Wuyuan Sixi-Yan Village

Sixi-Yan Village, located in Wuyuan County, is a quintessential representation of ancient Huizhou culture in Wuyuan. It comprises two adjacent ancient villages—Sixi Village and Yan Village—collectively known as "Sixi-Yan Village." This area preserves Huizhou-style architecture from the Ming and Qing dynasties, renowned for its harmonious blend of pastoral scenery and cultural heritage, earning it the title of "One of China's Most Beautiful Villages." Sixi Village is characterized by its winding waterways, where ancient bridges, streams, and architecture create picturesque scenes. Yan Village, on the other hand, is famed for its cluster of merchant residences, featuring 56 well-preserved Qing-era dwellings meticulously arranged to reflect the Huizhou merchants' philosophy of "accumulating wealth and blessings." A standout landmark is Jingxu Hall, the largest ancient residence in Sixi Village, celebrated for its exquisite wood carvings and featured as a filming location for the 1987 adaptation of *Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio*. Yan Village boasts an exceptionally intact collection of 56 Qing-dynasty merchant homes, earning it the nickname "Qing Dynasty Merchant Residence Cluster." Among them, Mingxun Hall—a grand triple-courtyard complex—is often compared to the famed Qiao Family Compound. Its owner, Jin Yongqiu, epitomized the enterprising Huizhou merchants of Yan Village. In Guangzhou, Jin befriended Zhan Shiluan, grandfather of China's renowned railway engineer Zhan Tianyou. Together, they conducted direct trade with foreigners through Guangzhou's "Thirteen Hongs," introducing British tea drinkers to the fragrant Wuyuan green tea—replacing their morning coffee with this prized brew.