In the far north of Africa, there is a mysterious Kingdom of Morocco. In addition to the gorgeous and charming Mediterranean Arabian style, there is also a film and television base known as "Arabian Hollywood". It is the Ouarzazate province of Morocco, distributed here There are more than three studios, and the most famous location is an ancient village called Ksar Ait Ben Haddou.
Ai Ben Haddou is known as the most beautiful village in Morocco and is the most popular tourist destination in Morocco in recent years. It is located on the N9 highway from Marrakech to Ouarzazate, and the dry Asif Ounila River quietly bypasses This thousand-year-old village is located in the desert oasis between the Sahara Desert and the Atlas Mountains. The palms, date palms, and Alpha Stipa that grow on both sides of the strait are struggling to create a green and a ray of life in this endless ocher red desolation.
Asif Ounila River is a seasonal river, which is mainly supplied by the melting water of the Atlas Mountains. In the long dry season, it can only welcome tourists from all over the world with this open-minded feelings. . The village of Ai Ben Haddou was included in the "World Cultural Heritage" list in 1987. In order to better protect it and facilitate tourists, the Moroccan government has moved most of the villagers to live on the opposite bank in recent years and built a building on the river. The bridge connects the old village with the new village.
Ai Ben Haddou was built in the 8th century and was originally used as a castle for the Berbers who lived here to defend against bandits and robbers. The "Ksar" before the name of the village also reflects its purpose. In the heyday of the Mowahid dynasty in the 12th century, the camel caravans that transported sea salt to the inland chose this place as a midway station. Therefore, it developed into an important pass that controlled the commercial road from the Sahara Desert to the western coastal plain. Strategic significance. The commanding heights of the entire village are the public granary and observation post built on the top of the mountain, which are very eye-catching and can be seen from a distance of more than ten kilometers.
Nearly a thousand years of historical changes and the intrusion of wind and sand, the unique architecture and cultural features of Ai Ben Hadu Village are still intact. The tall city walls and turrets laid in red mud are built with arrow towers for auxiliary defense. It is a cascading residential building. The majestic castle is hidden by palm trees. It is primitive, primitive, desolate, and trance. You will cross the slave bay Yuankai city in "Game of Thrones", as if you see the spirited dragon The mother is taking the newly gathered followers—the Innocent Legion is marching toward this with great strength... On the date palm tree at the gate of
, the golden fruit exudes a rich and mature fragrance, and a large group of birds are pecking. The sweet and delicious date palm is known as the most nutritious dried fruit. It is called desert bread by the Moroccans and is one of Morocco's three national treasures: forrest, date palm and cactus. You see, not only humans, but also clever sparrows know the secrets!
Walking across the bridge, bypassing the steep ochre red earth mountain and huge falling rocks, passing between the closely connected red earthen houses and earth walls, the deep and narrow ancient alleys are strewn with colorful and different styles hanging on both sides. , Scarves, woodcarvings, pottery, leather suitcases, jewelry, handicrafts and other special Berber products. It is said that except for a few families left behind, most of the Berber villagers have moved out of the ancient village, but there are some artists who use their skills to run various small businesses in scenic spots and show the outside world the ancient traditional crafts of Berber people.
Ai Ben Haddou Village is composed of 6 buildings called "Casbas". These buildings are built with red mud and dried into bricks. It is made of willow wood with a bitter taste that can drive away insects. It is surrounded by winding narrow corridors. The steep soil wall and the abruptly cut off road reflect the characteristics of defense. Recall the kid sniper hiding in Operation Red Sea. You can deeply understand the scene of calm shooting in the earthen house. This is indeed the most classic and complete Ksar (the meaning of caves on the ground and fortifications) still preserved in Morocco.
If you have a deep memory of "Operation Red Sea", walking in the village, you will find that you have walked through many scenes in the movie, and half of the mountainside is a semicircular hole in a mottled dilapidated earth wall. Once appeared in "Operation Red Sea", visitors can admire the castle below the mountain and the Asif Ounila River through the entrance of the cave. Of course, it is also destined to become an Internet celebrity spot for tourists from all walks of life.
Ai Ben HaDu Village is located in a desolate area that gradually rises to the Atlas Mountains on the western edge of the Sahara Desert. The village is surrounded by reckless red wasteland. It looks like the surface of Mars from a distance, sometimes with round or flat-topped red earth mounds. Like bulging blisters or mushrooms bulging on the ground, the clumps of green followed the winding Asif Ounila River, clinging to them and wrapping the red castles, thus forming this ancient village standing alone. .
Climb high and look into the distance, you will feel extremely shocked! As the birthplace of life on earth, this magical land has been baptized by winds and sands for millions of years. What people see before their eyes is still the vicissitudes of the primitive period, red folds, decadent collapse, and deep ups and downs. All show that this ancient and hard-to-change natural creation is a prehistoric gift left by the earth to mankind. It is no wonder that so many major Hollywood directors love it so much and use it as the location of filming.
Outside the iconic castle gate of Ai Ben Haddou village, on the dry Asif Ounila riverbed, all kinds of vehicles have been parked. It seems that another blockbuster film will be shot here. Several tents have been set up. Busy staff are using pickup trucks, camels and other tools to transport small materials, while large trucks are transporting important camera equipment, scenery and props. There are also an endless stream of vehicles, camel teams, caravans, and sheep gathering here.
On the top platform of the mountain, the local Berbers used some stones of different sizes to form a stone tower similar to the Mani pile in Tibetan area. It is said that this is a way for the Berbers to pray. Thousands of miles away, humans still have similarities in the way of worshipping nature and praying content! Through this small stone tower, you can see the new village on the opposite side of Asif Ounila River. Most of the new villages used modern technology to build Casbas houses. In addition to retaining traditional architectural features, many houses were converted by Berbers who are good at business. The hotel even has a swimming pool.
So far, in addition to China’s "Operation Red Sea", more than 20 Hollywood blockbusters have been shot in the village of Al Ben Haddou, including "Lawrence of Arabia", "Treasures of the Nile", "Love in the Sahara", "Four Feather, "The Last Temptation of Christ", "The Mummy", "Gladiator", "Alexander the Great", "Cleopatra", "Star Wars", "The Bourne", "Game of Thrones", etc., Fans from all over the world can find many familiar places in the lens here, which makes the tour more story-telling, interesting and challenging!
The vast Gobi and desert are wild and unscrupulously bare, and further away is the cyan Atlas Mountains, which resembles the Valley of Kings in Australia and the Grand Canyon of Colorado in the United States. It is one of the least earth-like places in the world. Such a primitive and desolate alien landscape, coupled with an original and antique desert village, will shock anyone who is immersed in the scene, and it is difficult to hold on, so it is naturally targeted by Hollywood directors who are good at curious and pee-making. And favor it!
Although the sun is scorching, people who love life seem to be more willing to use sweat to soak this red clay more beautiful and red. The huge crew set up the scenes on the riverbed, will it be the birth of the "Game of Thrones" I am looking forward to What about the drama? With suspense and curiosity, I walked down the river bed and approached in the floating sand with difficulty. Two dromedaries neighed gracefully and called the alarm, "NO, SIR!" So, I was treated as a paparazzi by the crew security and I was amicably driven away from the scene!
The Ai Ben Hadu Village, built on the hillside, is densely covered with the entire cone-shaped hillside. Rows of red earth houses are scattered in height and disorder. Changing the angle is another scene and another flavor. . Since this is a place where Hollywood blockbusters are shot, it is probably not difficult to meet one or two big stars by chance? Who is this beautiful smiling woman? Kaya Scodeario? Alison Brie? There is a prize for winning!
The millennia-old Ai Ben Hadu Village, the once solid ochre red fortress, stands tall in the desert with the sound of camel bells, and only ruined walls remain in the wind and sand. But there is no doubt that it has always been one of the most outstanding architectural works in Africa. Just like the Egyptian pyramids, they show the unique charm of African civilization with their unique structure and construction methods! Time is flowing, time and space change, Ai Ben Hadu Village has always moved and shocked the world with the strong and persevering humanistic characteristics of Berber people!
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