Only 1 hour away from Hangzhou, there is a hidden ancient village, and ancient buildings and water systems are two wonders.

Ancient villages refer to those villages that have preserved historical buildings and simple folk customs so far. In China, there are many such ancient villages in the north and south. Relatively speaking, I prefer the graceful ancient villages in the south of the Yangtze River. The ancient villages in the south of the Yangtze River, with white walls and tiles, small bridges and flowing water, are beautifully carved, all of which show antique. If you walk in an alley in ancient costume, you will feel more.

I have been to many ancient villages, but "Shen 'ao Ancient Village" is my first time.

Seeing the name of the ancient village, I can't help thinking of the word "abstruse". The ancient village of Shen 'ao is such a village, which is profound and difficult to understand. The ancient village is located at the northern foot of Tianzigang on the south bank of Fuchun River in Tonglu County, Hangzhou. Located near the mountains and rivers, it is about 20 kilometers away from Tonglu County, and it can be reached here in more than 20 minutes by car.

Walking into the ancient village of Shen 'ao, a pool of water came into view. Water is the soul of the ancient village in Shenzhen, and the name of the ancient village is also named after the water system here. Standing by the pool, the clear water is like a mirror, reflecting the surrounding buildings with white walls and tiles and endless green hills, just like a huge ink painting scroll, which is enough to leave a deep impression at a glance.

The ancient villages in Shen 'ao have a long history, which can be traced back to the early Southern Song Dynasty. It has a history of over 800 years. Shen Tu, the ancestor of Shen Ao ancient village, moved here, and after hundreds of years of reproduction, he gradually became a famous local family. In the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the ancient villages in Shen 'ao reached their peak, with frequent trade and numerous literati. Walking into the ancient village, the glory in history is faintly visible.

The Ming and Qing Dynasties were the most prosperous period of ancient villages in Shenzhen and Australia, and a group of businessmen who made a fortune by selling toilet paper appeared. Most of the ancient buildings in the village were also built during that period. Not long after entering the ancient village, I met a place with excellent scenery. The ancient buildings here are towering, the alleys are deep, and the long cobblestone paths run through them. No matter from which angle, it looks particularly antique.

If you have been here before, you will be familiar with the "water system" and "ancient buildings" here. Water system and ancient buildings are the most historical and cultural values of ancient villages in Shenzhen and Australia.

Ancient villages in Shen 'ao have an independent water system. When Shen Tu's ancestors built villages in the early Southern Song Dynasty, they first planned the water system between villages. The whole water system consists of streams, culverts, open ditches and pits, which are independent and interrelated. Such a complete water system is very rare in many ancient villages, and it also protects the trees here from floods and droughts for a hundred years.

The water system of ancient villages in Shen 'ao can treat drinking water, domestic water and sewage respectively. Culverts over 800 meters long run through the village, and there is a water outlet at regular intervals. Locals call it "Aokou", which is also the origin of the name of the ancient village.

The second feature is the ancient buildings here. There are more than 100 historical buildings in the ancient village of Shen 'ao, including ancestral halls, temples, theaters, houses and bridges. Most of the ancient buildings are Huizhou architecture, and the buildings with white walls and tiles are antique. The mottled walls have also witnessed the vicissitudes of history here for hundreds of years.

I like ancient buildings, especially Huizhou architecture. Its age, vicissitudes and special structure are so attractive and meaningful from any angle.

As an ancient village with a history of more than 800 years, there are naturally a large number of cultural relics protection units, such as Shen Tu Temple, Gongci Temple, Huai Su Hall, Shennong Hall, Shangzhi Hall, Hu Aijing Hall and Matsui Hall, which are all worth visiting. These buildings not only have their own characteristics, but also perfectly reflect the water system in the village, forming a unique style and characteristics.

After visiting the hall here, you may find that most of the ancient houses here are quadrangle-style "patio courtyards" and double doors, and many courtyards actually have seven patios. This kind of building can not only ensure a quiet living environment, but also ensure its privacy. Of course, on the other hand, it also reflects the economic prosperity and people's prosperity in the history of Shen 'ao ancient village.

Walking into the ancient house, the exquisite woodcarving is dazzling.

There are many kinds of wood carvings here, such as deep relief, shallow relief, hollow carving and double-sided carving. Exquisite wood carvings can be seen everywhere, whether it is doors, windows or eaves. Look at the "ox leg" carefully. Although the wood carving on the ox leg has gone through hundreds of years of wind and rain, it is still radiant, and people have to sigh the exquisite carving skills of the ancients.

Travel tips:

Tickets: free;

Transportation: Take K303, K35 and K302 from Tonglu County to Shen 'ao Village.

Features: Ancient villages are characterized by "water system" and "ancient buildings". From entering the ancient village, you can see the signs of the tour route and follow the arrows to guide the tour. The essence of ancient villages can be visited.