Huangyao Ancient Town
Huangyao was built during the Wanli Period (1573-1620) of the Ming Dynasty, and reached its prime during the reign of Emperor Qianlong (1736-1795) of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). The family names of the townspeople were mainly Huang and Yao, hence the town became known as "Huangyao Town" Due to its isolated location this place developed its own unique culture, separated from the world beyond. Yet, despite that greater exposure, the venerable town remains peaceful, still exuding a certain mystique.
Huangyao covers 36 hectares and holds more than 2,800 residents belonging to 500 households. Most of its streets and distinctive structures took shape during the reign of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty. The isolated location shielded the town from the impact of modern civilization and manmade degradation, and helped to preserve the ancient dwellings and historic landmarks therein.
What to see in Huang Yao Ancient Town?
Chinese people typically make use of numbers to symbolize good luck, respect and well wishes. The modest slates of Huangyao's streets also feature this characteristic. On the main commercial streets, the slabs of slate are in odd numbers, like three, five and seven. The numbers reflect the importance of these streets, and the slates are incised into the same size, smoothness and plane. The number of slates fronting a household is often three, with some wealthier families having five or seven. But some small alleys and extensions of main streets are made up of even-number slates or gravel.
The more 'modern' part of town is one long dusty road where dogs roam, children run and adults repair broken down trucks or sell fruit on the side of the road. In fact not a lot happens here. The elderly sit on their doorsteps all day watching people go by, the children, who at the time of me being there all seemed to be around a year and a half old, walk around in the dirt, and the flies which congregate around the rubbish were unstoppable.
Water is a necessity of daily life and vital to the irrigation of farmlands, so the Chinese fengshui theory attaches great importance to water. It holds that it is good for the people if a river near their dwelling bends around. A curving waterway will hold fast the fortune of residents, while a straight flow will carry fortune away. Huangyao Town is embraced by flows of winding water, so, according to Chinese fengshui, Huangyao is an ideal place for people to live. On a practical level, water running peacefully along a winding channel will provide greater convenience for daily life. And so these rich natural resources gave birth to Huangyao Town, and sustained its development in this isolated environment.
Around Huangyao ancient town, alongside the streets and beside the ponds, are typically many students drawing and painting. Gu Zhenlei, teacher of Arts Design School in Hunan College of Science and Technology brought his 170 environmental design freshmen here to absorb the setting and practice their art. "We'll stay here 14 days. The primitive natural environment and cultural ambience will be good to their future career in design."
Local Food in Huangyao Ancient Town
-Huang Yao tofu is a major feature of the local dishes, stuffed bean curd and bean curd, both should try.
-Huang Yao still fresh mushroom, mushroom fried rice cake, vegetables also Xiantian, carp and grass carp markets.
-Restaurant in town to do the dishes delicious relatively more inclined opposite some deserted hotel restaurant, is called the market to buy food before, but this town than some less expensive restaurants.
-Dumpling shop in the market there, glutinous rice balls are large and round, a dollar can buy five or six.
-Huang Yao also sell tea; Huang Yao famous lobster sauce, for seasoning.
-Huang Yao have a never-ending eating sweet potato, all households Hong Shugan sun, every day a child in the street, street, the entrance to the village sweet potato simmer, so Huang Yao, you will not eat sweet potato.
-It's also worthy to note that, Yao Huang were very hospitable, if you chat with a few others, most likely he will ask you to his home to eat, sweet potato, rice, rice flour, Ciba to dinner From breakfast, lunch to dinner, you have the opportunity to be invited, if you want to try the rice farm, preferably with a small gift presented to them (or buy some fruit).