Dang Village

Lying in the northeast of Hancheng, Dang Village is about 1.5 kilometers (1,640 yards) west of 108 National Highway, and 3.5 kilometers (3,828 yards) east of the Yellow River. It is the largest, oldest and best preserved ancient stockade village ever excavated in Shaanxi.

The village is mainly composed of people with surnames Dang and Jia, about 320 families and over 1,400 persons. It is named Dang Village because people of surname Dang lived here earlier. It was built in 1331 and reached its prosperity period in the Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368-1911). Professor Charles of the Institute of Architects in Britain once said “The oriental architectural culture lies in China, while Chinese traditional residential architectural culture lies in Hancheng.” Japanese Doctor Qingmu Zhengfu also praised Dang Village as the living fossil of the oriental people’s traditional ancient village. Among the architectures, the Siheyuan (Courtyards) ranks first in popularity.

During the reign of Emperor Qianlong in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), Hancheng was regarded as “small Beijing” because of the Siheyuan (Courtyards). Siheyuan (Courtyards) usually takes up an area of 260 square meters (311 square yards) in rectangular shape; only a few are square. It consists of a hall, right and left wing-rooms and porters and is made to resemble a person with the hall as his head, wing-rooms as his arms, and porters as his feet. The hall was used to worship ancestors, while the wing-rooms and porters served as the living rooms.

Apart from the Siheyuan (Courtyards), many other fancy, unadorned, and zetetic ancient architectures can be viewed and admired here, including the Zouma Men, the Three Carvings - brick carving, stone carving and wood carving - the Chastity Arch (an arch erected in honor of a widow) as well as the zenith of the village, Wenxing Pavilion.

During the Labors’ Day of 2007, the Ancestral Temples of Dang and Jia were rearranged, and the Culture and Art Exhibition Room and other tourist attractions were opened to visitors. Some folk-custom activities like weaving and spinning were also performed in Dang Village scenic spot.

Transportation:

Take bus from Xi'an Fangzhicheng Bus Station to Hancheng first. Then change bus for Xiayukou bus and get off half-way at Dangjiacun (Dang Village). Or take a taxi after arrival. It costs around CNY 30. It is recommended to hire a taxi to this village directly, only about 9 or 10 kilometers.