Special Mention
特别提醒

Precisely speaking，ancient villages in southern Anhui refer to the architectural complexes with a historical，artistic， and scientific value，specifically the folk houses，shrines,schools，archways，towers，pavilions、and water outlet，etc.，mainly found in the six counties of ancient Hui prefecture，namely the present Xi，Yi，Xiuning，Qimen，Jixi，and Wuyuan counties. Villages here are well preserved as they were built in Ming and Qing Dynasties，together with the folks' customs and life styles. Among the counties，Yi County has the largest number of the ancient villages survived most intact.
皖南古村落，指的是安徽省境内长江以南地区在清朝末年以前形成的，具有历史、艺术、科学价值的民居、祠堂、书院、牌坊、楼台亭阁及水日等建筑群。其中心地带在原徽州府的一府六县(即款县、黔县、休宁、祁门、绩溪、婴源)这些古村落至今仍较完整地保留了明清时期的原貌格局，村落里居民的传统生活习俗也大多沿袭至今。其中，黔县是保留占村落最多的县。

According to a survey in 1982 by the local government，Yi County still has 715 natural villages，with over 30 ancient houses of Ming Dynasty，3 590 or more of Ding Dynasty，as well as 3 clan shrines of Ming Dynasty and 118 of Qing Dynasty. The most representative of the villages are Xidi and Hongcun villages，which remian fairly untouched in their format and style of Ming and Qing Dynasties.
根据1982年当地政府调查结果，黔县至今仍有715个自然村落，保存有明代古民居30余幢，清代民居3 590余幢，明代祠堂3座，清代祠堂118座。其中的西递村和宏村，至今保持了完整的明清时期的村落原型格局。
The human civilization of the two villages is amazingly harmonious with the landscape. The planning of the village as a whole is clever，the courtyard design is complete and rational，the decoration and furnishing are typical of southern Anhui ,——all these make the two outstanding of the many ancient villages preserved in this part of the province.
西递村和宏村的人文景观及自然景观极为和谐统一。村落整体布局巧妙，民居庭院完整合理，其建筑装饰和室内设置都有典型的徽州地方特色，是皖南众多古村落中的杰出代表。
Xidi and Hongcun villages are honored as representing the top level of housing and residential environment construction since Tang and Song Dynasties in China. Moreover，they are also the carriers of the culture of ancient Hui prefecture in the later stage of China's feudal society，and the product of the culture at its prime in Ming and Qing Dynasties. In November of 2000，UNESCO registered Xidi and Hongcun villages in World Heritage List as the only representatives of such villages in China.
西递和宏村被人们誉为代表中国唐宋以来住宅和人居环境建设的最高水平，是明清时期达到鼎盛的徽州文化的产物。2000年11月，西递和宏村作为我国I唯一的古村落类型，被联合国教科文组织列人《世界遗产名录》。