Ancient Village Visit

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Today’s stop was in Hongcun Village, which is one of many “ancient villages” throughout China that have been protected by the government as historic zones. Hongcun Village is one of many in the Huangshan Mountain area. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was another location for “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”.

Hongcun is small, but has over 140 dwellings that date from as far back as the 14^th Century. Many are considered among the best examples of architecture of their eras.

The Village is a draw for artists. The day I visited, student artists sat throughout the village working on pieces.

It’s picturesque, but also suffers from one of the major Western influences on China. The Village is more a tourist site than village at this point. There’s about a $10 admission charge to enter the Village (Only about $5 for me. At 60, I’m considered a senior citizen in China, receiving substantial discounts throughout the country.) and there are shops selling the same stuff you can find everywhere in China but here, a tea growing center, there’s also plenty of tea on sale. The upside is that these villages might not survive without having become tourist sites.

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