Qiankou Residences (潜口民居), also known as Zixia Mountain Villa, is located at the southern foot of Zixia Peak in Qian Kou Town. During the Qing Dynasty, it served as a villa for the Wang Yuan family, originally named “Shuixiang Garden.” Unfortunately, it was destroyed during the wars in the Xianfeng period.
Starting in 1984, eleven typical Ming Dynasty buildings that were scattered throughout Qian Kou and Xucun, and were not suitable for local preservation, were relocated and concentrated in this area to form a Ming Dynasty village, which was named “Qiankou Residences.”
During the restoration process, strict adherence to the principle of “rebuild as dismantled, restore as old” was maintained, allowing the buildings to retain their original appearance. The overall complex includes a mountain gate, a stone bridge, a roadside pavilion, a stone archway, three ancestral halls, and a residential building. The collection of ancient buildings from the Ming Dynasty features notable structures such as Yinxiu Bridge, Shipaifang, Shanhua Pavilion, Lexiantang, Caomen Hall, Fang Guantian Residence, Siguan Pavilion, Wu Jianhua Residence, Fang Wentai Residence, and Su Xuehen Residence.
Travel Information about Qiankou Residences
Ticket Information and Opening Hours
Ticket Price: Free admission (the only 5A-level scenic area in Huizhou that is open to the public for free).
Opening Hours: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM.
Access to the Scenic Area
Location: At the foot of Zixia Mountain in Qianqou Town, Huizhou District, Huangshan City.
Transportation: Take bus No. 17 to reach Huizhou directly.
Scenic Ratings
- Cultural Experience: ★★★
- Distinctive Features: ★★★★
- Leisure: ★★★
- Beauty: ★★★
- Romance: ★★
- Excitement: ★
Highlights of Qiankou Residences
Yinxiu Bridge
Yinxiu Bridge was built in the 33rd year of the Jiajing reign during the Ming Dynasty (1554). It is a single-arch bridge funded by local nuns, with one end leading to a nunnery and the other to the village.
The name “Yinxiu Bridge” features characters that are half in relief and half in intaglio, creating a visual distinction between the Buddhist realm and the human world, which is why it is also referred to as the “Yin-Yang Bridge.” Interestingly, the railings on both sides of the bridge are constructed with Luohan stones. As time passes, the bridge remains, and it is said: “The nun’s whereabouts are unknown, yet the Luohan still smiles in the spring breeze.”
Stone Archway
After crossing Yinxiu Bridge, you will find a stone archway built during the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty. The front of the archway has no inscription; instead, it features a carved figure of a grinning “ghost.” This ghost holds a brush in one hand and steps on a square measuring instrument, which together symbolize the word “Kui.” This signifies the hopes of the Fang family, the builders of the archway, for their descendants to achieve great success in the literary and academic fields.
Shanhua Pavilion
Winding up the mountain, you will come across Shanhua Pavilion, built in the 30th year of the Jiajing reign during the Ming Dynasty (1551). The name “Shanhua” carries the old meaning of “transforming goodness and dispelling ignorance.”
The pavilion is square-shaped, supported by four columns, with elegantly curved eaves and corners, giving it an aesthetically pleasing appearance. On the horizontal beam of the pavilion’s roof, there is an inscription that reads: “In the ground of a square inch, plant the seeds of hidden virtue; from the spring of brightness, walk up to the ninth heaven.” This encourages people to earn merit through sincere good deeds.
Additionally, there is another couplet: “A journey without end, take a moment to pause and step out; urgent matters of the heart, think it over and set it aside for now.” This conveys a profound message about the importance of reflection and mindfulness.
Leshan Hall
Upon leaving Shanhua Pavilion and continuing up the mountain, you will arrive at Leshan Hall, the first of the residential buildings. Also known as “Mao Die Hall,” it was constructed during the mid-Ming Dynasty and served as a venue for elderly family members over 80 years old to socialize and discuss matters.
The hall is both elegant and antiquated, featuring a two-entrance, three-bay layout. The front consists of a three-bay columned portico, with rooms on either side. The front and rear sections are separated by an open courtyard. In traditional Huizhou residences, courtyards were essential for ventilation and light, as well as a symbol of “keeping wealth within” by ensuring that “fat water does not flow outside.”
Leshan Hall’s courtyard is flanked by corridor rooms, and the main hall boasts 20 imposing columns with finely carved beams, presenting a grand and impressive architectural style.
Sijian Hall
Sijian Hall was built by the five grandsons of Wang Shan, a successful candidate in the Ming Dynasty’s Yongle era, as a ancestral hall for worshiping their ancestors. This early Ming Dynasty hall, constructed in the eighth year of the Hongzhi reign (1495), represents one of the earliest existing Ming architectural structures in southern Jiangsu.
The building features a width of three bays, approximately 12 meters, and a depth of about 18 meters. Its wooden frame is robust, showcasing exquisite carvings on the columns, moonbeams, lotus pedestals, cross beams, single-step fruit decorations, and dougong (bracket sets). Notably, the curved brackets resemble flowing clouds, reflecting the architectural trends of the Ming Dynasty. The elevated floor structure is particularly rare among Ming-era woodwork in southern Jiangsu, making it a significant example for studying the evolution of dougong after the Yuan Dynasty in Ningbo.
Fang Guantian Residence
Fang Guantian Residence was built in the mid-Ming Dynasty. This residence features a single entry with three bays, constructed from brick and wood. It is characterized by its small blue tiles, horse-head walls, a spacious hall, a central courtyard, and decorative guard seams on the railings. The ground floor is paved with blue bricks, and the main entrance is protected by a door canopy adorned with Ba Wang Quan (a type of decorative motif).
Fang Guantian Residence serves as a representative example of the typical residential architecture of ordinary farmers in Huizhou, reflecting the region’s traditional building styles and cultural heritage.
Fang Wentai Residence
Fang Wentai Residence is a brick and wood structure from the mid to late Ming Dynasty. Originally located in QianKou’s Shansha Village, it is designed as a square courtyard with a layout of two entries and three bays. The front section of the ground floor features a hall with two adjacent rooms, while the back section includes a guest hall and a secondary bedroom. The upper floor is designed with an ancestral altar, and the stairway is equipped with a covering panel.
The interior decoration of the residence is quite elaborate, showcasing exceptional proportions and exquisite carvings that are currently unmatched. A standout feature of the building is the curved railing on the upper floor, which extends outward beyond the eaves and resembles a backrest, earning it the nicknames “Flying Chair” or “Beauty’s Rest.” The lower part of the railing is adorned with framed decorative panels that exhibit intricate and delicate craftsmanship.
Compared to Fang Guantian Residence, the ground floor of Fang Wentai Residence is notably higher, serving as the main living area, while the upper floor is designated for family activities.
Su Xuehen Residence
Su Xuehen Residence is a mid-Ming Dynasty brick and wood structure originally located in Zheng Village, She County. It was initially owned by the Zheng family but was purchased in the late Qing Dynasty by the Su family, who established the “Su Dehe Tobacco Shop.” After the founding of New China, it became the residence of Su Xuehen.
The layout of the residence is shaped like a “凹” (concave) character, forming a three-sided courtyard with two entries. The front section features a central courtyard, flanked by corridors; the left corridor is narrower than the right. A staircase is located in the left corridor.
There is a significant height difference between the upper and lower floors. The lower floor includes a guest hall and a secondary bedroom, while the upper floor features an incense altar in the main room and another bedroom in the secondary space.
Huizhou Intangible Cultural Heritage Inheritance Base
The Huizhou Intangible Cultural Heritage Inheritance Base is located within the Qianqou Residential Museum. The main focus of this base is to showcase intangible cultural heritage projects, including Huizhou wood carving, Huizhou brick (stone) carving, Huizhou bamboo carving, Huizhou ink-making, She inkstones, paper tearing calligraphy, and Huangshan Maofeng tea, along with live demonstrations of these crafts. It has been designated by the Anhui Provincial Cultural Department as a training base for the intangible cultural heritage of the Huizhou Cultural Ecological Protection Experimental Zone.