Zhaji Ancient Village Scenic Area in Xuancheng is located in Zhaji Village, Taohuatan Town, Jingxian County, Xuancheng City, Anhui Province. It is a national 4A-level tourist attraction and one of the largest well-preserved ancient villages from the Ming and Qing dynasties in China. Featuring a well-preserved architectural complex of the Ming and Qing dynasties, the scenic area integrates the essence of Huizhou-style architecture and the charm of a Jiangnan water town. There are more than 140 ancient buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties, including over 40 from the Ming Dynasty and more than 100 from the Qing Dynasty, with a total construction area of over 20,000 square meters. The scenic area covers approximately 12 square kilometers. Ancient bridges, pagodas, ancestral halls and dwellings are distributed along the three rivers: Cenxi, Xuxi and Shixi. The crisscrossing streets and lanes remain intact in layout, combining architectural aesthetics, history, culture and pastoral scenery, making it an important physical heritage of Huizhou culture.
History and Culture
Zhaji Ancient Village was founded in the early Sui Dynasty, flourished in the Tang and Song dynasties, and reached its peak in the Ming and Qing dynasties. With a history of more than 1,380 years, it has been an ancestral settlement for the Zha clan. Zha Wenxi, the ancestor of the Zha family, settled here in the late Sui and early Tang dynasties. After thousands of years of reproduction, the clan formed a large clan-based village. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, it prospered through Huizhou merchant activities and imperial examination achievements, gathering merchants and talents. More than 70 jinshi and juren degree holders emerged from the village, leaving a profound cultural heritage.
Zhaji is a typical representative of Huizhou architectural culture. The village is built along water and against mountains, following the feng shui layout of "backing to mountains, surrounded by water, facing screens". The buildings are mainly of brick and wood structure, with carved beams, painted pillars, blue bricks and black tiles. The wood carvings, stone carvings and brick carvings are exquisite, combining practicality and artistry, serving as a living fossil of residential architecture in the Ming and Qing dynasties. At the same time, Zhaji preserves intangible cultural heritage such as traditional folk customs, clan culture and farming culture. The ancient village style and folk customs have been fully inherited, making it an important physical carrier for studying rural society, clan systems and Huizhou merchant culture in the Ming and Qing dynasties.
Main Attractions
Degong Hall
Degong Hall is one of the oldest existing Ming Dynasty buildings in Zhaji. Built during the Yongle period of the Ming Dynasty, it served as an important venue for the Zha clan to worship ancestors and hold clan ceremonies. The building is of brick and wood structure with a three-hall two-courtyard layout. The gate tower features hollow stone carvings of dragons, phoenixes, flowers and birds with exquisite craftsmanship. The thick beams and columns inside retain the simple and dignified style of Ming Dynasty architecture, making it a landmark of Ming Dynasty architecture in Zhaji.
Erjia Ancestral Hall
Also known as Guangyu Hall, Erjia Ancestral Hall is the most complete preserved Qing Dynasty ancestral hall in Zhaji. Constructed during the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty, it was named after a Zha clansman who achieved the second-class jinshi degree. Facing south, the hall has a three-hall layout covering about 600 square meters. It boasts extremely exquisite wood carvings on beams, window lattices and screens, depicting opera figures and auspicious patterns in good condition. The magnificent building is a model of Huizhou-style ancestral halls in Zhaji.
Rusong Pagoda
Rusong Pagoda stands atop the green mountain west of Zhaji Village. Built during the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty, it is a hexagonal five-story pavilion-style brick pagoda with a total height of about 25 meters. Each floor has arched windows, and stone steps inside lead to the top. From the pagoda, visitors can overlook the panoramic view of Zhaji Ancient Village, with three rivers winding around and clusters of ancient dwellings stretching out, making it the landmark of Zhaji.
Honglou Bridge
Honglou Bridge spans the Xuxi River and was built in the Ming Dynasty, making it one of the most representative ancient bridges in Zhaji. The stone arch bridge is about 15 meters long and 4 meters wide. A red chamber originally stood on the bridge, a spot where ancient scholars and literati enjoyed scenery and composed poems. The simple and solid bridge body complements the stream and ancient dwellings, serving as a key spot for photography and sightseeing in Zhaji.
Tianshen Bridge
Tianshen Bridge is the largest stone arch bridge in Zhaji. Constructed during the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, it spans the Cenxi River, measuring about 20 meters long and 6 meters high with a single stone arch. Featuring a simple and grand design, it serves as an important passage connecting the north and south of Zhaji Ancient Village and offers an excellent view of the village's waterscape and architectural complex.
Zhaji Art Museum
Located in the core area of the ancient village, Zhaji Art Museum is renovated from a Ming and Qing dynasty dwelling. It houses more than 300 cultural relics including unearthed artifacts, ancient furniture, calligraphy and paintings, and clan genealogies, systematically displaying Zhaji's millennium history, architectural culture, clan inheritance and folk customs. It serves as an important window to understand the historical context of Zhaji.
Tour Route
The classic tour route of Zhaji Ancient Village is about 3.5 kilometers long and takes approximately 2.5 hours on foot: Scenic Area Entrance → Ancient Village Archway → Along Xuxi River → Honglou Bridge → Degong Hall → Erjia Ancestral Hall → Zhaji Art Museum → Tianshen Bridge → Rusong Pagoda → Shixi Footpath → Scenic Area Exit. This route connects the core ancient buildings, waterscapes and landmarks without repetition, allowing visitors to fully appreciate the Ming and Qing architecture, water town scenery and cultural landscape. For an in-depth tour, visitors can add visits to lesser-known ancient dwellings and lanes, extending the walking time to about 4 hours to cover all core attractions.
Tips for Visiting
- It is recommended to visit Zhaji in spring and autumn. From March to May, the temperature ranges from 15-25°C, with blooming flowers and clear streams. From September to November, the weather is cool with colorful forests, making it the best travel season.
- Enter the scenic area before 9:00 AM or after 3:00 PM to avoid crowds and enjoy soft light suitable for photographing ancient buildings and water town scenery.
- The tour is mainly on foot; wear comfortable flat shoes as most streets are paved with bluestones and some sections have gentle slopes.
- Allocate 2-3 hours to explore core ancient buildings in depth, focusing on the wood and stone carvings of Erjia Ancestral Hall and Degong Hall.
- Taste local specialties including stinky tofu, stinky mandarin fish, Zhaji rice wine and farm dishes to experience local food culture.
- For sketching and photography, bring equipment to spots such as Xuxi River, Honglou Bridge and Rusong Pagoda, the best creative locations in the village.
Notes
- All ancient buildings in Zhaji are cultural relics protection units. Touching, carving, climbing on buildings and carvings is prohibited, as well as bringing flammable and explosive items inside ancient buildings.
- There are many streams with varying water depths. Wading and swimming are forbidden. Pay attention to safety near water and take care of the elderly and children.
- Littering is prohibited in the scenic area. Keep the village clean and abide by civilized tourism regulations.
- The village has crisscrossing streets with weak mobile signals in some areas. Download the scenic map in advance and follow signposts to avoid getting lost.
- Shouting, setting up stalls and chasing are prohibited in the scenic area. Respect the daily life and folk customs of local villagers.
- Some old buildings have dim interior lighting. Watch your steps to avoid bumps and injuries.
- Tickets are valid for one-time entry. Re-entry requires a new ticket; do not leave the scenic area casually.
Transportation
- Self-driving: Navigate to "Xuancheng Zhaji Ancient Village Scenic Area". It takes about 2.5 hours from Hefei, 1.5 hours from Wuhu and 1 hour from Huangshan. The scenic area has a special parking lot with ample spaces.
- Public transport: Take high-speed rail to Jingxian Station, then transfer to the tourist shuttle bus from Jingxian to Zhaji. The bus ride takes about 1 hour with 6 departures daily.
- Long-distance bus: Take a long-distance bus to Jingxian Bus Station and transfer to the through bus to Zhaji Ancient Village. The ride takes about 50 minutes with frequent departures.
- Internal transport: Motor vehicles are banned in the core area of the ancient village. The entire tour is on foot with no sightseeing vehicles available.
Opening Hours
Daily opening hours are 08:00 to 17:30, with last entry at 17:00. During legal holidays (Spring Festival, Qingming Festival, Labor Day, National Day, etc.), hours are adjusted to 07:30 to 18:00, with last entry at 17:30. Indoor attractions such as the museum and ancestral halls follow the same opening hours as the scenic area with no separate closures.
Tickets
The ticket price is 65 yuan per person. For the latest updates, search the official WeChat account "泾县查济景区".
Online Booking
Click here to jump to the Trip.com ticketing platform for ticket purchase.