Chengkan Village (呈坎) is located on the southern slopes of Huangshan Scenic Area in Anhui Province. Originally named Longxi, it was founded during the Eastern Han Dynasty, over 1,800 years ago. At the end of the Tang Dynasty, two brothers, Luo Tianzhen and Luo Tianzhi, from Nanchang Prefecture in Jiangxi, moved their family to Shexian County. They chose a site 40 miles northwest, originally named Longxi, and renamed it Chengkan, building their home there.
Since the Song Dynasty, Chengkan has flourished with the rise of Hui merchants and cultural and educational development, becoming a distinctive part of Hui cultural history. In the mid-Ming Dynasty, the Luo family undertook large-scale engineering projects to manage the ancient village and the surrounding Chuan River. Chengkan is surrounded by mountains on all sides, resembling the Bagua diagram from the I Ching. The village’s streams create patterns similar to the Yin-Yang symbol. In the I Ching, Yang is represented by “Cheng” and Yin by “Kan,” which is how the village got its name. The village’s winding streets and alleys create a maze-like layout, making it difficult to distinguish directions.
Table of Contents
- Basic Information
- Location and Transportation
- Highlights of Chengkan Village
- Vlog about Chengkan Village
- Other Ancient Villages in Huizhou
Basic Information
| Estimated Length of Tour | 2 hours |
| Ticket Price | 107 RMB |
| Opening Hours | 7.30 – 17.30 |
| Telephone Number | 0086-0559-3536999 0086-0559-3537555 |
Location and Transportation
Chengkan Village is located at 78 Baolun Road, Huizhou District, Huangshan City, Anhui Province. It is 40 kilometers north of Huangshan and 15 kilometers south of the Huizhou District government office in Yansi Town. To get there, take Bus Huizhou Line 1 or Line 17 and get off at the Chengkan bus stop. From there, it’s a short walk to the village.
Highlights of Chengkan Village
Bagua Diagram Layout
Chengkan Village is constructed by the mountains and beside the river, facing east with its back to the mountains. The site selection fully adheres to the ancient Feng Shui principles of “embracing the mountain, surrounding water, and facing the screen.” Two water channels bring the water from the Chuan River through the village streets and alleys, serving functions such as fire protection, drainage, flood control, and irrigation. The village is surrounded by mountains on all sides, resembling the Bagua diagram from the I Ching. The village’s streams form patterns similar to the Yin-Yang symbol.
Chengkan Village is known for its numerous bridges. Among them are the beautifully constructed Huaxiuyuan Bridge from the Yuan Dynasty and the Longxing Bridge, the largest single-arch stone bridge in Jiangnan from the Ming Dynasty. The village also retains three Ming Dynasty bell towers at intersections and T-junctions, which were used for night watch and festival lighting.
Numerous Ancient Buildings
In Chengkan Village, the old residences are densely packed. The village’s layout consists of five streets generally parallel to the Chuan River, extending from north to south, with smaller alleys and main streets intersecting perpendicularly from east to west. All streets and alleys are paved with granite slabs, and the houses on both sides are closely arranged in a grid-like pattern.
Chengkan has preserved buildings from both the Song and Yuan dynasties. One notable building is the Changchun Society from the Song Dynasty, which is the only remaining public structure in Huizhou for worshiping the land gods. Another significant structure is the Luo Huitai Residence (commonly known as the Old Tiger’s Retreat), a Yuan Dynasty building that is square, tall, and exquisitely crafted, resembling an ancient castle.
In addition to its large number of Ming and Qing Dynasty buildings, Chengkan Village features various types of structures, including ancestral halls, residential houses, bell towers, and stone bridges. Among them, seven three-story residences from the Ming and Qing periods are still preserved.
Talented Individuals
Chengkan Village is renowned for its remarkable history of producing talented individuals across various fields. Throughout its history, the village has been home to numerous scholars, high-ranking officials, recluses, eminent monks, wealthy merchants, poets, painters, historians, ink makers, and natural scientists.
Noteworthy figures from Chengkan include Luo Rujia, a Minister of Personnel in the Song Dynasty; Luo Yuan, the author of “Xin’an Zhi,” the first local gazetteer of Anhui Province; and Luo Qi, a prominent scholar in the Yuan Dynasty. The village has also produced influential figures such as Luo Yinghe, a Vice Minister in the Ming Dynasty’s Censorate; Luo Longwen, a renowned ink maker; and Luo Hongxian, a distinguished geographer.
In the Qing Dynasty, notable individuals from Chengkan included Luo Honghua, an Imperial Censor, and Luo Tingmei, a Hanlin Academy scholar. The village’s legacy also includes Luo Pin, a renowned artist from the Yangzhou Eight Eccentrics, and Luo Huitan, Sun Yat-sen’s secretary. In modern times, figures such as Luo Changming, an expert in cultural relics, and Luo Liaofu, a contemporary physicist, have continued this tradition of excellence.
Compared to Hongcun, Chengan has fewer tourists and is very clean. For travelers who don’t have high expectations for commercial activities and food, it’s still worth a visit. We purchased tickets for 95 yuan per person (with a special discount for staying at a local guesthouse) which allows for three days of free entry and exit (make sure to keep your ticket with you). It is said that tickets are free on Wednesdays, but the specifics of this require further… Read more »
During the off-season, there are hardly any tourists, which means you don’t have to experience the crowds. You can leisurely stroll around the entire Chengkan village, except for the people who constantly follow you trying to sell their services.
After hiking Huangshan on Saturday, I went straight to Chengkan. The tourist flow in Chengkan was low, which made for a pleasant experience. The food options were limited, but for a one-day visit, it was sufficient. Notably, the unique attractions were the Sun-drying Autumn and the Luodongshu Temple.