Precious Heritage

Lifestyles

World Heritage Ancient Villages are ancient villages or towns with a long and well-preserved history, recognized by the international community and included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

They represent the world's oldest, most stable, and irreplaceable cultural landscapes and heritage, providing important historical, cultural, and architectural references for future generations.

China, with its long history and rich cultural heritage, is home to numerous remarkable ancient villages.

These villages showcase the development of ancient and modern Chinese culture, offering insights into ancient Chinese settlements, as well as the culture, style, and lifestyle of thousand-year-old villages. They serve as significant windows into Chinese history, culture, and folklore.

Among these villages, Xijiang Miaozhai in Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture stands out as one of the most representative ancient villages in China. Located in Guizhou Province, Xijiang Miaozhai is known for its distinctive ethnic heritage.

Its establishment dates back to the Ming Dynasty, and it was once a strong Miao village in the border area of Guizhou. Today, Xijiang Miao Village retains its traditional Miao characteristics, including its architectural style and Miao ethnic customs, representing the essence of traditional Chinese culture.

Moganshan is another notable ancient village in China, situated in Deqing County, Zhejiang Province. This mountain village, located near Shanghai and Hangzhou, attracts numerous visitors with its tranquil atmosphere, quaint ambiance, unique architectural style, and simple folklore.

Nestled amidst hilly mountains, Moganshan Ancient Village harmoniously blends natural landscapes with humanistic scenery. With its two exits leading to Tianmu Lake and Qiandao Lake, the village is surrounded by abundant natural beauty.

Furthermore, China is home to many other ancient villages, such as Wuzhen in Zhejiang, Zhouzhuang in Jiangsu, and Tulou in Fujian. Each village possesses its own distinct culture, architecture, art, and landscape, representing the unique characteristics and history of different regions. These villages are all treasures of traditional Chinese culture.

Notably, ancient villages listed on the World Cultural Heritage List can be found in other countries as well, including Venice in Italy, Mont Saint-Michel in France, and Rothenburg in Germany. These sites safeguard the common values of human cultural and natural heritage and serve as witnesses to history and culture.

However, modern urbanization has engulfed many of our traditional ancient villages, causing the gradual loss of precious cultural heritage. Therefore, the protection and restoration of these ancient villages have become a shared concern for domestic and international societies.

We must strengthen their preservation to help people understand and appreciate their value, making them invaluable assets of our cultural heritage. Simultaneously, the preservation and protection of ancient villages should consider the needs of modernization.

Striking a balance between safeguarding traditional culture and accommodating modern construction is essential, creating an ecological model that preserves the heritage value of ancient villages while meeting the demands of modern life.

In the process of preserving ancient villages, governments and relevant departments at all levels should establish comprehensive regulations and policies, emphasizing the cultural values of these villages, and striving to prevent their loss and cultural decline.

Additionally, resource integration, industrial collaboration, and effective marketing should be considered to enhance the competitiveness and attractiveness of the tourism industry in ancient villages. This approach not only promotes the preservation of ancient villages but also contributes to the development of the tourism industry and regional economic growth.

Ancient villages are a precious human cultural heritage, representing the diversity of our history and traditional culture. They present unique architecture, culture, art and scenery, enriching our cultural heritage treasury and leaving an important historical and cultural heritage for future generations.

However, with the development of modernization, many ancient villages are facing a crisis of conservation. Therefore, we should protect our ancient villages and develop them, taking it as our responsibility to inherit the ancient cultural heritage and leaving more precious cultural treasures for future generations.