That Year, a 10,000-Mile Self-Drive Tour Through Hunan, Guizhou, Guangxi, Hubei, Anhui, and Jiangsu: I Climbed Jingting Mountain in Xuancheng, Anhui ▏Practical Self-Drive Travel Guide to Xuancheng, Anhui ▏June 2021

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A 10,000-Mile Self-Drive Tour Through Hunan, Guizhou, Guangxi, Hubei, Anhui, and Jiangsu: I Climbed Jingting Mountain in Xuancheng, Anhui ▏Practical Self-Drive Travel Guide to Xuancheng, Anhui ▏【Anhui Xuancheng Chapter】【Stop 31】【June 7, 2021】

Xuancheng Jixi Taiji Lake Village

Xuancheng Jingting Green Snow Tea Plantation

Set off by self-drive from Luotian County, Hubei, 395 kilometers, 8 hours to reach Xuancheng, Anhui, starting a two-day tour of Xuancheng, Anhui ▏Xuancheng Jingting Mountain National Forest Park ▏Xuancheng Hongyuan Temple ▏Xuancheng Guangjiao Temple ▏Xuancheng Guangjiao Temple Twin Pagodas ▏Xuancheng Twin Pagodas Park ▏Xuancheng Jixi Taiji Lake Village ▏Xuancheng Jixi Ancient Kongling Nie Garden ▏Xuancheng Jingde Jiang Village Scenic Area ▏Memorial Hall of the Martyrs of the Southern Anhui Incident ▏

Departed from Qingdao City by self-drive on May 1, 2021, took 40 days, traveled 10,200 kilometers, passed through 6 provinces, 30 cities, successfully completed the 10,000-Mile Self-Drive Tour Plan through Hunan, Guizhou, Guangxi, Hubei, Anhui, and Jiangsu

Talk about this trip:

I don't ride any wave, nor take any boat; I have my own sea.

Departure is my eternal proposition. Even though I have been to many places, I am still full of expectations for unknown journeys. Some people ask me, is there any place you haven't been to? I often joke and say: Yes, I haven't been to Mars. I didn't expect the opportunity to come so quickly.

At 07:00 on June 7, 2021, I set off by self-drive from Luotian County, Hubei. Imagine this scene: a morning breeze drifts into the forest. Where it passes, mist gently flows, the roads are smooth along the way, accompanied by the stunning scenery of Hubei. After driving 398 kilometers for 8 hours, I arrived in Xuancheng, Anhui at 15:00.

Xuancheng Anhui Two-Day Tour Route:

Day1: Xuancheng Jingting Mountain National Forest Park, Xuancheng Hongyuan Temple, Xuancheng Guangjiao Temple, Xuancheng Guangjiao Temple Twin Pagodas, Xuancheng Twin Pagodas Park Day2: Xuancheng Jixi Taiji Lake Village, Xuancheng Jixi Ancient Kongling Nie Garden, Xuancheng Jingde Jiang Village Scenic Area, Memorial Hall of the Martyrs of the Southern Anhui Incident

【About Attractions】

Admission tickets: Xuancheng Jingting Mountain Scenic Area adult ticket is 60 yuan per person, [10 yuan cheaper if booked on Ctrip], parking at the scenic area is 10 yuan. There are many tourist attractions in Xuancheng, Anhui, most of which require tickets.

【About Accommodation】

Booked on Ctrip: Home Inn series --- Xuancheng Anhui Home Inn standard room 120 yuan/night including breakfast for two [room clean and tidy, breakfast good]

【About Dining】

During the self-drive trip, we experienced local cuisines, various rice noodles, and recommendations from online rankings, each with its own merits! Because some scenic spots are far apart for self-driving, you can prepare some drinks and snacks. After parking at night, have a little drink, eat some local food you like, and enjoy the pleasure of life.

【Travel Equipment Preparation】

Self-brought photography equipment for the trip:

Canon 60D kit (18-135mm IS)

For a travel enthusiast, Xuancheng, Anhui is a place worth visiting. If you are tired of the sea of people and the row upon row of shops in scenic spots, and want to find a place where your soul can relax and unwind, the secret realm of Xuancheng, Anhui is a place to consider.

Travel needs no reason, because the scenery is there!

Another meaning of travel is to discover beauty in places where others are tired of living!

After retirement, travel has become an important part of my life, a habit. If I don't go out for a while, it feels like something is missing, and I feel an itch in my heart, like grass growing, my sleep is not good, and my appetite is poor. Strange, as long as I go out, everything is fine. During the journey, climbing high mountains, crossing rivers, entering ancient villages, paying homage to red classics, I feel relaxed and happy, and I feel the grandeur and charm of our motherland even more.

Xuancheng is the hometown of China's Four Treasures of the Study, a landscape garden city with a long history and rich cultural heritage. Xuancheng borders Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces, with Jingting, Baishi, Shuixi, and Longxu four peaks overlapping green; Qingge River and Shuiyang River two waters相依. Xuancheng is dotted with cultural relics, spanning the Six Dynasties, Sui, Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, with a long cultural lineage. Fan Ye, Xie Tiao, Shen Kuo, Wen Tianxiang, etc., successively served as officials here, and Bai Juyi, Du Mu, etc., came to live here successively.

Learn a bit about Xuancheng, Anhui history:

In the second year of Yuanfeng of the Western Han Dynasty (109 BC), the seat of Danyang Commandery was set in Wanling, now Xuanzhou District.

In the second year of Taikang of the Jin Dynasty (281 AD), Danyang Commandery was divided to establish Xuancheng Commandery. Since then, Xuancheng has existed as a prefecture or commandery-level administrative region.

In the early Sui Dynasty, the commandery was abolished, and South Yuzhou was changed to Xuanzhou, later renamed Xuancheng Commandery.

In the early Tang Dynasty, Xuanzhou was established, once renamed Xuancheng Commandery, and later renamed Xuanzhou again.

In the second year of Qiandao of the Southern Song Dynasty (1166 AD), Xuanzhou was changed to Ningguo Prefecture.

In the Yuan Dynasty, it was the location of Ningguo Road.

In the Ming and Qing dynasties, it was the location of Ningguo Prefecture.

After liberation in May 1949, Xuancheng Special District was established.

For a Qingdao native from the seaside, perhaps I have seen too much of the beauty of the sea, and its attraction is no longer so strong. I always yearn for the scenery of Xuancheng, Anhui. I long for the long history of Xuancheng, Anhui, the beautiful Xuancheng, Anhui scenery, the unforgettable Xuancheng, Anhui cuisine, which always move me, attract me, and the wonderful imagination that transcends time and space forces me to embark on this mysterious journey.

Route map of the 10,000-Mile Self-Drive Tour through Hunan, Guizhou, Guangxi, Hubei, Anhui, and Jiangsu;

May 1, 2021 Depart from Qingdao City --- Yueyang City, Hunan Province --- Changsha City, Hunan Province --- Shaoshan City, Hunan Province --- Hengyang City, Hunan Province --- Yongzhou City, Hunan Province --- Loudi City, Hunan Province --- Shaoyang City, Hunan Province --- Huaihua City, Hunan Province --- Zhangjiajie City, Hunan Province --- Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Hunan Province --- Jishou City, Hunan Province --- Tongren City, Guizhou Province --- Zunyi City, Guizhou Province --- Anshun City, Guizhou Province --- Guiyang City, Guizhou Province --- Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, Guizhou Province --- Qiannan Buyi and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Guizhou Province --- Hechi City, Guangxi Province --- Baise City, Guangxi Province --- Chongzuo City, Guangxi Province --- Nanning City, Guangxi Province --- Guigang City, Guangxi Province --- Laibin City, Guangxi Province --- Liuzhou City, Guangxi Province --- Yangshuo City, Guangxi Province --- Guilin City, Guangxi Province --- Chibi City, Hubei Province --- Huanggang City, Hubei Province --- Xuancheng City, Anhui Province --- Wuhu City, Anhui Province --- Hefei City, Anhui Province --- Chuzhou City, Anhui Province --- Nanjing City, Jiangsu Province --- Yangzhou City, Jiangsu Province --- Qingdao City

Self-drive travel cost budget:

Based on my travel experience, for long-distance self-drive travel, as long as you don't purchase items, stay at express hotels or farm stays, don't overspend on meals, and reduce scenic area admission costs, a couple can spend about 400 yuan per day to cover all expenses.

Trip Summary; 【Anhui Xuancheng】

Time: June 7 to June 8, 2021, 2 days in total

People: A couple

Method: Self-guided tour

Transportation: Self-drive car

Cost: 400 yuan per person (including gasoline, tolls, accommodation, meals, tickets, and all other expenses)

Pleasant trip:

For Xuancheng City, Anhui, I had passed by Xuancheng City, Anhui in a hurry due to time constraints on previous visits to Anhui. This time, I arranged the 31st stop of the 10,000-Mile Self-Drive Tour through Hunan, Guizhou, Guangxi, Hubei, and Anhui in Xuancheng City, Anhui. Driving from Huanggang City, Hubei to Xuancheng City, Anhui, the beautiful scenery along the way, the bits and pieces of Anhui, my heart was intoxicated. I started my trip to Xuancheng City, Anhui.

This is the best place for couples to travel, strolling together, interpreting the magnificent and灵动 landscape scenery of nature. Enjoy the scenery of undulating peaks, verdant and幽静 forests, taste the cuisine of Xuancheng City, Anhui, walk along the Yangtze River bank in Xuancheng City, Anhui at night, and take in the full view of Xuancheng City, Anhui.

I. The Origin of Xuancheng City, Anhui

For Xuancheng City, Anhui, after the Spring Festival this year, I made a travel plan for the 10,000-Mile Self-Drive Tour through Hunan, Guizhou, Guangxi, Hubei, and Anhui. In May, during the most beautiful season in Hunan, Guizhou, and Guangxi, the couple traveled south to see the beautiful scenery of Xuancheng City, Anhui. Breathe the air of Xuancheng, Anhui, taste the cuisine of Xuancheng, Anhui, and place our passion.

II. Preparation for Departure

Without any worries, take a trip on a whim. For travel, make various preparations for departure, understand the weather conditions of the destination, and list the items needed.

III. Itinerary for Xuancheng City, Anhui in the 10,000-Mile Self-Drive Tour through Hunan, Guizhou, Guangxi, Hubei, Anhui, and Jiangsu;

I. Self-drive itinerary [Luotian Dabie Mountain Tiantangzhai --- Xuancheng City, Anhui]

Departure time from Luotian, Hubei on June 6, 2021 at 07:00 — Arrival time in Xuancheng City, Anhui on June 6, 2021 at 15:00, distance 398 kilometers, driving time 8 hours

I am a self-guided travel enthusiast and also a photography enthusiast. I usually take landscape photos. In my spare time, I like to run around, go to various places to see, and photograph the stunning local scenery and customs. I love photography, and I never miss the beautiful people and things on the road. I think that moment of freeze-frame will make up all my memories. If you want to know more about my photography works and travel notes, you can follow my: Ctrip travel notes: Leya Pai Travel Guide

If you have any questions about travel, feel free to leave me a message

Essence of the 31st stop of the 10,000-Mile Self-Drive Tour through Hunan, Guizhou, Guangxi, Hubei, Anhui, and Jiangsu——Xuancheng City, Anhui:

When you lower your head, you realize the road under your feet. There are no wings in the sky, but birds fly by.

Self-drive route from Luotian, Hubei: Start from Luotian County, Hubei --- Xuancheng City, Anhui [398 km, 8 hours]

My tour route in Xuancheng City, Anhui:

Day1: Xuancheng Jingting Mountain National Forest Park [Purchased ticket]

Anhui Jingting Mountain National Forest Park, located on the bank of Shuiyang River, 5 kilometers north of Xuanzhou.

Jingting Mountain National Forest Park

"Sitting Alone in Face of Peak Jingting" by Li Bai of Tang Dynasty: Flocks of birds fly high and away; A lonely cloud drifts idly along. We never tire of looking at each other — Only Jingting Mountain and me.

Translation: The flocks of birds in the mountain have all flown far away; the last white cloud in the sky also drifts away leisurely. Jingting Mountain and I look at each other, never tired of seeing each other. It seems that the only one who understands me is this Jingting Mountain.

Xuancheng Jingting Green Snow Tea Plantation

Jingting Mountain National Forest Park

Jingting Mountain National Forest Park Stone Inscriptions

Jingting Mountain National Forest Park

Statue of Princess Yuzhen

The story of Li Bai and Princess Yuzhen on Jingting Mountain

When Princess Yuzhen was born, her mother, Lady Dou, was ordered to commit suicide by her grandmother Empress Dowager Wu Zetian, who held power. She was raised by her aunt Princess Taiping. Influenced by her father and aunt's worship of Taoism.

Princess Yuzhen became a Taoist nun in her teenage years, with the Taoist name Chiying Fashi, and the title Shangqing Xuandu Dadong Sanjing Shi, enfeoffed as Chongchang County Lord with food rent. After becoming a Taoist, she traveled extensively to famous mountains, liked to associate with knowledgeable people, and especially favored the talented civilian Taoist friend Li Bai, strongly recommending Li Bai to serve as a Hanlin Academician to draft imperial edicts for the emperor.

Li Bai, who despised the powerful, was slandered and given gold to return to the mountains. The princess, depressed and unhappy, angrily submitted a memorial to renounce her princess title. After the An Lushan Rebellion, she pursued Li Bai to live in seclusion on Jingting Mountain.

Imperial Aunt Spring [Missing Spring]

Jingting Mountain is a branch of the Huangshan Mountain range, stretching over a hundred miles from east to west. It has a subtropical humid monsoon climate. The forest park covers a total area of 20.09 square kilometers, and the scenic area covers 15.30 square kilometers, consisting of five major scenic areas including "Twin Pagodas Scenic Area, Duzuo Tower Scenic Area, Yifeng Scenic Area, Wanling Lake Scenic Area, and Baima Lake Scenic Area" with more than twenty scenic spots.

Jingting Mountain has 60 large and small peaks, with the main peak named Yifeng, at an altitude of 317 meters.

Jingting Mountain National Forest Park

Jingting Mountain has been a place of poets since ancient times. More than 300 famous literati from past dynasties, including Li Bai, Xie Tiao, Bai Juyi, Ouyang Xiu, and Su Shi, have left thousands of moving chapters and precious ink marks. Jingting Mountain is thus called the "Poetry Mountain of the South of the Yangtze River".

Jingting Mountain National Forest Park

Treasures of Taibai Duzuo Tower

Exquisite Wood Carving --- Xuancheng Rambling

Exquisite Wood Carving --- Exile to Yelang

Exquisite Wood Carving --- Sitting Alone in Face of Peak Jingting

Exquisite Wood Carving --- Hanlin Academician

Exquisite Wood Carving --- Sword in Hand, Leaving Sichuan

Exquisite Wood Carving --- Farewell to a Friend

Exquisite Wood Carving --- Sitting Alone in Face of Peak Jingting

Exquisite Wood Carving --- Xie Gong Pavilion

Exquisite Wood Carving --- Cui Bazhang Water Pavilion

Exquisite Wood Carving --- Seeing Azaleas in Xuancheng

Exquisite Wood Carving --- Climbing the Mountain on the Double Ninth Festival

Exquisite Wood Carving --- To Wang Lun

Exquisite Wood Carving --- Mourning for Old Brewer Ji in Xuancheng

Jingting Mountain National Forest Park

Day1: Xuancheng Hongyuan Temple [Free admission]

Hongyuan Temple, built in 2004, covers more than 100 mu, with a total building area of 15,000 square meters. It is built in the Tang Dynasty architectural style.

The Buddhist culture of Jingting Mountain is very distinctive. The two major temples on the mountain belong to two major schools of Chinese Buddhism, Chan and Pure Land. Hongyuan Temple is a temple dedicated to the practice and propagation of the Pure Land school.

Day1: Xuancheng Guangjiao Temple [Free admission]

Guangjiao Temple Twin Pagodas were built in the third year of Shaosheng of the Northern Song Dynasty (1096 AD). They were built by Pei Xiu, a famous prime minister who served as the prefect of Xuanzhou, to welcome the monk Xiyun, i.e., Huangbo Chan Master.

Guangjiao Temple was destroyed during the Anti-Japanese War in 1939. The twin pagodas were built in the third year of Shaosheng of the Northern Song Dynasty (1096 AD). They are seven-story square brick pagodas with a straight well-type pagoda chamber, imitating wooden pavilions, preserving the ancient style of Tang Dynasty pagodas, unique in the country.

Xuancheng Guangjiao Temple was listed as a cultural relic protection unit of Anhui Province in 1956, and in January 1988, it was announced by the State Council as a key national cultural relic protection unit.

Day1: Xuancheng Guangjiao Temple Twin Pagodas [Free admission]

Guangjiao Temple Twin Pagodas, also known as Jingting Twin Pagodas, are located at the southern foot of Jingting Mountain, 2.5 kilometers north of Xuancheng. The twin pagodas were built in the third year of Shaosheng of the Northern Song Dynasty (1096 AD). The two pagodas face each other east and west, 26.9 meters apart, with the same shape, both being square imitative wooden pavilion-style brick pagodas.

Guangjiao Temple Twin Pagodas are a pair of rare square ancient pagodas standing side by side. This type of pagoda, which inherits the Tang Dynasty square building style and has Song Dynasty architectural features, is the only surviving example among ancient pagodas of the Song Dynasty in China.

Although the structures of Guangjiao Temple Twin Pagodas are somewhat damaged, they still retain the original appearance of the Northern Song Dynasty.

In January 1988, Guangjiao Temple Twin Pagodas were listed by the State Council as the third batch of key national cultural relic protection units. They are also included in the "Dictionary of Chinese Famous Scenic Spots".

Xuancheng Guangjiao Temple Twin Pagodas Park

Xuancheng Guangjiao Temple Twin Pagodas

Day1: Xuancheng Guangjiao Temple Twin Pagodas Park [Free admission]

Xuancheng Guangjiao Temple Twin Pagodas Park

Day2: Xuancheng Jixi Taiji Lake Village [Purchased ticket]

Taiji Lake Village, with yin and yang poles embracing each other, has a unique natural environment. The Yuanxi River meanders in an "S" shape around the village to the south. The western village and eastern fields form a natural "Taiji" landscape wonder.

Taiji Lake Village is a key protected area of Anhui Province's historical and cultural heritage, and also an important inheritance area of the world intangible cultural heritage.

Taiji Lake Village is an ancient village with a history of over 800 years, with many ancient bridges, ancient pavilions, ancient residences, ancient ancestral halls, ancient temples, thousand-year-old trees, the Ming Dynasty Yinquan Street, and large brick carved gateways, built against the hills, stretching out, like a three-dimensional landscape painting.

Taiji Lake Village preserves many former residences of famous people (Zhang Xianghua, founder of the Anhui cuisine restaurant industry, writer Zhang Yiping, etc.), local unique skills like the Qiuhui Taige, and the unique medicinal king stone. It is a living fossil of Huizhou ancient architecture and culture.

Xuancheng Jixi Taiji Lake Village

Along the winding stone road, you reach the water street – Yinquan Street.

Xuancheng Jixi Taiji Lake Village

Yinquan Street was built in the Ming Dynasty, with a total length of over 300 meters. The water comes from Shijinshan Mountain, passes through the village, and flows into the Shimen River.

The stream flows all year round without drying up, the sound of water gurgling, like the pleasant sound of a qin. Even when the water rises in spring, it does not overflow onto the street. The splashing sound is even more melodious, hence the name Yinquan Street (Singing Spring Street).

Xuancheng Jixi Taiji Lake Village

Day2: Xuancheng Jixi Ancient Kongling Nie Garden [Purchased ticket]

Ancient Kongling is located in the southwest of Jixi County, Xuancheng City, Anhui Province. Kongling Village has a long history, with years of沉淀; streets and lanes connected, houses scattered, gathering people from all directions to live and multiply. It is the hometown of Huizhou silk.

Ancient Kongling still hides many unsolved landscape mysteries, such as Shuangxi Fishing, Qianqiu Li, West Bridge Moon Viewing, Gui Dun Dui Shuo Bie, and Qixing Dun Test Horse.

Xuancheng Jixi Ancient Kongling Nie Garden

Let you appreciate the life philosophy of the Huizhou aristocratic families who were unwilling to become officials, willing to use the mountains and forests as their battlefield, and devoted themselves to farming.

Xuancheng Jixi Ancient Kongling Nie Garden

Hu Shi's inscribed plaque Yingpo Villa Hall

Xuancheng Jixi Ancient Kongling Nie Garden

Hu Shi's inscribed plaque Yingpo Villa Hall

Xuancheng Jixi Ancient Kongling Nie Garden

Day2: Xuancheng Jingde Jiang Village Scenic Area [Purchased ticket]

Jiang Village is located in Baidi Town, Jingde County, in the beautiful mountainous area of southern Anhui, close to National Highway 205, only 30 kilometers from Huangshan Scenic Area.

In 2005, Jiang Village Scenic Area was successively rated as a Chinese Historical and Cultural Village, a National AAAA-level Tourist Scenic Area, and is also one of the national red tourism classic routes.

Jiang Village is a national key cultural relic protection group, a national red tourism classic route, and the number one feng shui treasure land in southern Anhui.

The eco-tourism of Jiang Village Scenic Area is a highlight in the "Two Mountains and One Lake" tourism circle of Anhui, China.

Jiang Village is surrounded by mountains and rivers, with crisscrossing fields, beautiful landscapes, with peaks standing in front, deep valleys hidden behind, the golden turtle perched in the middle, and Lion Mountain and Elephant Mountain lying at the left and right of the village entrance.

Xuancheng Jingde Jiang Village Juxiu Lake

Juxiu Lake, water has its gentleness, water has its charm.

Juxiu Lake is beautiful without being flashy, heavily made-up but not vulgar. It is like a precious inkstone, with misty lake water and fragrant literary atmosphere. It is the never-ending source of literary vein for Jiang Village for a thousand years. It is also like a fully drawn bow, shooting out the outstanding intelligence and courage of the Jiang people; it is more like a graceful Jiangnan maiden, pure and graceful.

Juxiu Lake, the lake of Jiang Village, a pool of water with form, color, spirit, and charm.

The lake water calls gently. Only because of its clarity does the water reflect such turquoise and blue; only because of its secluded beauty does the water reflect such ethereality; only because of its liveliness does the water reflect such tenderness and elegance.

Xuancheng Jingde Jiang Village Wenchang Pagoda

Jiang Village was founded at the end of the Sui Dynasty and the beginning of the Tang Dynasty, with a history of over 1,400 years. According to records, in the early years of Xianfeng (1851), the population of Jiang Village reached over 80,000, known as "Little Hangzhou".

In Jiang Village, the Longxi and Fengxi streams surround and converge at the village entrance, forming Juxiu Lake.

Around Juxiu Lake at the village entrance, ancient temples and pagodas, poetry tablets and embankments, weeping willows and lotuses, form a picturesque scene.

The people of Jiang Village once praised the water mouth culture and the poetic charm contained in it with a poem: "The golden turtle ancient relics have been left for eight dynasties, the village's beautiful scenery resembles Hangzhou. The three pools mirroring the moon rival Juxiu, the Wenchang pagoda is like Leifeng."

The old street of Jiang Village originates from the Pugong Ancestral Hall and ends at the Jiang Clan Ancestral Hall, about 350 meters long and 2-3 meters wide. Along the street, there are dozens of shops, mostly with shops in front and workshops in the back, presenting a Ming and Qing style.