Chengkan Ancient Town: Decoding the Millennium Secrets of China's No. 1 Feng Shui Village of Bagua

As the most well-preserved ancient Bagua Feng Shui village in China, Chengkan is known as a living museum of Huizhou culture with the reputation of "must-see when visiting Huangshan Mountain." Here, you can find the ink-wash Jiangnan depicted by Song Dynasty poets, the magnificent momentum of ancestral halls carved in the Ming Dynasty, and the mysterious metaphysics of "no bumps in life after visiting Chengkan." In 2025, during the rapeseed flower season, this ancient village with a thousand-year history interprets the oriental philosophy of "harmony between man and nature" with golden flowers and maze-like streets and alleys. 🌟 Quick View of Core Highlights 📍 Location: Chengkan Town, Huizhou District, Huangshan City, Anhui Province 🎫 Tickets: CNY 80 for a joint ticket (including the ancient village, Yongxing Lake, and the Book of Changes Hall). Tickets for some attractions can be purchased separately. 🚗 Transportation: • Take the high-speed train to Huangshan North Station, then transfer to Huizhou Bus No. 17 to reach directly (about 25 minutes) • Drive to "Chengkan Scenic Area" via GPS. The parking lot at the entrance of the village is CNY 10/time. ⏰ Best seasons: March–April (rapeseed flower sea), September–November (autumn colors) 🏯 Space-time folding point: A millennium dialogue between history and architecture ❶ Bagua Feng Shui Layout | A three-dimensional Book of Changes with the wisdom of the ancients Chengkan was built according to the theory of "the unity of Yin (Kan) and Yang (Cheng)" in the Book of Changes. Eight mountains surround the village, and the Longxi River flows through it in an "S" shape, forming a natural dividing line between Yin and Yang fish. The streets and alleys are winding and twisting, and the two canals, five streets, and ninety-nine alleys are intertwined like a maze. The original pattern of "pillow mountain, ring water, and face screen" has been preserved from the Song Dynasty to the present. Photography code: Take a drone aerial shot in the early morning to capture the panoramic view of the Bagua village surrounded by rapeseed flower fields. ❷ Luodongshu Ancestral Hall (Baolun Pavilion) | The carving epic of the No. 1 Ancestral Hall in Jiangnan This Ming Dynasty ancestral hall is famous for its painted sculptures, wood carvings, and stone carvings. The painted beams are still as bright as ever after 400 years. The caisson ceiling of the bedroom features flying dragons shuttling through the clouds, and the stone railing is intricately carved. Liu Haisu praised it as the "Museum of Huizhou Architectural Art." Hidden surprise: Touch the plaque "Yilun Youxu" inscribed by Dong Qichang to feel the literary integrity of the Ming Dynasty. ❸ Yongxing Lake and Huanxiu Bridge | The poetic mirror image of Huizhou Water Village • Yongxing Lake: In summer, the lotus flowers set off the white walls and black tiles, and the reflection is like a mirror of the sky; in autumn and winter, the mist is diffused, and the ancient trees and Huizhou architecture on the lakeside form a long ink painting. • Huanxiu Bridge: A Yuan Dynasty five-hole stone bridge. The century-old shop "Huanxiu Xuan" at the bridgehead houses Huizhou wood carving treasures. Taking pictures of the bluestone reflection on rainy days produces the best photos. ❹ Sunning Square | The color aesthetics of agricultural civilization In the golden autumn season, the square is covered with red peppers, corn, and rice. The scene of farmers drying grains is more primitive than Huangling in Wuyuan. Experience guide: Participate in the September Chrysanthemum Exhibition and make traditional Huizhou bamboo weaving sunning trays by hand. 🎭 Cultural Decoding: From the Metaphysics of the Book of Changes to the Huizhou Flavor on the Tip of the Tongue ❶ Overcoming Obstacles Culture | Cracking the Millennium Metaphysics Code The "Kuakan Gate" at the entrance of the village implies disaster relief and prayer for blessings. Touching the stone beast and walking the Bagua array are must-try projects. ❷ Folk Customs and Intangible Cultural Heritage | Living Huizhou Memories • Feng Shui Culture Tourism Festival (end of June): Watch traditional sacrifices and high pole boat performances, and experience the intangible cultural heritage of Zha Canlong craftsmanship. • Huizhou Ink Production: Make ink by hand in the former residence of Luo Longwen and carve an exclusive Huizhou imprint. ❸ Chengkan on the Tip of the Tongue | The Secret Flavor of Huizhou Cuisine • Three must-eat delicacies: Mao Tofu (ancient fermentation method), Stinky Mandarin Fish (secret recipe from descendants of Wang Zhihe), Chengkan Crispy Candy (century-old Wu's Sesame Cake). • Dark cuisine: Stinky Tofu Ice Cream (fermented amaranth stalk juice + milk), Sanbaijiu Coffee (52-degree liquor milk cap). 📸 Photography and Trip Moments Guide ❶ Photo Spots • Bagua Arch: 13 arched doorways form the same scene as in "Joy of Life." Take a C-position wide-angle shot. • Yan Yi Tang: The carved window lattices of the old house in the Ming Dynasty highlight the symmetrical aesthetics of Huizhou architecture with frame composition. • Night Tour Secret Realm: Take a long exposure after the lanterns are lit, and the reflection of the ancient bridge is in the same frame as the starry sky. ❷ Dress and Props • Hanfu chooses ink colors, and oiled paper umbrellas are matched with bluestone roads; • In the evening, borrow farmers' bamboo baskets and hats to integrate into the sunning scene. 🛏️ Accommodation and Practical Guide ❶ Accommodation Recommendation • Pillow Water Residence: A Huizhou-style homestay on the bank of Yongxing Lake, with a view of the lotus pond and the moon (CNY 200+/person). • Bushed Yema Ridge: Renovated from a 600-year-old mud house, the cliff-side infinity pool overlooks the ancient village (CNY 3,000+/night). ❷ Avoiding Pitfalls Guide • Ticket Mystery: You can buy a basic ticket for CNY 40 if you only visit the ancient village. If you are not interested in the ancestral hall, you can skip Baolun Pavilion. • Travel at Off-Peak Times: Avoid tour groups from 10:00–15:00 on weekends. It is recommended to visit on Friday afternoon or Monday morning. ❸ Joint Tour Recommendation • Lingshan Ancient Village: A 3 km bluestone water street connects 36 ancient bridges. Experience digging bamboo shoots and harvesting tribute rice in the bamboo sea. • Ancient City of Huizhou: Enjoy transportation package discounts for combined tours, about 40 minutes by car. 🌌 When the golden rapeseed flowers flood the pink walls and black tiles of the Bagua village, and when the caisson paintings of Luodongshu Ancestral Hall circulate the millennium glory in the sun, this secret place called "the No. 1 village in Jiangnan" by Zhu Xi has long surpassed the geographical significance of existence—it is a living fossil of Huizhou culture, a three-dimensional annotation of the Book of Changes philosophy, and a spiritual totem for every Chinese person to find the origin of culture.