Chengkan Village
Chengkan is one of the villages in China that features well-preserved residential Hui style houses and was built centuries ago during the East Han Dynasty. The village has the reputation of being the best one in Jiangnan area.
When compared to ancient places of Xidi and Hongcun, Chengkan is underdeveloped and not as popular. Because of this, tourism isn’t flourishing as expected. This is actually a good thing for travelers not wanting big and loud crowds.
Chengkan, which is a 1,800-year old village, has succeeded in keeping its original layout. It features 700 households, green hills, and clear streams. The whole layout and location are based on the theory of the “Eight Diagrams” which is one of the oldest Chinese classic texts. The Longxi River appears like a belt going across the whole village. On the other hand, the eight mountains that surround the village looks like eight directions of the Eight Diagrams. This exquisite layout never fails to amaze travelers.
From the top, the village looks like a giant, elaborate maze. There are three main streets and ninety-nine lanes crisscrossing the village with the rivers and hills surrounding it. The layout of the village together with the Longxi River is believed to bring fortune to the whole village and the locals.
Chengkan is known for its Anhui architectures in an insular world. The village boasts elegant wells, ancestral house, pavilion, and ancestral temples. Each residence features exquisite brick, stone, and wood carvings.
Perhaps, the most famous landmarks are the ancestral temple of Chengkan Village and the Baolun Hall as they are outstanding examples of unique Chengkan’s architecture. These landmarks feature elaborate engravings of geometric pattern and flowers on the bluestone parapets. They also have creative colored paintings on the doorframe, lintels and beams.
What to do
The place is perfect for sightseeing and relaxing. Travelers usually spend their time peering over into the vegetable gardens, taking pictures, wandering through old buildings, and peering through gateways of private courtyards.
Walking around the town and wandering along the streets by the river are also great ideas. The place is ideal for soul searching and for leaving city life even just for a couple of days.
If you want to experience life in Chengkan village, you can talk to locals who are welcoming and warm and observe their way of living.
Useful Information
Address: Chengkan Village, Huizhou District, Huangshan
Opening Hours: 7:30-18:00 for summer and 8:00-17:00 for winter
Admission: CNY 80/person
