Huizhou District

Huizhou District is 440 square kilometers by area, with a population of 90 thousands. It has long been served as a south gate to Mt. Huangshan. It borders Shexian County, Tunxi District and nestles in the south side of Huangshan Mountain Range. Huizhou District is a place full of historical sites, praised as "a corridor of ancient construction". Here you can see old pagodas, archways, bridges and houses either along the road or in ancient villages and Qiankou Dwelling Museum. Hangshan City has a history of over 2200 years. Its two oldest counties, Shexian and Yixian, were established during Qing Dynasty when the system of prefecture and county took shape. Huangshan City was formerly called Xin'an Prefecture, and later Huizhou Prefecture until it got current name in 1987. Situated in a remote and picturesque mountainous area, Huizhou escaped many wars and battles throughout history. Refugees from the Central Plains came into this area and brought with them the Han culture starting from the Sui and Tang Dynasties. Many refugees were famous for their achievements in art, medicine, architecture and craftsmanship. Under their influences, Huizhou has become known as a remarkable place for producing great scholars, painters, artists and merchants. The contributions of these talented and industrious people, together with the 2,200-year history, have brought about the glorious and magnificent Huizhou Culture. This culture, originated mainly from the Central Plains (an area which comprises the middle and lower reaches of the Huanghe River) and integrated with traces of Shan'yue Culture, is an important part of Chinese Civilization. As a matter of fact, Huizhou Culture has become one of the three main fields of the Chinese Culture (Han) Study, the other two being Dunhuang and Tibetan Cultures. The best known sites are the Qiankou Ancient Residence (in Huizhou District), Xugou Memorial Archway and Tangyue Archway Group (in Shexian County), Xidi Village and Hongcun Village (in Yixian County), just to name a few. The classic, elegant design of the buildings and the ingenious,magnificent layout of the landscapes are outstanding in its own way.