Southern Anhui Sichuan-Tibet Highway and Jixi Two-Day Tour
I've long yearned for the deep autumn and early winter in southern Anhui. Taking advantage of this team-building opportunity, we set off from Nanjing, self-driving all the way, to check in at the beautiful Sichuan-Tibet Highway and experience the sedimentation of time in Jixi. 'Remember the best scenery of the year, it's the time of orange and yellow, green and orange,' friends, are you ready? Let's go!
On the first day, we set off early from Nanjing, took the Ningxuan and Xuantong expressways, exited at Ningguo, and entered through the east entrance of the Southern Anhui Sichuan-Tibet Highway. Along the way, we mainly experienced the colorful forests in the deep autumn and early winter, the clear blue sky, and the bright sun.
Along the road, we arrived at the Bamianfo Scenic Area. In summer, the Bamianfo Scenic Area has surging waters, and between the vast reservoir surface and the downstream stream, a magnificent waterfall can be formed. Unfortunately, it is now the dry season, so we could not experience the water's grandeur. But the still water exuded a subtle elegance.
Due to limited time, we didn't have time to go to Qinglong Bay, but we took a bird's-eye view from a high place.
The highlight of today's itinerary was Fangtang Bald Cypress Wetland Park. I went there once during the National Day holiday in 2019, but it was still warm then, and the bald cypresses were mainly green, so I couldn't appreciate their most beautiful side. This time, the over 2,000 mu of bald cypress forest should have entered the best viewing period. I was really looking forward to it!
After navigating the mountain roads for over 40 minutes, we finally arrived at the scenic spot. But this year, southern Anhui lacked water, and the wetland park had almost no water. We could only linger over the red color of the cypress forest.
Standing on the observation deck, we saw the red trees set against the blue sky, clear water, and green mountains, as if intoxicating the earth and the sky.
After leaving the Bald Cypress Wetland Park, we did not continue down the mountain road but turned back to Jixi. We stayed overnight at the Jixi International Hotel. The hotel is considered relatively good locally. Although a bit old, the overall environment is decent. It is located in the center of the county, making it convenient to go anywhere. Recommended.
On the second day, we mainly visited the Jixi Longchuan Scenic Area. The scenic area is located in Longchuan Village, Jixi County, southern Anhui. It is an ancient village where the Hu clan has lived together for a thousand years. Longchuan Tourism Scenic Area combines cultural and natural landscapes. The Hu Clan Ancestral Hall is the number one ancestral hall in Jiangnan, known as the 'Wood Carving Art Museum' and 'National Art Hall'. The Yishi Shangshu Archway is a genuine Ming Dynasty stone archway, the best of Huizhou stone carvings. The scenic area is not too large; ancient buildings are mainly distributed along both sides of a small stream. It takes about three hours to make a complete tour. The ticket mainly covers three ancient buildings: Hu Zongxian's Shaobao Mansion, Hu Clan Ancestral Hall, and Hu Bingheng's Former Residence. Overall, the ticket price is a bit expensive.
Xuan paper making, a traditional craft handed down from ancient times.
The water outlet is the most spiritual place in the entire scenic area, with a liveliness distinct from that of ancestral halls and archways.
After leaving the Longchuan Scenic Area, we had lunch and prepared for the return trip. Southern Anhui Huizhou is colorful and diverse. No matter when you come, there will always be stunning scenery waiting for you. So don't worry about some regrets on the journey; perhaps this is the best arrangement from heaven. Carry beautiful expectations and welcome a better life.
