World Cultural Heritage: Ancient Villages in Southern Anhui (4)

Heritage value

According to the second point of the first item in the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, a single or connected architectural complex that has prominent universal value in terms of architectural style, distribution and connection with the environment is considered to have world heritage. Xidi and Hongcun, as remarkable pieces of the Ancient Villages in Southern Anhui, belong in the category of architectural complexes that with a high historical and artistic value. Furthermore, they are unique in their style, distribution, and connection with the environment, thus they fit the definition of cultural heritage perfectly. The architectural features of the Huizhou-style residential houses in the period of the Ming and Qing dynasties, represented by the ancient villages of Xidi and Hongcun, are unique in terms of design, material, craft, surrounding and mental experience of the times.

These features are still integrated in the ancient villages in Xidi and Hongcun today and are extremely well-preserved, and they have not changed from the architectural styles to internal features with the development of the times. Therefore, the Ancient Villages in Southern Anhui – Xidi and Hongcun are in line with the requirements of cultural heritage in terms of authenticity. In addition, the ancient villages of Xidi and Hongcun, as models of the architectural features of the Huizhou-style residential houses in the period of the Ming and Qing dynasties, have not only maintained its completion and coordination with its surroundings, but is also reflects the Ancient Villages in Southern Anhui while keeping the completeness of Anhui culture.

Therefore, the Ancient Villages in Southern Anhui - Xidi and Hongcun are in line with the requirements of cultural heritage in terms of completeness. Overall, the Ancient Villages in Southern Anhui - Xidi and Hongcun are in line with the evaluation standards of the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage and the requirements of world heritage in terms of authenticity and completeness. The Ancient Villages in Southern Anhui, which is a world heritage, has a high level of cultural heritage value, and should be strictly protected and managed according to the relevant requirements of the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage.