Nanping Village

Nanping Village is sited in the southwest of Yixian County in Huangshan City, Anhui Province, China. It has a history of almost one thousand years. There are about 300 ancient Hui-style houses and buildings built in Ming and Qing Dynasties, as well as 36 ancient wells and 72 lanes. The most distinctive buildings in the village should be the ancestral temples complex. Along the two-hundred-meter central axis in the village, there are eight ancient ancestral halls in different size, which is quite strange, as it is hard to find that there are so many ancestral halls in such a small place. So it is also known as “The Museum of Ancient Ancestral Hall in China”. There are about 1000 residents in the villages so far.
 

Nanping Village are sites where many of the scenes in the popular movies Ju Dou (the first Chinese film that was nominated for best foreign language film in Oscar.) and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (The movie won four Oscars at the 73rd annual Academy Awards. It is also the first Chinese movie that won Oscar) were filmed. Xuzhi Hall provided 80% of the settings for the movie Ju Dou, and The Aancestral Temple of the Ye’s provided some of the settings for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. The Story of Western Garden was filmed in this village as well.

Walking into the village, you will surely be attracted by the traditional houses and old-fashioned decorations, such as the stone-carved windows and wood-carved beams and columns, whitewashed walls, grey tiles, mottled wooden doors, etc. In the north of Nanping Village is a river and in the south are mountain peaks. The main entrance of the village is sited in the northeastern corner. To enter the village, you need to walk through a bridge called Wasong Bridge. And once visitors purchase entrance tickets, there will be a tour guide guiding you to tour around the village. The tour guide has keys to the old houses in the village, so only you tour with the tour guide can you have the chance to visit the inside structure of the houses. You can tour around the village with tour guide first, then wonder the village by yourself.

There are quite a few photography locations in the village to take find pictures. One is at the entrance of Nanping Village, where you can accommodate the field, old houses and distant hills afar into the photos. It looks quite beautiful in April when rape flowers bloom in the fields. The second shooting site would be the pine tree forest called Wan Song Lin. There is a large area of old trees and it offers photographic effect in the early morning. The third recommended shooting sites would be the rooftop of the residential buildings, where the balcony of the house is transformed to view platform and visitors can overlook the whole village. But you may have to pay the permit to get in to the house. 
 

Travel Guide

【Chinese name】: 南屏村
【Best time to visit】: April to June & September to early November would be the best time to visit Huangshan city, when it is neither too hot nor too cold, and the view is beautiful too.
【How to get there】: Taka a bus at Tunxi Bus Station to reach Yixian County first, then transfer to a bus to Xiwu County from Yixian Station and get off outside Nanping Village, which is then a walk of only one kilometer.

History of Nanping Village

The history of Nanping Village can be traced back to the Northern Song Dynasty, giving it a legacy of over 1,000 years. In the late Yuan Dynasty, the Ye clan migrated from Baima Mountain in Qimen and settled here. By the Ming Dynasty, the three major clans of Ye, Cheng, and Li shared control of the village, forming its unique social structure. During the mid-Qing Dynasty, with the rise of Huizhou merchants, Nanping reached its peak prosperity.

Today, more than 300 well-preserved Ming and Qing residences, 36 ancient wells, and 72 alleys remain, all reflecting this golden era. Among its architectural highlights, the ancestral temple complex is especially notable. The Ye Ancestral Temple, also known as Xuzhi Hall, was built during the Chenghua reign of the Ming Dynasty. Covering nearly 2,000 square meters, it features 86 ginkgo wood pillars and exquisite Huizhou stone carvings, showcasing the peak of local craftsmanship.

Nanping’s overall village layout has remained remarkably intact. Its site selection, street pattern, and large number of traditional houses are preserved in their original form, making the village a living example of Huizhou heritage.

Architectural Features

Nanping Village embodies the finest characteristics of Huizhou-style residential architecture. Set amidst mountains and rivers, the village exudes an atmosphere that is simple yet dignified, solid yet graceful, and refined in detail. Decorative artistry is another defining feature. Alongside the ancestral halls and residential clusters, visitors can explore shaded lanes, centuries-old trees, murmuring streams, ancient wells, and weathered stone bridges—all woven together to form a vivid living specimen of Huizhou culture.

The village is also renowned for its “Three Carvings” — brick, wood, and stone — which represent the pinnacle of Huizhou artisanship. Door lintels, windows, and beams are adorned with intricate motifs symbolizing wealth, longevity, and happiness, while ancestral halls display grand stone carvings of landscapes and historical figures.

Beyond its tangible heritage, Nanping is also rich in intangible cultural traditions. Folk art, literature, customs, and traditional handicrafts are still practiced here, ensuring the cultural legacy of Huizhou continues to thrive.

Suggested Walking Route and Key Attractions

Exploring Nanping Village is both a cultural and visual feast. Here is a recommended route to help you make the most of your visit:

1. North Gate Entrance – Begin your journey at the northern entrance, where fields of rapeseed flowers in spring frame the ancient Huizhou architecture against a mountain backdrop.
2. Wansong Bridge – Cross this historic stone bridge over the river, with traditional waterwheels and stone mills nearby.
3. Wansong Pavilion to Sanyuan Well – Wander through the alleys past pavilions and wells, soaking in the charm of daily life in an ancient Huizhou village.
4. Judu Pharmacy – Visit this site where Ju Dou was filmed, and relive moments of the cinematic past.
5. Ye Ancestral Hall (Xuzhi Hall) & Ye Branch Hall (Kuiguang Hall) – These two ancestral halls are unmissable highlights. Built during the Ming Dynasty, they once served as important ritual and community spaces. Xuzhi Hall, with its ginkgo wood pillars and carved stone drums, was the main filming site for Ju Dou. Kuiguang Hall, built during the Hongzhi reign, is one of the largest branch halls preserved today and was featured in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.
6. Xiaoyang Building – A fortress-style private residence, now open to visitors for a small fee, offering an elevated view of the village.
7. Exit via Lijia Lane – Conclude your visit by passing through ancestral halls of the Cheng and Li families before leaving the village.

Cultural and Leisure Experiences

After admiring the architecture and carvings, visitors can also engage in hands-on cultural activities. At Qiyue Organic Farm, you can try your hand at making Huizhou carved cakes (Huizhou Xiudiao Gao) — traditional pastries whose designs mirror the motifs found in Huizhou architecture. Often described as “edible stone carvings,” these cakes feature patterns symbolizing prosperity, happiness, and longevity.

When you need a rest, local restaurants provide the perfect chance to savor authentic Anhui cuisine. Traditional dishes, paired with the village’s tranquil atmosphere, add a delicious and relaxing dimension to your cultural journey.