Nanping Village

Nanping Village is located 4 kilometers west of Yi County, Huanshan City of Anhui Province. Kown as "Musem of Ancient Ancestral Temple of China", the village has a history of more than 1,100 years. There are now in the village 8 ancestral temples, 36 ancient wells, 72 lanes and over 300 houses built in Ming and Qing dynasties.

Like a labyrinth, Nanping Village boasts eight ancient ancestral temples and 300 buildings of Ming and Qing dynasties that are interconnected by long and narrow alleys. The Ancestral temples, such as "Kuiguang Temple" and "Xuzhi Temple" are magnificently constructed; the folk houses, such as "Shensi Hall", "Xiaoyanglou", and "Baoy Study" are very elegantly decorated and stylistically unique. The ancient trees at the entrance of the village are towering in the sky; the old bridges are lying quietly across the streams; the 72 interlinked ancient alleys present a mysterious atmosphere; crystal-clean water springs out of the 36 ancient wells.

Many celebrities, including the well-known calligrapher Yao Nai (1731 – 1815), have left much-told stories. Many movies including "Ju Dou", directed by Zhang Yimou, and "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" by Ang Lee have been shot here. This village represents the best of its kind in southern Anhui province for its long and narrow alleys. It is agreed that one cannot miss the village if he wishes to explore the vicissitudes of Huizhou merchants to feel the ancient patriarchal clan system, and to experience the geomantic design of the ancient villages in Anhui province. 

A Family Temple in Nanping Village

Nanping Village