Green Waters and Blue Mountains, Dreamy Southern Anhui: A 6-Day Leisurely Tour of Southern Anhui

📍 Kuala Lumpur · 👁 6563 reads · ❤️ 1 likes

A dream of Huizhou in misty rain, with grey bricks, black tiles, and horse-head walls. You must go to Southern Anhui to see the tender ancient towns, climb the verdant mountains, taste the unique cuisine of Southern Anhui, and explore the long-standing Huizhou culture. Compared to the previously popular attractions, this time we chose relatively less crowded spots, and we hope this can provide some reference for friends planning to travel.

Ningguo is located in southern Anhui, known as "eight mountains, one water, half farmland, half roads and estates." In Ningguo, the most worthwhile trip is the Sichuan-Tibet Line in Southern Anhui, with continuous beautiful scenery along the way.

First stop: Chujiatan. A shallow beach along the Xijin River with pleasant scenery. It is the closest scenic spot to the east entrance of the Sichuan-Tibet Line and also a photography base in Anhui.

Second stop: Qinglong Lake Scenic Area. Only a 5-minute drive from Chujiatan. You can take a cruise to enjoy the lake views and also visit the Huyun Zen Temple on the lake. Adult cruise ticket is 60 yuan per person.

Third stop: Fangtang Township. Located in the middle of the Sichuan-Tibet Line in Southern Anhui, deep in the mountains, with many check-in spots nearby, such as Redwood Forest, Shangtan Bridge, Baiyun Temple, and Shijing Orchard. Among them, the most famous is the Taxodium swamp under the lake and mountain scenery. The best time to visit is mid-to-late November; don't miss it.

Others: Since we didn't finish the whole route, Baiyun Chan Temple, Yanyan Mountain Viewing Platform, and Longshan Grand Canyon are also worth visiting.

*Tips: The road conditions on the Sichuan-Tibet Line in Southern Anhui are complex; drive safely. There are usually good views near parking spots along the line. In Chujiatan and Fangtang, there are many homestays where you can choose accommodation and dining.

Jixi County is under the administration of Xuancheng City. It was one of the six counties of old Huizhou and has profound cultural heritage. This county, with a population of less than 140,000, earned the golden sign of National Historical and Cultural City early on. It is also the origin of the name "Huizhou" and has many places worth visiting.

First stop: Jixi Museum. The largest county-level local museum in Anhui. Its refreshing and elegant Huizhou-style courtyard and dignified space design are its biggest features. The interior exhibits are also rich, suitable for taking photos.

Second stop: Zhangshan Grand Canyon. Located southeast of Jixi County, near the boundary between Anhui and Zhejiang. There is a saying: "After visiting Zhangshan Grand Canyon, forget the water scenery of Jiuzhaigou." It is recommended to buy a shuttle bus ticket inside the scenic area. After reaching the end, walk down the trail to enjoy the views, saving a lot of energy.

Third stop: Longchuan Scenic Area. The most famous scenic area in Jixi and a national 5A-level scenic area. It is a thousand-year-old ancient village inhabited by the Hu clan. Main attractions include Yishi Shangshu Archway, Hu's Ancestral Hall, and Hu Zongxian Shaobao Mansion. The tour route in Longchuan is relatively simple: walk along the water street to the Dengyuan River and then to Shangguan Bridge, then return.

Fourth stop: Ziyuan. Located on the road from Jixi to Longchuan, known as the grand view garden of Huizhou ancient folk house architecture. It is also the filming location for the TV drama "Huizhou Women." Ziyuan gathers various elements of Huizhou village architecture, such as pavilions, towers, residences, ancestral halls, and archways. For those visiting Southern Anhui for the first time, it has some appeal.

*Tips: Compared to many villages and ancient towns in Huizhou, Longchuan Scenic Area is relatively small. If your subsequent itinerary includes places like Chengkan, Hongcun, Xidi, Zhaji, Tangmo, or Huizhou Ancient City, you might feel it's unnecessary to visit Longchuan separately. However, the advantage of Longchuan is that there are fewer tourists, suitable for a leisurely stroll. For those who don't like crowds or group tours, it's still a good choice. Ziyuan is a scenic spot built by a tourism development company, with a slightly high ticket price. If you have similar attractions planned later, it's better to skip it.

I'm in Huangshan, but not going to Huangshan... You heard me right. In Anhui, Huangshan usually refers to Huangshan Scenic Area, but it could also refer to Huangshan District or Tunxi District of Huangshan City. On our six-day trip to Southern Anhui, we arrived at Huangshan City, described as "a lifelong obsession, without dreams of Huizhou." Although we didn't visit the popular Huangshan Scenic Area, our itinerary was still exciting.

First stop: She County.

As the birthplace of Huizhou culture, the Huizhou Ancient City in She County is the essence and one of the four best-preserved ancient cities in China.

The Xu Guo Stone Archway, known as the "Eastern Arc de Triomphe," has stood here for over 400 years. This is the only eight-legged archway in the country, covered with exquisite carvings, a masterpiece of Huizhou stone carving craftsmanship.

When in Huizhou Ancient City, you must visit the Huizhou Government Office to see its grandeur. See the bright mirror high-hanging court, climb the winding city walls, and feed the koi in the Huizhou garden.

Don't miss the Huizhou Culture Museum south of the ancient city. Over 1,500 exquisite cultural relics will feast your eyes, and the "Dream Huizhou" section artistically presents Huizhou culture.

If you want a less crowded spot, Xiong Village, a ten-minute drive from the ancient city, is a good alternative.

Take a bamboo raft on the Xin'an River for free admission. The Zhushan Academy, merit archways, and ancient trees guard this village with over 800 years of history.

Second stop: Huangshan City Center.

Many people have visited the Huangshan Scenic Area but may not have been to Tunxi.

This is the administrative center of Huangshan City and our "refueling station" on this six-day trip. In Tunxi, you must walk across Zhenhai Bridge. The weathered piers still support the new bridge deck, welcoming tourists from all over.

Liyang In Lane at the other end of the bridge is a fine example of renovated old streets in Huangshan.

Compared to the accommodation and dining prices around the scenic areas, consumption in Huangshan city center can be described as competitive. If you don't believe it, just walk through Tunxi Old Street on this side of the bridge. The one-kilometer-long street offers endless free samples that keep you eating. The fierce competition among restaurants has also brought down the price of the famous Huizhou dish, stinky mandarin fish.

Third stop: Chengkan.

The next day, we continued visiting Huangshan attractions.

If you are a first-timer, I would definitely recommend Xidi, Hongcun, Tangyue, and Tangmo. But since we've been to Huangshan multiple times, we went to Chengkan in the north of Huizhou District.

Chengkan, known as the "First Village in Jiangnan," is a famous Bagua village and a geomantic treasure of Huizhou District.

"Visit Chengkan, life without pitfalls." In Chengkan, be sure to hire a local villager guide to show you around, leading you through the two ditches, five streets, and ninety-nine lanes, telling various anecdotes. It costs only 20 yuan, which is really affordable. Also, hug the golden nanmu pillar worth 1.2 billion yuan in Luo Dongshu Ancestral Hall to bring wealth and good fortune home.

On the way back, passing Qiankou, you can also visit XIAJIAN Pagoda. It's unknown whether the legendary deep well under the pagoda really exists.

Our two days and one night in Huangshan City can only be described as hasty. There are many more fun places; we'll explore them next time.

*Tips: Huangshan City is vast, with three districts and four counties, all offering excellent attractions. It's perfect for in-depth travel. Interested friends can arrange multi-day tours to experience the rich Huizhou culture.

This trip to Mount Jiuhua marked the completion of visiting all four sacred Buddhist mountains in China. It was probably our most casual pilgrimage—no preparation, just booked tickets and drove up. It wasn't until we got home and researched that we learned the classic pilgrimage route for Mount Jiuhua follows the head, body, and tail of the dragon.

So here I reorganize the itinerary according to the recommended route, offering a super practical lazy-man's pilgrimage route—

Day 1: Arrive at the Dayuan Cultural Park of Mount Jiuhua Scenic Area at noon. Visit Hongyuan Hall, then take an electric car to see the 99-meter-tall statue of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva.

At 3 PM, there is a music fountain show at the Bagong Deshui (electric car transfer point); don't miss it.

After the visit, drive up the mountain (during long holidays and weekends, private cars are not allowed; you need to take the scenic shuttle bus) and stay in Jiuhua Town (recommended area around Furong Road and Longchi Road, which is lively and convenient).

Day 2 morning: Begin the pilgrimage. Follow the legendary head-body-tail route of the dragon to complete the morning prayer.

First stop: Tiantai Scenic Area.

This is the essence of Mount Jiuhua. There's a saying: "If you haven't been to Tiantai, you haven't really been here." Climb Tiantai to see the panoramic view of Jiuhua. Many pilgrims come here; it's also the legendary head of the dragon. Don't forget to offer incense.

Second stop: Flesh Body Hall.

It is said to contain the flesh body of the Ksitigarbha (Jin Dizang), and it's the legendary body of the dragon. Three mountain paths lead to the Flesh Body Hall. The classic route is to go up from the north gate, passing Dizang Chan Temple, Longzhu Bridge, Flesh Body Hall, Zhuanlun Bao Hall, south gate, Wanfo Tower, then down. A less strenuous option is to drive to the Flesh Body Hall parking lot on Longchi Road, then take the mountain path from the Jinxiu Hotel side to the summit, and return the same way.

Third stop: Huacheng Temple. The founding temple of Mount Jiuhua, formerly the residence of Jin Dizang. It is a must-visit temple for worshipping Ksitigarbha.

Fourth stop: Baisui Palace. Take the cable car from Qiyuan Temple Station up and down. Exit the station to see the natural Sleeping Buddha of Mount Jiuhua, with clear nose bridge, Adam's apple, and even eyelashes. Truly, "horizontal view is a mountain, vertical view is a Buddha." Baisui Palace is the legendary tail of the dragon. Be sure to pay respects to the Body-Born Bodhisattva here. The golden body of the 124-year-old meditating Chan master Wuxia is awe-inspiring.

After finishing the pilgrimage at Baisui Palace, the morning is basically over. If you want to continue exploring Mount Jiuhua in the afternoon, I recommend visiting Huatai Scenic Area. Huatai is where the natural Sleeping Buddha is located, so take the cable car. Huatai is all about natural scenery; there are no temples on the mountain, but the views are excellent—striking peaks, strange rocks, and sea of clouds are captivating.

For thousands of years, Mount Jiuhua, known as the "Lotus Buddha Kingdom," has had continuous incense and gathered monks. The essence and spirit of its ninety-nine hanging temples are worth savoring.

Who says you have to go to Fantawild when in Wuhu? According to recommendations from Wuhu locals, the budget-friendly experience is also very exciting.

First stop: Zhongshan Road Pedestrian Street. Within a 300-meter radius, you'll find shopping centers, transportation hubs, and the picturesque Jinghu area with large and small Mirror Lakes. It's perfect for shopping, eating, and sightseeing.

Second stop: Jiuzi Square to experience the Wuhu monorail. As one of the few cities in China with a monorail, Wuhu's monorail goes up to the sky and underground. Nearly 45 kilometers of elevated tracks serve as a moving city observation platform. Take Line 1 to Yu'an Road Station, then walk back one stop. On one side is the Yinhu Lake scenery with city and lake embracing, on the other is the cross-lake monorail's three-dimensional transportation—great for photos.

Third stop: Riverside Park. Where there are rivers and lakes, there is Wuhu. Stroll along the riverbank to get a panoramic view of the Wuhu city skyline and enjoy many small joys. For lunch, visit the century-old Xiaoma Duck Shop on Xinwu Road. For 20 yuan, two people can have duck, plus a bowl of beef noodles—delicious and affordable.

Fourth stop: Wuhu Museum. If you want to understand Wuhu's history and culture, the Wuhu Museum is a good choice. Its collection richness is beyond imagination.

Bronze tripod from the Western Han dynasty.

Bronze sacrificial vessel from the Spring and Autumn period—nice shape.

One of the museum's treasures: a Song dynasty porcelain pillow, exquisitely crafted.

Another treasure: a green-glazed porcelain sheep statue from the Three Kingdoms period—so cute.

For dinner, we visited Laoling Pigeon Soup on Xinwu Road. One person, one clay pot of pigeon soup—so fresh it makes your brows drop; drink it while hot. The fragrant and sizzling farm stir-fried pork is so appetizing it instantly turns you into a rice-devouring machine, washing away the fatigue of the day.

*Tips: Our brief check-in in Wuhu is like looking at a leopard through a tube; it doesn't fully reflect Wuhu's features or humanistic qualities. Wuhu locals also recommended other fun spots, such as Wuhu Ancient City, Jiuzi Ancient Town, and Zheshan Park. Local Wuhu natives also recommended Xiao Gao's steamed rice with minced pork opposite Huicui Middle School, Geng Ji Steamed Buns on Zheshan Road, Zhang Ji Plum Flower Cake, and Ruan Xiaowu Squid. If you go to Wuhu, remember to check them out.

That's the entire itinerary for the six-day Southern Anhui trip. A hasty ending, but it's approaching 4,000 words. Finally, I'd like to say: you must come to Southern Anhui to see the green waters and blue mountains, lush vegetation, taste the refreshing Houkui tea, and appreciate the dreamy poetic picture of Southern Anhui. You won't regret it.

Travelogue Directory:

1. Day 1: Ningguo – Sichuan-Tibet Line in Southern Anhui

2. Day 2: Jixi

3. Day 3: She County, Huangshan City

4. Day 4 & 5: Mount Jiuhua

5. Day 6: Wuhu

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