Shigu Ancient Village in Zixing, Hunan

Shigu Village got its name from a pair of stone drums bestowed by the emperor. The ancient village features 4 traditional dwellings, 1 ancient academy, 1 ancient tomb, an old pathway, and numerous ancient trees. The most prominent structure is the Cheng Clan Grand House, built in 1810. At its center is the Main Gate, with two transverse alleys dividing the main building into upper, middle, and lower sections containing 21 courtyards. The central section comprises upper, middle, and lower halls. The upper hall houses an intricately carved dragon-adorned ancestral shrine. The grand house boasts 72 main rooms and 18 utility rooms, forming a vast interconnected compound with excellent lighting and ventilation. Remarkably, it remains dry during rain or snow, warm in winter, and sheltered from wind. Its distinctive exterior features rooster-comb-shaped eaves and walls adorned with clay sculptures of dragons, phoenixes, and bats, exuding grandeur while maintaining practicality. Preserved in excellent condition for over 200 years, it stands as a unique treasure of southern Hunan. The Cheng Clan Grand House was also the former residence of General Cheng Zikai. Born here in 1827, General Cheng was a Qing dynasty scholar, Army General, pioneer of the National Revolution, member of the Tongmenghui, key figure in opposing Yuan Shikai, anti-Japanese hero, and close friend of the Chinese Communist Party. He studied military science in Japan in 1904, joined the Tongmenghui in 1905, and died fighting against Japanese invasion. He was posthumously promoted to General in 1946. Shigu Village is recognized as part of the fourth batch of China's Traditional Villages and a Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit of Hunan Province.