A Different Huangshan Trip: You Must Explore the Motherland's Mountains and Rivers

Having climbed Mount Tai, Mount Song, and Mount Hua, it was finally time for Huangshan. However, our trip to Huangshan was not just about climbing the mountain; we also visited Hongcun and Xidi. We also climbed a wild mountain with friends from Huangshan and dug up bamboo shoots. For me, these were incredibly rare experiences.

For this trip to Huangshan, since we had many places to go, we rented an IX35 from ehi and picked it up at Huangshan North Station. Especially for those low-priced car models, we booked the car more than a week in advance.

My best friend from university lives in Huangshan. When he heard I was coming, he told me he could take me to pick tea and dig bamboo shoots. To me, that was even more enticing than climbing the mountain. So, on the first day, we drove directly to his home. After that, we journeyed over mountains and hills. The roads on the mountain were quite narrow, and since it wasn't a tourist area, it was very peaceful. My friend said that when he has nothing to do, he comes here to hike—it's especially therapeutic.

Walking along the mountain, we often saw wildflowers blooming by the roadside. When we reached the bamboo forest, I was extremely excited. I was about to finally meet the bamboo shoots I had been longing for.

This bamboo shoot digging trip was very successful. We dug up many bamboo shoots. After returning to my friend's house, he stir-fried them with cured pork, and we ate the most delicious spring bamboo shoots. It felt like this spring had become blissful because of them.

Later, we said goodbye to our friend and drove to Huangshan city. Our first stop was Tunxi. The scenery in Huangshan city was stunning; along the way, we saw endless green mountains. Moreover, we often went through tunnels, some of which took over ten minutes to drive through. In many places, the valleys were filled with mist, giving a feeling of riding on clouds.

Driving to Tunxi, we felt the liveliness of this ancient village. We parked the car at the hotel parking lot and started strolling through the old street. Tunxi has streams and mountain villages, and even its name has a poetic charm. On the street, we saw hairy tofu. Hairy tofu is a classic Anhui-style snack that was really delicious. The auntie took out two skewers of hairy tofu, drizzled sauce on top, and it had a very rich flavor.

Besides hairy tofu, we ate many other snacks along the way, such as Huangshan baked cake and kudzu root crisp. While shopping, it suddenly started raining.

When the heavy rain came down, people rushed into nearby shops to take shelter. The vendors hurriedly moved their goods inside. In no time, the street was empty. The entire street fell into a different kind of silence.

Gradually, the rain eased, and we continued walking. Along the way, we passed many shops worth visiting, such as a century-old Chinese medicine shop, an antique furniture store, and a tea shop. These ancient-style buildings added a sense of tranquility to the old city. Immersing ourselves in the night of Tunxi was truly wonderful.

On our way back, we walked along the Xin'an River. This area was completely different from the previous street—it had a youthful vibe. We saw a Starbucks, various bars, and a small memorial hall. We encountered many texts along the way. One line we saw probably reflected the sentiments of people who had left home to seek a living in those difficult times.

We went to Starbucks and had some coffee. One thing I really like about Starbucks is that the coffee price is the same no matter where you are.

At night, the lights in Tunxi were beautiful. Looking at the lights around this building spreading out from a distance, at that moment, I felt that life is truly wonderful.

Bidding farewell to Tunxi amidst heavy rain, floral scents, ancient city, and delicious food—for me, that was an ultimate romance.

On the third day, our goal was to climb Huangshan. That day, it was so crowded that I hadn't seen such a scene in a long time. Suddenly, I felt very anxious—maybe I have COVID-PTSD. Everyone was waiting for the scenic area shuttle bus. This was Tangkou Town, where self-driving tourists park.

We took the shuttle bus to the Yuping Cable Car. Then, we could take the cable car. Of course, if you think you have enough energy, you could also hike directly. I personally think Huangshan is quite difficult to climb, so I opted for the cable car.

We had to queue for the cable car, waiting about two hours. The cable car moved quite fast, and we even felt a slight ear-pressing sensation. After getting off the cable car, we started exploring.

Our goal was to see the Welcoming Pine. However, before reaching it, we saw the Puji Pine, the Farewell Pine, and various peaks.

The scenery everywhere in Huangshan was beautiful, and the Lotus Peak area was especially impressive. Several people descending the mountain said it was worth visiting. So, we also went to Lotus Peak, the highest peak in Huangshan.

There was a small steep slope on the way to Lotus Peak. Walking on this path was indeed strenuous. When we reached an observation platform and looked ahead, we saw a sea of people everywhere, and we suddenly didn't want to go any further. So, we turned back.

That evening, we drove to Hongcun. Hongcun has many guesthouses, and we chose an old mansion. This place was very elegant, with attics, side rooms, a main hall, and so on.

Staying and eating in the old mansion felt like the enjoyment of a wealthy young lady in ancient times. Not to mention the courtyard—it looked like a huge treasure basin. In ancient times, architecture paid great attention to feng shui. For example, when it rained, rainwater would flow directly into the ground through the corners of the courtyard, which is the so-called "good fortune never goes beyond the family."

We had dinner in the main hall that evening. Although we were few, the atmosphere was still very fitting. We looked at each other, never having experienced such treatment before. So, we started imagining how the wealthy families in ancient times must have eaten.

After dinner, we went to the ancient street for a stroll. Hongcun is a very famous village, and many people come here. At night, the ancient street was full of people. We even met several young ladies wearing hanfu. Their clothes were very beautiful, creating a unique scene in this ancient village.

At night, we had to go to a bar to feel the atmosphere. The pulsating music or soft folk songs, the dazzling lights or soothing melodies—all of them were enchanting.

It was an intoxicating night, a Hongcun I will remember for a long time.

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