hours: The ancient city is open all day, and the small scenic spots inside are generally open from 8 am to 5 pm.
- Ticket Price: The ticket price is about 100 yuan per adult (including Hui Park, Huizhou Government Office, Xu Guo Stone Archway, Doushan Street, Xin'an Stele Park, and Taoxingzhi Memorial Hall).
- Transportation: You can take a bus from Shexian County Bus Station to the ancient city. The fare is relatively inexpensive. Or you can take a taxi for more convenience. If you are in Huangshan City, you can also choose to take a train or a long-distance bus to Shexian.
When visiting Shexian Ancient City, remember to respect the local culture and traditions, and protect the ancient buildings and cultural relics. Enjoy your journey in this ancient and charming city!