Most beautiful villages Top 10 in China
DATE:2015-12-31 SOURCE:Xinhua News Agency
The One-Thousand-Household Miao Village of Xijiang
Known as the biggest Miao village in the world, the One-Thousand-Household Miao Village of Xijiang is located 36 kilometers northeast of Leishan County in the Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southeastern Guizhou. It consists of more than ten naturally formed villages that have been long inhabited by nearly 1,300 Miao households (hence the name).
The village cluster, known as an open-air museum, displays the authentic and well-preserved distinctive culture and customs of the Miao people. Visitors can take a peek at original Miao dances, customs, rites, costumes and silver ornaments.
The Miao people have their typical architectural characteristic: wooden houses built tier upon tier on the hillside, dotted with bamboo groves. Lying amidst green mountains, the village enjoys beautiful settings, with the terraced fields rising up along the slopes and the crystal-clear Baishui River flowing through. It offers a more spectacular view when it''s lit up in the evening. (Source: www.cnchemicals.com)
Kaiping Diaolou and Villages
The Guangdong Kaiping Diaolou is a defensive multi-storey tower-style building in villages. The Diaolou harmoniously coexists with the surrounding rural landscapes, and reflecting a complex and brilliant integration of Chinese and western building structures and decorative forms. Based on the criteria C(II)(III)(IV) for selection cultural heritage, the Guangdong Kaiping Diaolou and Villages were included in the World Heritage List on June 27, 2007. The Kaiping Diaolou is located in Kaiping City, Guangdong Province, and is a special vernacular building in China and is a multi-storey tower-style building that integrates defense, residence and art of Chinese and western architecture. Kaiping is located between Xinhui, Taishan and Enping and was not administrated over by any of the four counties since the Ming Dynasty in 1368 and 1644. Therefore, it was a chaotic place with rampant bandits. In addition, there were many rivers causing numerous flood disasters when typhoons and storms hit, therefore the local villagers had to build the Diaolou for self protection. (Source: www.cnchemicals.com)
Xidi and Hongcun Villages, Anhui
Xidi Ancient Village is situated at the foot of Huangshan Mountain''s southern slope. It was originally built during the reign of Emperor Huangyou (1049-1054) of the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127) and rebuilt during the reign (1449-1457) of Emperor Jingtai of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).
Xidi Village contains about 300 buildings in the Hui Style of the Ming and Qing dynasties (1644-1911). Brick and wood dominate, with exquisite stone archways, stone carvings, and stone-paved streets and courtyards. The most popular tourist attractions in Xidi Village include Lingyun Pavilion, Ruiyu Pavilion, Cishi House, Daifu House, and Qingyun House.
Hongcun Village is about 11 km from the county town of Yixian County. The whole village was originally laid out in the shape of an ox. The west end of the village, called Leigang Hill, resembles an ox head and that is where two huge trees stand like ox horns. At the front and rear of the village are four bridges that span a Jiyin stream and resemble four legs of the ox. The several hundred well-arranged houses form the body of the ox, and the 1,000-meter-long Jiyin stream that meanders through the village is regarded as its intestines. A crescent pond in the village is the ox''s fourth stomach, and a larger South Lake is its reticulum, the second stomach. The villagers of Hongcun long ago designed this marvelous landscape. (Source: www.cnchemicals.com)
Wuyuan county, Jiangxi Province
Wuyuan county in Jiangxi Province is famous for the large pieces of rape flowers. But in fact, it becomes more poetic when autumn comes. In late autumn, Changxi Village is shore with deep and vivid tints. The maple trees growing in the front and back of the village turn to burning red. The tall trees contrast finely with the Mau Tou Wall (Horse Head Wall). The red maple leaves, white walls and black tiles blend into a unity, making a unique sight in this ancient village. (Source: www.cnchemicals.com)
Nangang Yao Minority Town, Guangdong
Nangang is located in Liannan County and is the largest, oldest and best preserved Yao minority village in China. Built on limestone hills, some 800 metres above sea level, Nangang''s origins date back to the Song Dynasty – well over a thousand years ago. (Source: www.cnchemicals.com)
Yuanyang County, Yunnan
Photo taken on June 29, 2013 shows the village buildings in Yuanyang County of Honghe Prefecture in southwest China''s Yunnan Province. The UNESCO''s World Heritage Committee inscribed China''s cultural landscape of Honghe Hani Rice Terraces onto the prestigious World Heritage List on June 22, bringing the total number of World Heritage Sites in China to 45. (Source: Xinhuanet)
Fujian Tulou
Built on a base of stone, the thick walls of Tulou were packed with dirt and fortified with wood or bamboo internally. The architectural arts of the Fujian Tulou can be traced back nearly 1,000 years, and their design incorporates the tradition of fengshui (favorable siting within the environment). (Source: www.cnchemicals.com)
Zhaoxing Dong Village, Liping County, Guizhou Province
Photo taken on June 20, 2013 shows the scenery of Zhaoxing Dong Village in Liping County, southwest China''s Guizhou Province. Zhaoxing Dong Village is one of the largest Dong village in Guizhou. In 2005, it was ranked one of China''s six most beautiful villages and towns by Chinese National Geography. (Source: www.cnchemicals.com)
Danba Tibetan Village, Sichuan
Danba lies on the eastern border of the Ganzi Tibet Autonomous Region of Sichuan Province. The Tibetan villages here are famous for their gorgeous watchtowers and traditional Tibetan fortress-like houses, which constitute a remarkable scenery with the natural surroundings. (Source: www.cnchemicals.com)