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Hongcun 宏村

Hongcun of southern Anhui province was a location where the film "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" was shot. Hongcun was first founded in the Shaoxing period of the Southern Song Dynasty (about AD. 1131-1162) and became prosperous during the Ming Dynasty. According to the villagers the whole place has been rented to a company in Beijing who manages the tour business and the welfare of the village. Each head count in the village is entitled to some benefits from the company. The village head is elected by the village people and has been serving the community for many terms. After dinner women and children gather and dance with folk and modern songs. Some older people and men just enjoy watching as they feel too embarrassed to participate. Hongcun was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000.
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  • The village is arranged in the shape of an ox: A nearby hill (Leigang Hill) is interpreted as the head, and two trees standing on it mark the horns. Four bridges across the Jiyin stream can be seen as the legs and the houses of the village form the body. Inside the “body”, the Jiyin stream can be seen as the intestines and the lakes — such as the “South Lake” (Nanhu) — as the stomachs. The crescent-shaped moon pond above is interpreted as the heart of the ox. It is common to see residences to do their washing in the pond.

    The village is arranged in the shape of an ox: A nearby hill (Leigang Hill) is interpreted as the head, and two trees standing on it mark the horns. Four bridges across the Jiyin stream can be seen as the legs and the houses of the village form the body. Inside the “body”, the Jiyin stream can be seen as the intestines and the lakes — such as the “South Lake” (Nanhu) — as the stomachs. The crescent-shaped moon pond above is interpreted as the heart of the ox. It is common to see residences to do their washing in the pond.

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  • According to the villagers they used to drink the water directly from the stream when it was crystal clear before 8am of each day. Now they can only use the water to wash their cloths before 8am.

    According to the villagers they used to drink the water directly from the stream when it was crystal clear before 8am of each day. Now they can only use the water to wash their cloths before 8am.

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  • Different timing of the day gives different color tones to the buildings surrounding the moon pond.

    Different timing of the day gives different color tones to the buildings surrounding the moon pond.

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  • A woman just finished morning food market shopping and walked by the moon pond.

    A woman just finished morning food market shopping and walked by the moon pond.

  • The girl in the photo is a student from Beijing. She met a photographer also from Beijing in Hongcun and agreed to act as his model.

    The girl in the photo is a student from Beijing. She met a photographer also from Beijing in Hongcun and agreed to act as his model.

  • The man in the photo was not a model, but made a good backdrop for the photo :-)

    The man in the photo was not a model, but made a good backdrop for the photo :-)

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  • A woman sorted out paper boxes and bags from the trash for recycling.

    A woman sorted out paper boxes and bags from the trash for recycling.

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  • They look like sisters to me.

    They look like sisters to me.

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    A woman sorted out paper boxes and bags from the trash for recycling.
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