Most Beautiful Ancient Villages in China中国最美古村落

肖伟

You might have heard a lot about ancient towns （like Lijiang Ancient Town， Pingyao Ancient Town， and Huangyao Ancient Town） and ancient cities （like Beijing and Xian） in China. Here， we list several of the most beautiful ancient villages in China， where you can experience the local peaceful lifestyle， the ancient architecture， and the graceful landscapes.

These villages include ethnic villages with unique architectural styles and beautiful natural landscapes， and peaceful untouched villages with picturesque scenery. Photographing， hiking， and visiting local families are recommended things to do in these ancient villages.

Tuvas Village in Kanas， Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region

Kanas Tuvas Village is near mysterious Lake Kanas. The small village is located in a valley， and only has about 80 houses. These Swiss-style wooden houses are all surrounded by wooden fences， scattered among pine trees and birch trees.

Tuvas is an ancient minority group. They traditionally lived as hunter-gatherers1. It is said that the Tuvas people are the descendants of one group of Genghis Khans troops. Kumiss， yogurt， milk tea， and butter are special snacks there.

Accommodation： You can choose an inn or a local family for accommodation， but prepare for very basic conditions there.

Activities： You can visit a local family， go herding with the locals and experi-encing the peaceful ancient village life.

Autumn： If you visit this ancient village in autumn （August—October）， you can see Tuvas Village at its most colorful with red or yellow trees. However， it might snow in October， remember to bring warm clothes.

Transportation： Tuvas Village is about 2.5 kilometers south from Lake Kanas. Lake Kanas is about 902 kilometers from Urumqi （by road）， and is about 200 kilometers from the nearest city： Altay City. Lake Kanas Scenic Area is one of the best places for autumn photography in China， bettered only by Jiuzhaigou in Sichuan Province.

Jiaju Tibetan Village， Danba， Sichuan Province

Jiaju Tibetan Village is known as the “Tibetan fairyland”. Jiaju Tibetan Village is on a slight hill slope， and consists of about 140 houses. These unique houses are all built with crown-shaped roofs， red eaves， and white walls， which make the houses look like little castles among the forest.

Photography： This Tibetan village is a great destination for photographers， especially in spring （from February to April）， when the ancient village is decorated with colorful wild flowers， white pear blossoms， and green grassland.

Transportation： The village is about 8 kilometers from Danba Town， Kardze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. Kardze is 718 kilometers from Chengdu.

Baoshan Stone City， a Naxi ancient village built on a huge rock

Baoshao Stone City was built on a huge mushroom-shaped rock， and only has about one hundred houses. The houses are laid out in an orderly way， built on the rock， and linked by stone steps. The locals often chisel the local rock into stone tables， stone benches， stone hearths， and stone water vats.

The Naxi people have cut rice terraces and planted crops （such as rice， wheat， and corn） on the hills around the mushroom rock. The Naxi people there still lead an original life; you can experience the colorful Naxi culture there.

October， when the fields around the ancient village are decorated with green wheat and gold rice， is the best month to visit the stone city.

Trip time： At least 2 days are needed for a visit to the city.

Lodging： There are family hotels in the village.

Transportation： Baoshan Stone City is in the canyon of Jinsha River （the upper section of the Yangtze River）， and is about 110 kilometers from Lijiang City. Though the bus can take you to the village directly， you may choose to get off at the nearest town， and then walk to the village （about 3 hours is needed） to see the beautiful landscape along the way.

Hongcun and Xidi， two ancient villages near the Yellow Mountains

These two ancient villages have been included in the list of World Cultural Heritage. Both of these villages have a history of more than 900 years. They are renowned for their peaceful rural scenery， well-kept ancient buildings， unique Anhui style dwellings， and profound culture. The mountains， the rivers， and the ancient dwellings， make two highly picturesque landscapes.

Location： Only about 40 kilometers from the Yellow Mountains， you can take a bus from Yellow Mountain Scenic Area to Xidi or Hongcun. The distance between Hongcun and Xidi is about 25 kilometers. You can hire a bike after you arrive at one of them， and then cycle to the other village.

For artists： When visiting these ancient villages， you might want to bring your sketch pad and join the art students and artists， who go out there to capture their beauty on paper.

Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village， the largest Miao village in China

If you are interested in the Miao Minority， Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village can be a great destination for deepening your understanding of Miao history and culture.

Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village consists of more than ten natural hamlets （including the famous Silversmith Hamlet）， which are all built on hills. The Miao people are keen on silver ornaments， and their unique silver ornaments are all made exquisitely.

The Miao Minority has many festivals， and the most famous two are： Miao New Year and Guzang Festival （an ancestor-worship celebration based on Miao culture）.

Transportation： Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village is about 210 kilometers from Guiyang City （the capital city of Guizhou Province）， which is equivalent to a 3.5-hour drive.

Wuyuan in Jiangxi， the most beautiful villages in China

Wuyuan is noted for having “the most beautiful villages in China”. In fact， Wuyuan is a county， with many ancient Ming and Qing style architectural features， including 113 ancient ancestral halls， 28 ancient mansions， 36 ancient dwellings， and 187 ancient bridges.

Every village in Wuyuan is built with a river in front， and mountains behind. These villages with elegant buildings are all peacefully harmonious with the nat-ural scenery. Hiking in the surrounding countryside is a popular activity there.

Transportation： Wuyuan is only about 90 kilometers from the Yellow Mountains， and buses linking these two attractions are available every day.

Ancient Hakka Villages with Unique Earthen Buildings

You might think these large round or square buildings are fortifications， not dwellings. In fact， they are the Hakka peoples houses： earthen buildings， which are mainly built in flying-saucer-like shapes.

These ancient earthen buildings are mainly located in Fujian Province， especially in Nanjing Prefecture and Yongding Prefecture. Some of them have hundreds of years of history. If you want to have a visit， two ancient villages are recommended： Hongkeng Village and Chuxi Village in Yongding Prefecture.

Both of these two villages have a history of hundreds of years， and are built among hills and by rivers. There， you can learn about the construction of earthen buildings， the history of the Hakka， and enjoy the peace brought by the natural scenery.

Transportation： Yongding is about 307 kilometers （a 4-hour drive） from Xiamen.■

對于中国的很多古镇（像丽江、平遥以及黄姚）与古城（如北京、西安），你也许多有耳闻。我们在此列举几个中国最美的古村落，在那些地方，你可以体验当地恬静的生活方式，参观古建筑，欣赏优美的风景。

这些村落中，既有建筑风格独特、自然景观秀美的少数民族村落，也有风景如画、宁静祥和的原生态村庄。到这些古村落拍拍照、来个徒步旅行、走访当地人家都值得推荐。

新疆维吾尔自治区喀纳斯图瓦村

喀纳斯图瓦村地处神秘的喀纳斯湖附近。这个小村庄坐落于一座山谷里，只有大约80栋房屋。这些颇具瑞士风格的木屋全由木栅栏围起来，散布在松树林和桦树林之间。

图瓦人是一个古老的少数民族。过去，他们一直以采猎为生。据说，图瓦人是成吉思汗旗下一支军队的后裔。马奶酒、酸奶、奶茶和黄油是当地的特色小吃。

住宿：你可以选择一家旅馆或当地的民宿，但是那里条件很有限，要做好心理准备。

活动：走访当地人家，与当地人一起去放牧，体验宁静的古村落生活。

秋季：如果在秋天（八月到十月）到访这座古村落，你就会欣赏到图瓦村一年当中最绚烂多姿的景色——那满树的火红或金黄。但是到了十月，那里可能会下雪，要记得带上保暖的衣服。

交通：图瓦村位于喀纳斯湖南岸2.5公里处。喀纳斯湖距乌鲁木齐（沿公路测算）约902公里，离最近的城市阿勒泰约200公里。喀纳斯湖风景区是中国秋季最佳摄影胜地之一，仅次于四川九寨沟。

四川省丹巴县甲居藏寨

甲居藏寨被誉为“藏族童话世界”。甲居藏寨坐落于一处平缓的山坡上，寨内约有140栋房屋。这些独特的房子都是由形同王冠的房顶、红色的屋檐和白色的墙壁构建而成的，使它们看起来像森林中的一座座小城堡。

摄影：该藏寨是摄影师的好去处，尤其是在春天（二月到四月），这时，缤纷的野花、雪白的梨花和翠绿的草原装点了这座古村庄。

交通：该村寨距甘孜藏族自治州丹巴县城约8公里。甘孜距离成都718公里。

宝山石头城——建在巨岩上的纳西族古村落

宝山石头城建在一块巨大的蘑菇状岩石上，仅有大约一百栋房子。这些房屋建于岩石之上，由石阶相连，排布井然有序。当地人通常会把当地的石头凿制成石桌、石凳、石炉和石水缸。

纳西族人在蘑菇岩四周的山上开垦梯田，种植农作物（如水稻、小麦和玉米）。那里的纳西族人延续古老的生活方式，你在那儿可以体验到丰富多彩的纳西文化。

十月是游览石头城的最佳月份，届时你会看到绿油油的小麦和金灿灿的稻穗装点着这座古村落四周的田野。

行程：参观该城至少需要2天时间。

住宿：村落内有家庭旅馆。

交通：宝山石头城位于金沙江（长江的上游河段）峡谷之内，距离丽江市约110公里。虽然可以乘坐公共汽车直达村庄，但可以选择在最近的城镇下车，然后步行到村庄（大约需要3小时），以欣赏沿途美丽的风景。

宏村和西递——黄山附近两处古村落

这两座古村落已被列入世界文化遗产名录。两村均有900多年的历史，以宁静的乡村风光、保存完好的古建筑、独特的徽派民居和深厚的文化底蕴而闻名。高山、流水以及古老的民居构成了两处秀美如画的风景。

地理位置：距黄山仅40公里，可从黄山风景区乘公交车前往西递或宏村。宏村与西递相距约25公里。当抵达其中的一处村落后，你可以租辆自行车，骑行到另外一处。

写生：当游览这些古村落时，你可能想带上写生簿，加入到美术生和画家的队伍中来，一起到户外在纸上捕捉它们的美。

西江千户苗寨——中国最大的苗寨

如果你对苗族感兴趣，那么西江千户苗寨算是一个理想的去处，可以加深你对苗族历史和文化的了解。

西江千户苗寨由十多个全都建在山上的自然村落（包括著名的银匠村）组成。苗族人对银饰情有独钟，其独特的银饰制作精美。

苗族有很多节日，最著名的两个是苗族新年和牯藏节（一种基于苗族文化的祭祖仪式）。

交通：西江千户苗寨距贵阳市（贵州省省会）约210公里，车程3.5小时。

江西婺源——中国最美乡村

婺源以“中国最美乡村”而闻名。事实上，婺源是一个县，拥有许多明清风格的古建筑，包括113个古祠堂、28座古代府第、36处古民居以及187座古桥。

婺源的每个村庄都是前临河、后靠山。这些村庄的建筑雅致精美，与当地自然风光和谐相融。在周围的乡间徒步旅行很受欢迎。

交通：婺源距离黄山只有90公里，每天都有公交车往返于两处景区。

有独特土楼建筑的客家古村落

你可能以為这些圆形或方形的巨大建筑是防御工事，而不是住所。事实上，它们是客家人的房子——大多建成飞碟形状的土楼。

这些古老的土楼主要分布在福建省， 尤其是南靖县和永定县。有些已有几百年的历史了。倘若你想去那里游览， 我推荐两个古村落，即永定县的洪坑村和初溪村。

这两个村落均有几百年的历史，依山傍水而建。在那里，你可以了解土楼的构造、客家的历史，并享受到自然风光带来的宁静。

交通：永定县距厦门约307公里（4小时车程）。      □

（译者单位：山东省文登整骨医院）