Huizhou Ancient City

Introducing Huizhou Ancient City
Huizhou Ancient City is a renowned historical city, dating back over 2000 years. Huizhou Ancient City is also known as Shexian Ancient City. Considered one of the “four best-preserved ancient cities in China” alongside Langzhong in Sichuan, Lijiang in Yunnan, and Pingyao in Shanxi, it served as the administrative center of the historical Huizhou prefecture (encompassing six counties in what is now southern Anhui Province) from the Tang Dynasty (618-907) onwards. 

Centuries of administrative importance gave Huizhou Ancient City its unique “city within a city” structure. Today, within its preserved 24.7-square-kilometer (9.54-square-mile) area, ancient gate towers and alleyways invite exploration, revealing the elegant ancestral halls and merchant houses that define Huizhou architecture.

Huizhou Ancient City Fast Facts
• AKA: Huizhou Ancient Town, Shexian Ancient City
• Chinese Name: Huī Zhōu Gǔ Chéng 徽州古城
• Best Time to Visit: March to April; October to November
• Recommended Visiting Hours: About 3 to 4 hours
• Things to Do: Photography, Architecture, Culture and History
• Opening Hours: All day; 08:00-17:00 for some attractions inside
• Entrance Fee: CNY48 (Huizhou Ancient City), CNY100 (Huizhou Ancient City & Huizhou Prefecture Yamen)
• Address: Huizhou Road, She County, Huangshan, Anhui Province

What to Expect at Huizhou Ancient City
Huizhou Ancient City, with its north and south districts, captivates visitors with its historical architecture and timeless beauty. Wander its labyrinthine lanes, discover tranquil gardens, and admire magnificent archways. From vibrant streets to the hushed reverence of its memorial hall, Huizhou offers a journey through time, revealing stories etched in stone within its forgotten stele gardens.

Xu Guo’s Stone Archway – The Oriental Arc de Triomphe
The Xu Guo’s Stone Archway, also praised as “The Oriental Arc de Triomphe”, was erected in 1584 during the Ming Dynasty’s Wanli era. Commissioned by the Ming official Xu Guo, for whom it is named, it is the only existing “eight-legged” archway in China. Its unique design features eight pillars arranged in a square (口 shape), creating an enclosed space. Towering at 11.4 meters (37.4 ft) high, the archway is richly decorated with carvings characteristic of Huizhou folk architecture, adorning every plaque, corbel, and bracket. Twelve intricately carved lions, each in a unique pose, rest atop the stone bases.

Marking the division between the northern and southern sections of Huizhou Ancient City, the archway exemplifies structures built to commemorate meritorious service, academic achievement, virtuous governance, and Confucian values such as loyalty, filial piety, and righteousness.

Huizhou Prefecture Yamen
Yamens were the administrative office or residence of a local bureaucrat in imperial China. The Huizhou Prefecture Yamen, located in the heart of ancient Huizhou, is the grandest and most complete prefecture-level yamen complex remaining in China, covering an expansive 24,000 square meters.

Facing south, its key structures, including the South Drum Tower, Ceremonial Gate, Main Hall, Second Hall, and the Prefect’s residential compound, are arranged in a series of courtyards. The layout meticulously adheres to traditional Chinese architectural principles and intentionally echoes the Forbidden City in Beijing, reflecting the hierarchical structure and grandeur of imperial administration at the local level through its precise distances and proportions between structures, from the initial screen wall to the rear residential area.

Huiyuan Garden
Huiyuan Garden is a classic example of a Huizhou-style garden, showcasing the region’s unique architectural and landscaping traditions. The garden artfully integrates pavilions, rockeries, ponds, and lush vegetation such as bamboo, plum blossoms, and pines, within an area of 18,000 square meters. Its intricate layout demonstrates the harmonious relationship between architecture and nature, creating a serene and contemplative atmosphere.

Tao Xingzhi Memorial Hall
Tao Xingzhi (陶行知, 1891-1946) was a prominent Chinese educator and reformer of the 20th century. His name, meaning ‘knowledge-action,’ embodied the Confucian ideal of the unity of knowledge and action. He is particularly renowned for his contributions to rural education and his advocacy for mass literacy in China.

The memorial hall, established in 1984, covers 1,700 square meters and houses several exhibition halls. The main hall features a 2.6-meter (8.53 ft) white marble statue of Tao Xingzhi, seated. This hall also displays some of Tao’s personal belongings and his famous couplet, reflecting his selfless dedication to education: “I came with a full heart, I leave an empty hand.” The other exhibition halls trace Tao Xingzhi’s illustrious life through seven distinct periods. Located behind the memorial halls are the remains of Chongyi School, where Tao Xingzhi spent his formative years.

Doushan Street
Doushan Street, taking its name from Doushan Mountain, is a living echo of the Ming and Qing dynasties. This historic street, stretching over 300 meters, features a beautiful collection of Huizhou-style architecture. Among the notable buildings are the Wang family house, the grand Yang family compound, the Xu family hall (which once served as a private school), and the affluent Pan family compound. A thousand-year-old well, known as the “Toad Well,” adds to the historical richness of the area. The street’s charming lanes still evoke the bustling atmosphere of its past, when Huizhou merchants filled them with life and trade.

The Nanqiao Tower
The Nanqiao Tower is imposing, its history stretching back to the late Sui Dynasty (581-618). Serving as a timekeeping center in ancient times, its drumbeats echoed each evening. This brick and wood structure, approximately 20 meters (65.6 ft) high, features a hip-and-gable roof with double eaves and a high ridge. Its purple walls and green tiles enhance its historic grandeur. At the base of the tower, a gate passage, 4.5 meters (14.8 ft) wide, is flanked by 13 wooden pillars on each side, creating a magnificent spectacle.

The Taibai Tower
The Taibai Tower, a grand structure in the classic Huizhou architectural style, commemorates the Tang Dynasty poet Li Bai (李白, 701–762). Legend has it that the tower stands on the site of a former tavern where Li Bai once drank, disappointed after failing to find his friend, the recluse Xu Yiping. In the poet’s honor, the tavern was later renamed “Taibai.” Inside, the tower houses a collection of calligraphy, paintings, decorative plaques, poetic couplets, and books detailing Li Bai’s life and works.

Xin’an Stele Garden
Composed of several interconnected courtyards, the garden offers a captivating journey through traditional Chinese architecture. Its highlight, the Ink Marvel Gallery, is a long corridor displaying steles and rubbings. Housing approximately 250 precious stone tablets, the gallery showcases calligraphic masterpieces spanning from the Jin Dynasty (317-420) to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Among the treasures are works attributed to calligraphers like Wang Xizhi (王羲之), Yan Zhenqing (颜真卿), Huang Tingjian (黄庭坚), and Dong Qichang (董其昌), making it a true treasure trove for Chinese calligraphy lovers.

Yuliang Dam
The Yuliang Dam, a marvel of ancient Chinese engineering, graces the Lianjiang River. Originally constructed during the Tang Dynasty (618-907), this historic water conservancy project has evolved into a popular tourist destination. Built from stone, the dam stretches 138 meters (452 ft) across the river, boasting a base width of 27 meters (88 ft) and a height of approximately 5 meters (16 ft). Its asymmetrical trapezoidal design incorporates three sluice gates, which create a dramatic contrast between the placid reservoir upstream and the rushing water cascading downstream.

How to Get to Huizhou Ancient City
• The Huizhou Ancient City is located approx. 23 kilometers (16.1 miles) northeast of Huangshan.
• Charter a car/bus from GGC to enjoy a hassle-free transfer to the Huizhou Ancient City.

Additional Travel Advice on Huizhou Ancient City
• Please take care of your belongings on the street.
• There are many restaurants in the ancient city. Visitors can try local style food, such as Huizhou Chafing Dish, etc if interested.