Xidi Village

西递

A Hu clan village that shares World Heritage status with Hongcun, home to the Hu Wenguang Prefect Archway and 124 Ming and Qing residences, often called a 'museum of Ming and Qing dwellings'.

Xidi lies in the southeast of Yi County, about 20 km from Hongcun. It dates back to the Northern Song dynasty and flourished in the Ming and Qing periods thanks to Hu clan merchants and officials. The village is shaped like a boat and preserves 124 Ming and Qing residences, 3 ancestral halls and 1 memorial archway. The Hu Wenguang Prefect Archway (1578) marks the entrance. Highlights inside the village include Jing'ai Hall (the Hu clan ancestral hall), Zhuimu Hall, Dafu Residence (with the inscription 'Take one step back and think'), Lüfu Hall and Ruiyu Court, where bluestone-paved lanes and horse-head gables are set among one another. Compared with Hongcun's water scenery, Xidi is valued for its architecture and its quieter atmosphere, and it is nearly empty of visitors early in the morning.

Admission is RMB 104, valid for 3 days, with real-name registration required. Free guided tours are available.

Suggested route: the archway, Jing'ai Hall, Dafu Residence, Zhuimu Hall, the Zoumalou (Galloping Horse Hall), then the hillside behind the village for a view over the whole settlement. Allow about 2 hours.

Getting there: from Yixian Bus Station it takes about 20 minutes to reach Xidi. A private car from Hongcun costs about RMB 60 to 80 and takes about 30 minutes. Tourist shuttle buses also link Hongcun, Xidi and Tunxi.

Tips: most buildings in the village are private homes, so please be respectful of residents. Mosquitoes are plentiful in summer. Huizhou stinky mandarin fish and Yixian cured pork can be tried at village restaurants.

Xidi Village

Opening hours

Nearby sights

Places to eat nearby