Huizhou, a historic region in southern Anhui province, is a name linked with glory.
From the 15th to the 19th century, generations of Huizhou merchants built an extensive business network that became a key pillar of the economies of the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties.
Their ancestral halls and residences also marked a milestone in the evolution of Chinese architecture.
Huizhou architecture is best known for its striking visual identity: white walls, dark tiles, and fireproof "horse-head" gables add rhythmic beauty to the countryside skyline.
Shexian county, in Huangshan city, was the cultural center of ancient Huizhou. It has 3,785 registered cultural heritage sites, one of the highest totals among counties nationwide.
But time has taken its toll on these centuries-old witnesses to history. Not all have become popular tourist attractions, and many lesser-known historic buildings have gradually fallen into disrepair.
According to the county's cultural heritage administration, nearly 90 percent of Shexian's registered heritage sites are classified as "unrated". This means they are not eligible for regular fiscal support for their protection and maintenance.
"Without timely protection, they could be damaged or disappear," says Wang Hongying, the administration director.
In 2024, a joint project involving the Ministry of Finance, the National Cultural Heritage Administration and the China Foundation for Cultural Heritage Conservation offered a way forward. A total of 50 million yuan ($7.5 million) from national welfare and sports lottery proceeds was allocated to support the restoration of 793 "unrated" heritage sites in Shexian, about 19 percent of the county's total.
"It benefits people's livelihoods while helping preserve our cultural legacy," Wang says.
Zheng Dongjiao, 49, has become something of an online celebrity as the lead performer in the traditional fish lantern parade in Zhanqi village, Shexian. As tourism has gained momentum in recent years, the fish lantern has emerged as a cultural symbol of the county, and related souvenirs can now be found almost everywhere.
Zheng quit his city job and returned to his home village in 2021, devoting himself to reviving the 800-year-old fish lantern tradition. In 2024, he bought a dilapidated 300-year-old residence that had been jointly owned by several families but was rarely occupied. He transformed it into a restaurant and a venue for promoting the fish lantern tradition.
Zheng received 80,000 yuan from the lottery fund. Although the money covered only the cost of repairing the roof, he sees the project as an important way to raise awareness of the need to protect his hometown's history. "Some friends questioned my decision at first," Zheng recalls.
"But once the renovation is complete and the house regains its former splendor, more people may be inspired to join me in saving these old buildings."
Wang Guanhai, 76, a veteran fish lantern maker in the same village, has also benefited from the project. He lives in a house that is about 120 years old. "We had been struggling with a leaking roof," he says. "The fund covered the cost of repairing it, and I also spent more money fixing the walls."
About 77 percent of the historic buildings included in the Shexian project are privately owned. The initiative has encouraged many residents to invest additional money in renovating their own properties.
Restoration of all 793 sites in Shexian was completed in October. Beyond the lottery funding, another 300 million yuan, largely contributed by various social sectors, went toward restoring the buildings.
"Residents care deeply about how their houses are repaired," says Wang Shijun, Party chief of Sanyang town in Shexian. "They are like supervisors, checking the work every day.
"The lottery fund serves as leverage to encourage more people to take part in heritage protection," he says. "But we don't want to turn these restored houses into 'bonsai' — places that people look at and admire. They need to grow and develop organically."
To give the restored buildings a sustainable future, various business models have been introduced, including restaurants, cafes and study-tour bases. An old warehouse built in the 1880s to store tea leaves, for instance, may not be suitable for use as a kitchen because of fire safety requirements, but it has found a new role as a pantry.
Villagers have also been invited to attend short-video training sessions to help them promote the renovated buildings to tourists through social media.
The large-scale restoration has created opportunities to pass traditional building skills on to a new generation.
Wu Honghui, 60, is a veteran carpenter involved in the restoration work. He says about one-third of the original timber was salvaged and reused, adding that finding wood of comparable quality today is increasingly difficult.
"As long as the old wood is not rotten and can be used, we wouldn't replace it," he explains. "We want to retain the original technique in the restoration."
Some architectural features, however, had disappeared over the centuries. Artisans had to draw on their experience to re-create missing components.
Wu acknowledges that the industry also lacks young talent.
"It's encouraging to see this project attracting the attention of young people," he says.
"Traditional craftsmanship also needs to find ways to blend with modern creativity."
