Xidi (Chinese: 西递) is a village located in Xidi Town, Yi County, Huangshan City, in the historical Huizhou region of Anhui province, China. Xidi and the nearby town of Hongcun are famous for having very well-preserved buildings and city planning from ancient times in Anhui. Together, they were named the "Ancient Villages in Southern Anhui" World Heritage Site by UNESCO in the year 2000.

History

The village was first built during the Huangyou era (1049–1053) of the Song dynasty under Emperor Renzong. It was originally named Xichuan, which means "West River," because rivers flowed through the area.

The Hu family of Xidi came from Hu Shiliang, who lived in Wuyuan. Hu Shiliang was a descendant of Hu Changyi, a son of Emperor Zhaozong of the Tang dynasty. Hu Changyi was later adopted by the Wuyuan Hu family.

The growth of the village was connected to the success of the Hu family. By 1465 CE, during the Ming dynasty (1368–1644), members of the family began working as merchants. This led to the building of large private homes and public structures. By the middle of the 17th century, the Hu family’s influence grew from business into politics. The village reached its greatest prosperity in the 18th and 19th centuries, when it had about 600 homes. However, in the late 19th century, the end of the feudal system in China and the decline of merchant groups in Anhui caused the village’s growth to stop.

City Plan

Xidi has kept its original street layout and water systems from the medieval period. The main street in Xidi runs from east to west and is next to two parallel streets. These main streets are connected by many narrow alleys. The streets are paved with granite from Yi County. Small open spaces are found only in areas near important public buildings, such as the "Hall of Respect," the "Hall of Reminiscence," and the "Memorial Archway of the Governor." As was common during that time, buildings are grouped close to the three streams that form the city. There are 224 ancient homes in the city, built between the 14th and 19th centuries. Of these, 124 wooden homes from the Ming and Qing dynasties are still in good condition and have beautiful carvings that are major attractions. These homes usually have a central courtyard surrounded by rooms arranged symmetrically. Many of these homes are open to the public.