beijingdaytrips Says: Although the guidebooks make you believe that as a foreigner you can stay overnight in Xidi, in 2004 it was still not possible. I was with a Chinese girl at the time and even that didn't help. We went to the police station to ask for a special permission, but the only thing...
FreeCloud Says: You are outside of the village. The border between the old and new is physically clear - devided by this wall, but then the border of the sense is fussy, the feeling is just like when you look back through this window.
FreeCloud Says: A blunt modern version of a see-through window on a wall. The area is famous of its Hui style architecture, namely, the 'Ma Tou Qiang' (horse head wall) with white walls and black tiles. The ones shown here are modern 'interpretation' of the traditional style.
FreeCloud Says: Stonecarving window. The locals told us that a Japanese would like to pay $100,000 for moving it to Japan. Luckily. It still sits there on the wall. I am not sure what kind of professions local people have, besides selling authentic antiques they inheritaed from their...
FreeCloud Says: Elegant courtyard. The see-through window is a typical Chinese architecture unit. The window creates interesting yet relatively separated courtyards, without losing the feeling of conitinuity. It also creats visual elusion that makes the courtyard feel larger and deeper.
FreeCloud Says: Wood carving details on the doors/walls. The vertical 'scroll' says 'Gain always comes from loss' (Pin yin: pian2 yi4 duo1 zi4 chi1 kui1 lai2). The area where the village locates has a tradition of literature/scholars and merchants in Chinese history. Several typical types...
FreeCloud Says: Stone Archway of Hu Wenguang. Mr.Hu was a 'feudal' Provincial Governor. His two major official positions were carved on either side of the archway. The number of 'roof looking' thing and number of columns can be used are all associated with that person's official rank etc....
Currently, the photos and info are under 'off the beaten path' section. I will move them to 'general' later and add VMTL.
Being one of the few well preserved ancient non-urban residential settlement,...
At the time of my visit (March 2004) the youcai (a vegetable) was blossoming, everywhere you could see these yellow flowers that give you the feel you are in a yellow sea.
This picture was taken a bit...
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