Old village draws visitors

People who visit Huangsiyang village in Huizhou, Guangdong province, are dazzled by the grand scale of its ancient residential buildings.

Spanning an area of 220,000 square meters, the village was named "Huangsiyang" to express gratitude for the emperor's benevolence.

With a history of over 500 years, the village's architecture dates back to the late Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

As part of a Guangdong provincial project that targets the high-quality rural development of 10,000 villages from 1,000 townships in 100 counties, Huangsiyang has leveraged rural vitalization efforts to promote its heritage protection and cultural tourism, which have breathed new life into the village.

Yang Shouqiang, a village official, explained that the ancient village boasts more than 20 historical sites, making it the most well-preserved and extensive ancient residential complex in Huidong county.

Yang said the village has placed a strong emphasis on education and culture, having produced over 20 candidates who passed the provincial-level exams after being invited to sit for the imperial examinations — the ancient form of the gaokao, China's university entrance exam. In its history, the village also served as an important hub for water and land transportation in the surrounding area.

From 2022 to last year, a total of 65 million yuan ($9 million) was invested in the protection and development of Huangsiyang ancient village. Recent surveys have shown significant improvements in the village's surroundings and internal environment after it took measures to restore architecture and rivers, and improve lighting and other infrastructure.

At the same time, the village introduced high-quality boutique homestay projects. These homestays preserve the original architectural style of the ancient buildings, with some in renovated former schools.

The nostalgic layout has attracted many tourists from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, who participate in team building activities and enjoy unique experiences.

The increasing number of visitors to the village is also boosting sales of local snacks and agricultural products. Online promotions of these products have also brought in more tourists to nearby villages such as Xiapu, Shuikou and Bawei.