Xidi & Hongcun
Xidi and Hongcun are two historic villages in Yixian County, southern Anhui, inscribed together on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2000. Their street plans, houses, decorative craftsmanship and water systems preserve an exceptional picture of traditional Huizhou settlements. They are a good choice for first-time visitors who enjoy architecture, photography and exploring places slowly on foot.
Planning your visit
Season & conditions
We suggest spring or autumn for a village-focused visit, when walking outdoors is especially appealing. Spring brings fresh growth to the surrounding countryside; autumn adds colour and is a lovely time to combine village lanes with wider landscape views. Begin early if photography is important, then return to details that caught your attention rather than rushing to the next stop.
The villages are also places where people live and work. Keep doorways clear and ask before photographing residents or entering private spaces. A relaxed visit leaves time for lunch, a pause beside the water and conversations your guide can help translate.
Time & pace
From Huangshan city, use a road transfer or tourist bus to the villages. For planning, allow roughly one to one and a half hours from the Huangshan North station area, depending on the village and traffic. Official transport connections also link Yixian East railway station with both Xidi and Hongcun.
From Shanghai, take a high-speed train toward Huangshan or Yixian East and continue by road. Choose the arrival station around your complete itinerary: the most convenient option for a village stay may differ from the best gateway for a mountain visit. Keep the rail journey and station transfer as a travel block rather than counting them as village sightseeing.
Allow a full day to see both villages, with two to three hours in each and time between them. If you enjoy photography or architectural detail, stay overnight nearby and give each village its own unhurried visit. For a trip that also includes Mount Huangshan, we suggest at least three sightseeing days: one for the villages and two for the mountain, plus the necessary arrival and departure transfers.
The inscribed place
The World Heritage property consists of Xidi and Hongcun, whose preserved settlement patterns and buildings show how traditional communities organised their living environment. Their architecture and water systems should be read together: look at the relationship between a lane, a house entrance and the flow of water through the village.
In Hongcun, the waterside views around South Lake and Moon Pond are natural starting points. After taking in the wider scene, continue into the lanes to notice the scale and arrangement of the houses. In Xidi, pay particular attention to building details and the way streets connect the settlement.
Ask your guide to choose a few examples of carved decoration and explain what they communicate about the people who built and used these places. Comparing the two villages is more rewarding than treating them as interchangeable collections of white walls and dark roofs. One visit can emphasise the water system, the other architecture and domestic life.
Read the official UNESCO property record ↗
Related destinations
Journeys featuring this site
Before you visit
Can I see both villages in one day?
Yes. Give each two to three hours and leave time for the transfer and lunch rather than combining them with a mountain ascent.
Can I visit from Shanghai as a day trip?
We recommend at least one overnight stay in the Huangshan area. The rail journey and road transfers make a same-day return a rushed way to see both villages.
Should I combine the villages with Huangshan?
Yes, over several days. A village day and two mountain days create a balanced introduction to southern Anhui.
What is the best time to visit?
Spring and autumn are our preferred seasons for village walks and the surrounding countryside. An early start is useful for a quieter first look.
Use Plan Your Journey to tell us which places you would like to explore and how much time you have.