Posted 2018/11/19
Wannan Folk Residence (Folk houses in south Anhui Province), also called Huizhou Folk Residence, refers to ancient folk houses largely built during the Ming and Qing Dynasties and located in the south area of Anhui Province, mostly in Yi, She and Jixi counties. Wannan refers to mountainous areas south of the Yangtze River in Anhui Province of China. It has a time-honored history and advantaged geographical position. With mountains and rivers surrounded, it possesses a beautiful landscape. Wannan Folk Residence, decorated with white walls and black tiles and being of unique charm, is one of representative folk residences of South China.
As is decorated with white walls and black tiles, Wannan Folk Residence is simple and elegant. Reflected on the surface of a clear pool, it looks as if it were a beautiful traditional Chinese painting. Most Wannan folk residences are built centered on deep dooryards, with high walls surrounding. Horse-head walls (Matou walls) of beautiful and changeful designs are provided with practical functions as fire-proof and burglary-proof. The dooryard has the functions of day-lighting and aeration. It is very popular and is an important component of Wannan Folk Residence. In rainy days, the rain will flow into the dooryard from the four roofs surrounding it, which is commonly called "four branches of water going back to the yard". In addition, Wannan Folk Residence is well-known for its "three carvings", namely, woodcarving, stone carving and brick carving, which are widely adopted by almost every family to decorate their houses so as to beautify the environment. These three carvings, mostly used on doors, windows, girders, folding screens and stone drums, are made of gingko, Nanmu and green bricks widely lying there. The high level of carving skills combined skillfully with the architecture is the most splendid touch of Wannan Folk Residence.
Ancestral temples and memorial archways, which are entitled "three wonders of Wannan" together with the Folk Residence, are also landmark buildings of the Wannan area, displaying local rites and cultural tradition of clan system. The ancestral temple is a place used to hold sacrifices for ancestors. These numerous ancestral temples prove the consanguinity and, further more, are rare cultural heritages.
The time-honored folk residences in Xidi and Hongcun are preserved well and are typical of Wannan Folk Residence. Wannan Folk Residence was added on the World Heritage List in 2000.
