 As is suggested by its
title, the present album is an
attempt to display the spots of historical and cultural interest in the area around Mt.
Huangshan. Situated in the south of Anhui Province. the place was known in olden days as
Xin'an and later became Huizhou Prefecture. The present Huangshan Municipality was
established only a few years ago, which has jurisdiction over three prefectures, four
counties, as well as the Mt. Huangshan Scenic Area. |
Mt.
Huangshan, the pride of Nature, has
over-whelmed tourists of all ages with its peculiar appeal. Wonderland! Wonder of
Nature's exclaim sight-seers of different colors-yellow, black and white--as they
marvel at the mountain. Charmed in the scenic beauty of Mt. Huangshan, however,
you may as well make a tour at its foot. Then to your joy and surprise you will find the
true wonder of civilization! Mountains and rivers for them to live on, but it is the
people--generation upon generation of people---who have created such a splendid
civilization, which, in turn, has played an important part in their existence and
development, and it is also the people who have cultivated the unique Xin'an culture
complex, or Huizhou culture, which has been established as one of China' s three key
regional ancient cultures. It covers a great variety of fields, including
Manner study
(Confucian school of idealist philosophy), Pu study (Confucian school of classical
philosophy), the studies of medicine, Chinese painting, engraving, epigraphy, classics,
and the art of Huizhou opera, ancient architecture, carving,  handicraft, potted landscape,
etc.---each one of these pursuits amounting to an extensive and profound knowledge.
Huizhou merchants, who mushroomed and dominated the area south of the lower reaches of the
Yangtze River, provided the economic base for Huizhou culture to grow and flourish. The
most remarkable fact about Huizhou, however, is that despite the vicissitudes of over
2,000 years, Relics, vestiges, ancient folkways and customs are still found here which
have been handed down from the Ming, Qing, and even Tang and Song Dynasties. In many
places people live by clans. Everywhere one sees white--walled and
gray--roofed
traditional Chinese houses with scrolls of calligraphy and painting featured prominently
in the central hall, which is flanked by two wings. And with a high regard for etiquette,
the local people visit one another frequently, especially on such occasions as weddings
and funerals. For many generations, they lived an idyllic life---farming, weaving, cutting
firewood, as well as studying--- in this secluded haven of peace far away from the turmoil
of the world. |
It is into this land that the legendary Seventh Fairy
descended to marry a diligent and honest farmer. For, wondrous as the fairyland was, it
had bored her as insubstantial, while the busy mortal world had been an irresistible
temptation.
This album, however, is an effort to provide the reader with a
potpourri of this great charm of Huizhou in a limited number of photos and articles. It is
meant to be a sister piece of Huangshan China, which we published in 1987. Around Mt.
Huangshan, therefore, is another little flower we present to our readers, and we hope this
little flower will bring you fragrance and remain a nice memory.
Situated at the foot of Mt. Huangshan in the south of
Anhui Province and bordering on Jiangxi and ZheJiang Provinces. Huangshan
City is a newly developed one famed as an emerging tourist attraction. |
| Huangshan City, earlier named Huizhou Prefecture and known in ancient
times as Xin'an, was established in July 1988. Besides the Huangshan Mountain Scenic Zone,
the new city has jurisdiction over three prefectures (Tunxi, earlier Tunxi City; Huizhou,
earlier Yansi Town in Shexian County; and Huangshan, earlier Taiping County) and four
counties (Shexian, Xiuning, Yixian and Qimen), with a total area of 9,807square kilometers
and a population of 1,400,000. Tunxi is the seat of the municipal government. |
GUIDE MAP OF HUANGSHAN CITY |
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