The Most Disappointing Name Change in Anhui Isn't Hefei—It's This Place!

📍 Huangshan · 👁 7335 reads · ❤️ 24 likes

"Green hills at dusk fill the porch with emerald hues; clear waters in spring ripple against the railing" describes its exquisite landscape;

"Every tower hides rustic views, every home lights up with reading sounds" praises its rich cultural heritage;

"To know the aura of gold and silver, one must wander between yellow and white"—it was once synonymous with wealth and abundance;

That's right, it's Huangshan City in Anhui Province.

Surprised?

In 1987, the Huizhou region was officially renamed Huangshan City. Locals say the name Huizhou is so poetic, while outsiders ask: Isn't Huangshan just one mountain?

In fact, Huangshan City is far more than just the world-famous Mount Huangshan.

Huangshan City also boasts ink-wash style Huizhou architecture; China's best-preserved commercial streets and ancient villages from the Song, Ming, and Qing dynasties; the largest number of ancient academies in the country; the profoundly influential Cheng-Zhu school of Neo-Confucianism; and one of China's eight great cuisines—Huizhou cuisine—which also originated here.

Today, the people, things, and events of old Huizhou are fading away. Yet for centuries, the Huizhou captured by poets remains endlessly charming, occasionally stirring deep emotions in people's hearts.

"After seeing the Five Sacred Mountains, no other mountain is worth seeing; after returning from Huangshan, no other mountain is worth visiting." This saying established Mount Huangshan's status among China's great landscapes.

Mount Huangshan offers stunning views in all seasons—each wind, frost, rain, and snow brings its own beauty. On clear days, admire odd-shaped pines and strange rocks; on overcast days, watch the sea of clouds shift; in rain, seek flowing springs and waterfalls; in snow, see trees draped in jade and branches coated in silver; in wind, listen to the pine waves in the valleys.

In autumn, the green pines, dark rocks, red maples, and yellow chrysanthemums intermingle among the mountain slopes, creating a colorful natural three-dimensional painting of breathtaking beauty.

Mount Huangshan is about 60 km from Huangshan City, a one-hour drive by car.

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Hongcun Village is a classic example of Huizhou-style residential villages, known as the "Village in the Painting." It preserves over 140 well-kept ancient buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties.

From the outside, white walls and gray-tiled roofs nestle among the hills, reflecting with water, pavilions, terraces, towers, pagodas, and archways. Inside, brick, stone, and wood carvings are everywhere—exquisite, with flowing eaves and upturned corners, evoking a sense of simplicity, tranquility, and elegance.

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The character "徽" in Anhui comes from the original Huizhou Prefecture in southern Anhui. Huizhou Ancient City was the prefectural seat—a unique "city within a city" style ancient town. It stands as a testament to the prosperity of Anhui during the Ming and Qing dynasties and is one of China's four great ancient cities.

Representative Huizhou ancient buildings here include the Wang family residence, the Yang family courtyard of official households, the private school Xu family hall, and the Pan family mansion of generations of merchants.

The most distinctive street in the ancient city is Doushan Street, named after its location at the foot of Doushan (Dipper Mountain). Doushan Street is short—just over 300 meters—but combines ancient dwellings, streets, carvings, wells, and memorial archways.

Walking through the ancient city, you can feel the charm of historical architecture. As the sun sets past Yanghe Gate, you can truly experience the deep historical resonance of "Swallows from the mansions of once-powerful families now fly into the homes of common folk."

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Xidi Ancient Town, first built in the 7th year of the Qingli reign of the Northern Song Dynasty (1047 AD), preserves hundreds of ancient dwellings from the Ming and Qing dynasties. It is renowned as a link between ancient and modern Chinese history, a museum of Ming and Qing dwellings, and an artistic treasure house of ancient residential architecture.

All streets in Xidi are paved with Yixian bluestone. The ancient buildings are timber-framed with brick walls, and wood, stone, and brick carvings are rich and varied. The layout of alleys, streams, and buildings is harmonious.

The village has 3 ancestral halls from the 14th–19th centuries, 1 memorial archway, and 224 well-preserved ancient buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties. Ninety-nine high-walled deep alleys can make visitors feel lost in a maze. The village space changes rhythmically, and the building colors are simple and elegant. After visiting Huangshan and Shexian, you can better understand Chinese landscape painting.

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Chengkan, nestled among green hills and bamboo groves, has a history of over 1,800 years. It is one of the best-preserved ancient villages in China today. TV shows such as "Idols Are Coming" and "Where Are We Going, Dad?" have been filmed here.

Chengkan's streets and lanes are all paved with granite strips. The dwellings on both sides are closely packed, connected horizontally and vertically, with blue walls and gray tiles, varying in height. The ancient Longxi River winds through the village like a jade belt, forming an S-shape from north to south, creating a boundary resembling the yin-yang fish in the Tai Chi symbol. The village is surrounded by mountains on eight sides, naturally forming the eight trigram directions, together creating a natural Bagua layout.

Chengkan is not as famous as Xidi or Hongcun, but its scenery is no less impressive. If you want to admire Huizhou architecture while avoiding crowds, this is a good choice.

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The Xin'an River Landscape Gallery Scenic Area is located in Shendu Town, Shexian County, Huangshan City, stretching about 100 li (50 km). The scenic area is known for its unique combination of Huizhou culture, natural scenery, and ancient villages.

The ecological environment on both banks presents a three-dimensional pattern of "high mountain forests, mid-mountain tea, low-mountain fruit, and fish in the water." Huizhou ancient dwellings dot the green hills and clear waters, and the Xin'an River, known as the "Eastern Danube," flows through. The scenery varies with the seasons, like a flowing landscape painting, hence the name "Xin'an River Hundred-Li Gallery."

Huizhou cuisine is one of China's eight great cuisines and also originated in Huangshan. Its main flavor characteristics are saltiness and freshness, highlighting natural tastes with careful cooking techniques and a focus on nourishing the body. In addition to various stir-frying, deep-frying, quick-frying, braising, boiling, roasting, stewing, and smoking methods, it is especially famous for its braised, stewed, smoked, and steamed dishes.

The most representative dish is pickled mandarin fish (stinky mandarin fish), also known as odorous mandarin fish.

First-timers are often hesitant to take a bite because of the fish's off-putting smell, but don't worry—this is not a sign of spoilage but the dish's unique flavor.

When you eat stinky mandarin fish, there's a slight odor at first, but after a few chews, the fragrance grows. The fish meat is firm, not mushy, white and delicate, without any greasiness. Best of all, there's no fishy taste. Pairing a bite of fish with a piece of chili pepper is truly satisfying.

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Greentree Inn Anhui Huangshan Tunxi Old Street Business Hotel

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Huizhou has long been described as "80% mountain and water, 20% farmland and gardens." The region's peaks reach the sky, and the character "徽" means "beautiful"—when broken down, it becomes "mountain, water, people, and culture." Today, Huizhou Prefecture as an administrative region no longer exists.

Although the name Huizhou was lovely, Huangshan is now an established fact. More importantly, the name Huangshan has spread all over the country, and it is now a top-tier tourist destination combining natural scenery and cultural heritage. Huangshan City has a high-speed rail station, a train station, and an airport, with convenient transportation that attracts tourists from all over the world. The most important thing is that cultural heritage continues.

Travel Notes Directory:

1. Mount Huangshan Scenic Area

2. Hongcun Village

3. Huizhou Ancient City

4. Xidi Ancient Town

5. Chengkan Village

6. Xin'an River Landscape Gallery

7. Huizhou Cuisine

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