Xiwan Village
Situated about only 1 km from Qikou County, Shanxi Province, Xiwan Village (西湾村）is famous for its folk houses. It was built during the Ming Dynasty in fortress style and was home to the wealthy Chen clan. Most of people are surnamed Chen. There are over 40 well-preserved family courtyards that are connected by five north-south alleys, each with a stone arch at its entrance and own refined carved decoration. The alleys represent metal, wood, water, fire and earth - the five elements in ancient Chinese philosophy and fortune-telling that respectively stands for five branches of the Chen clan. The village is not only has well-arranged courtyards but also has complete fireproofing and burglar-proof facilities as well as excellent landscapes.
Special features: courtyards, alleys, landscapes
How to get there: 1 The railway lines of Shi-Tai, Jing-Bao, Jing-Yuan,Tai-Jiao and Han-Chang all go through Shanxi Province and connect most big and medium-size cities in the country;
2. There are airports in Taiyuan, Datong, Wutaishan and Changzhi;
3. The national highways of 108, 109, 207, 208, 209, 307 and 309 run through the province and go to Gansu, Ningxia, Hebei, Beijing and Inner Mongolia.
Tips: 1. There is a big temperature difference between day and night, so please remember to prepare long-sleeve sweater and pants;
2. As soil is strongly alkaline, we recommend that tourists drink a spoonful of vinegar before eating.
