Hongcun, Anhui

If Jiangnan is poetry, then "Hongcun" is the richest stroke in that poem; if Huizhou is a painting, then "Hongcun" is the most lively scroll within it. This "World Cultural Heritage ancient village," hidden among the foothills of Huangshan, is renowned as the "countryside in a Chinese painting," blending mountains, water, architecture, and culture into a flowing ink and wash masterpiece that has lasted for a thousand years. "The eye of Hongcun"—Moon Pond. The semicircular pool acts like a mirror, reflecting the surrounding Huizhou-style ancient houses, the upturned horse-head walls, red lanterns hanging from eaves, and even the clouds and birds in the sky. At dusk, when the lanterns light up, their warm red glow reflects in the water, complementing the blue-gray tiles and white walls, adding a touch of lively warmth. The architecture here is like frozen brushstrokes of ink. The "Three Carvings" (wood, stone, and brick carvings) of Chengzhi Hall represent the pinnacle of Huizhou craftsmanship. In the gate tower's "Hundred Children Celebrating the Lantern Festival," a hundred children are depicted in various poses; the wood carvings on the beams and pillars of the hall feature flowers, birds, insects, fish, and human stories, each cut and carved with the ingenuity of ancient Huizhou artisans. The plaque of the Wang Clan Ancestral Hall is solemn and dignified, the window lattices of Nanhu Academy exude scholarly elegance, and even the old houses in the ordinary alleys—with their mottled white walls, dark gray tiles, and moss-covered corners—seem soaked in the ink of time, carrying stories that have settled over a millennium. The beauty of "Hongcun" lies not only in its form but also in its soul. The thousand-year-old "Ox-shaped water system," designed by ancient people according to the terrain, channels mountain springs into the village: Moon Pond is the "ox's stomach," Nanhu is the "ox's belly," the water channels running through the village are the "ox's intestines," the ancient tree at the village entrance is the "ox's horn," and even the stone paths in front of villagers' homes wind along with the water system. The water in the channels is crystal clear; villagers wash clothes and vegetables by the stream, and the gentle sound of flowing water becomes the most beautiful background music of the ancient village.