Slowly Enjoying the Southern Anhui Sichuan-Tibet Route: A Pure Self-Driving Trip!

Tired of the constant traffic and neon lights, I've always wanted an outdoor trip to temporarily escape the city's hustle, embrace the tranquility of nature, and enjoy a slow-paced life.

Finally, I managed to find the time and called three friends to set off. Since we are close to southern Anhui and had seen a lot about the Southern Anhui Sichuan-Tibet Route online, we were quite drawn to it. So for this self-driving outdoor trip, we chose this popular route known as the Southern Anhui 318.

Before departure, we agreed not to rush, avoid crowds, and only pick refined and quiet places to camp and enjoy the scenery.

The first stop of the Southern Anhui trip was set as Zhaji Village.

This is a village with a history of 1,300 years. Arriving there feels like traveling through a time tunnel back to an ancient era a thousand years ago, allowing you to experience a sense of time intertwining past and present.

The architecture in Zhaji Village is fascinating. It is said that there were originally 108 bridges, 108 ancestral halls, and 108 temples. Over the long river of time, some buildings have faded into the mists of history. Today, there are over 140 ancient structures, including more than 40 bridges, 30 ancestral halls, and 4 temples.

As you approach the village, you can feel the Huizhou culture emanating. It is also a living fossil of Huizhou architecture and is favored by many art schools as a top choice for outdoor sketching.

Once inside the village, traces of time are everywhere on the black bricks, gray tiles, and white walls. Although they no longer have the freshness of when they were first built, the outlines still reveal the prosperity of the past.

The villagers live leisurely and contentedly, free from the noise and tension of the city, with much more peace and tranquility. Here, the heart becomes quieter. Strolling slowly along the ancient paths, wandering through the alleys, feeling the gentle breeze, with the setting sun casting its warmth on us, falling to the ground, and warming the heart...

We didn't choose to rest in the village but instead went camping on the hill behind, to watch the sunset and look forward to a sunrise. Leaving Zhaji Village, we drove 30 minutes to the hill, found a flat spot, and began setting up our tent. Amid the mountains, grass, and trees, our tent became a part of the scenery, and we became figures in the landscape.

As the sunset slowly descended, our tent camp was ready. This Mongolian yurt, paired with a canopy, was truly beautiful. Lighting the ambiance lamps and looking down at Zhaji Village at the foot of the mountain, it felt peaceful, quiet, and wonderful. We cooked some delicious food we had brought, and after a hearty meal, we slept soundly, looking forward to the sunrise.

Waking up to the sounds of birds and insects, the beauty before us was beyond words. Misty haze, burning morning glow, and soon the egg-yolk sun jumped over the mountain ridges and hung in the sky. Time to get up.

Our second stop was Taohua Tan Town, about 20 kilometers from Zhaji Village.

"Peach Blossom Pool is a thousand fathoms deep, but not as deep as Wang Lun's love for me when I leave." Yes, this Peach Blossom Pool is the one from Li Bai's poem. After a thousand years, we would walk the same path the poet walked and see the same scenery he saw.

Taohua Tan is now a scenic area, blending natural and cultural landscapes. It features the fresh, beautiful, and layered scenery of southern Anhui, allowing you to appreciate the mountain's spirit, as well as well-preserved, unique ancient architecture that evokes nostalgia for the past.

Our goal was to pursue an unrestrained slow life, so we didn't linger in the town. Instead, we drove into the mountains and stopped at a flat beach. With a mountain behind us and a stretch of beach in front extending to a river, we set up our camp and quietly watched the sunset. The mountain was a bit chilly at night. We cooked some food, chatting while eating, gazing at the twinkling stars. At that moment, we were the only ones in the world.

With flickering lights, the aroma of red crabs, and scattered dishes, we slowly fell asleep, accompanied by the sounds of water, insects, and birds, drifting into a wonderful dream.

Dewdrops condensed from the mist reflected the sunlight. Through sleepy eyes, we saw a fairyland-like mist, with the mountains appearing even more ethereal. Using a small gas stove, we cooked some noodles, ate them steaming hot, and waited for the sun to shine brightly.

Lazily lying on a folding chair, wrapped in a sleeping bag, we watched the warm sunlight gradually fall on us, on the earth, dispelling the distant mist, and once again clearly revealing the contours of the mountains.

As the saying goes, mountain streams carry the sun and moon; life in this fleeting world longs for passing years. Packing our luggage, we said goodbye to the mountains and rivers before us, setting off only to meet again.

Leaving Taohua Tan, our third stop was another scenic spot, Rongxi Village.

Rongxi Village is located in Huizhou District, Huangshan City, Anhui Province. Nestled by the mountains and water, it has beautiful scenery. Legend has it that the immortal Rong Chengzi once visited here, so the nearby mountain is called Rongcheng Peak, and the clear stream in the mountains is named Rongxi. It lies west of Chengkan Town in Huizhou District, 50 kilometers from Huangshan Scenic Area and 10 kilometers from Yansi, the district seat. Convenient transportation makes it ideal for self-driving.

We chose to set up camp by a reservoir near the village. Surrounded by mountains and water, with rolling hills, it felt like being in the Guilin landscape for a moment.

Under the blue sky, green mountains and clear water, the sunlight shone on the shore, sparkling with gold. As the sun slanted westward, steam rose from the water's surface like cooled boiling water. Two or three small boats lay sideways on the shore, perhaps waiting for the dreams of destined passengers.

The sun set, but the afterglow still kept a hint of light on the earth. Lighting the ambiance lamps, they blended with the sky and earth. The distant mountains turned dark green, and fiery phoenixes flew across the sky. At that moment, we coexisted with time and the ages.

The joy of the outdoors lies not in doing something because it's time to do it, but in doing what the body needs. Previously, we ate because it was mealtime; now, we eat because we are hungry. Not because it's time to sleep, but because we are sleepy.

When we got hungry, we started cooking. The various snacks we prepared became a feast more delicious than a full banquet. After eating and drinking our fill, everyone wanted some spiritual nourishment, so we set up a screen and enjoyed a different kind of visual feast.

Satisfied, we slowly fell asleep, welcoming the sunrise after sweet dreams. It is said that Rongxi got its name from an immortal, and indeed it is true. In the early morning mist, a fisherman rowed a boat as if wandering in a fairyland, evoking a sense of wonder.

The sun broke through the mountain mist, stirring the light of the landscape, causing many people to pick up their cameras to capture this breathtaking moment.

The sun rose higher and higher, but the fog on the distant mountains did not dissipate quickly. We sat under the canopy, quietly admiring everything before us, wishing we could stay here forever.

Though mountains and water have feelings, distant travelers find it hard to linger. Setting off may be the best memory of beautiful scenery, and our journey through southern Anhui continues.

You absolutely cannot miss the mountains of southern Anhui. We hadn't climbed any mountains in the previous days, so before the last stop, we decided to make up for it by choosing the distinctive Chai Gou Lang Jian as a challenge, then drive to our final camping destination, Chujia Beach.

After visiting Huangshan, one no longer needs to see other mountains; Huangshan's unique beauty outshines the Five Great Mountains. The mountains of Huangshan are steep, perilous, and beautiful. The Chai Gou Lang Jian we climbed is one of the most distinctive ranges. With sharp peaks that interlock and embrace each other, and crisscrossing ravines, seen from afar, the undulating peaks resemble dog teeth. Because wild dogs and jackals roam this mountain, and even local villagers find the paths difficult, it earned the name "Chai Gou Lang Jian" (Jackal Dog Wolf Peak).

Climbing the mountain was really a test of stamina, but the panoramic view of smaller mountains below made it all worth it. Since we still had to reach Chujia Beach to set up camp, we didn't stay long on the peak. After a brief rest, we began descending.

It was already dark when we arrived at Chujia Beach. We found a guesthouse to stay in. The next morning, we got up early before dawn and headed to our last campsite.

I realized we must have a special fondness for mountains and water—every campsite we chose was a blessed spot nestled by mountains and water, haha. As our southern Anhui trip drew to a close, our journey would come to a perfect end at Chujia Beach, as perfect as our Mongolian yurt tent.

Though I linger here, it's hard to sever ties with the mortal world. The five-day trip to southern Anhui allowed us to fully enjoy the beauty of nature and harvest many joys along the way.

The next trip is the best memory of this one, making the end an immortal prelude to a new beginning. Let's look forward to the next journey together.