Editing Xidi (section)

== History ==
First built during the Huangyou era (1049–1053) of [[Song dynasty]] Emperor [[Emperor Renzong of Song|Renzong]], the village was originally called ''Xichuan'' (West River), owing to the water courses flowing through it.

The Hu family of Xidi are descended from Hu Shiliang, from Wuyuan, who was a descendant of Hu Changyi, a son of [[Emperor Zhaozong of Tang]] who was adopted by the Wuyuan Hu family.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://chinaxidi.com.cn/en/index.html |title=China Xidi-Huangshan Xidi-Welcome To Xidi |website=China Xidi }}</ref><ref name = "nomination">{{cite web |url=https://whc.unesco.org/uploads/nominations/1002.pdf |title=Ancient Villages in Southern Anhui - Xidi and Hongcun |date=2 December 2000 |website=UNESCO World Heritage Centre}}</ref>

The rise of the village was closely tied to the fortunes of the Hu family. By 1465 CE, during the [[Ming dynasty]] (1368–1644), family members had started in business as merchants, leading to construction of major private buildings and a public infrastructure. By the middle of the 17th century, the influence wielded by members of the Hu family expanded from commerce into politics. The prosperity of Xidi peaked in the 18th and 19th centuries, at which time the village comprised about 600 residences. However, during the late 19th century, the disintegration of the feudal system in China and the decline of merchant communities across Anhui cause the expansion of Xidi to cease <ref name = "nomination" />