Two-Day Family Trip to Jixi, Xuancheng
This year's National Day holiday allowed us to experience both summer and autumn in Nanjing and its surrounding areas. We set out on the days when the temperature dropped.
First, a map of Jixi tourism.
We departed from Nanjing heading towards Ningguo, Anhui. Our first stop was a nameless small village along the highway, but it had everything: a small bridge, flowing water, households, and cooking smoke. It should be at the entrance of Jixi County.
We continued along the road to Jiapeng Village. I have to say Jiapeng Village is a place worth visiting. If you like Anhui village architecture, you can spend more time here. Kantou Village, Shang Village, Xiashui Village, and the pumped storage power station – all the ancient villages you love are here. Neat farmlands, exquisite Huizhou-style old houses, water streets, lazy little dogs, terraced fields, persimmons hanging heavily from the branches...
The section from Jiapeng Village to Meiganling Observation Deck is a pure land without any need for planning or preparation – every step reveals a new view. Near Shang Village, there is an ancient bridge over a clear pool, said to be over 600 years old. On Douyin, it looks indescribably beautiful, but in reality, it was different. This was the spot I looked forward to the most, but the filters were really misleading.
The bridge does bear traces of history. The day we arrived was overcast, and we didn't use any phone filters. It was the dry season, so there was no water flowing under the bridge, and there happened to be road construction underneath. This is the real ancient bridge. If you happen to pass by, it's still worth a look.
From Meiganling Observation Deck, we navigated towards Fuling direction. Nearby is Tai Chi Lake Village. Following the road down is Yingzhou Town. By the time we reached Yingzhou Town, it was already evening. To save on Longchuan's entrance fee, we booked a homestay in the Longchuan Scenic Area. Looking back, it wasn't really worth it – you must be cautious when choosing a homestay; we fell into a trap every time. The idea of strolling through Longchuan in the evening also didn't work – the lights were turned off, and most shops were closed.
The local cuisine included stinky mandarin fish, Yipin pot, and tofu, all of which were quite good.
After spending about an hour exploring the Longchuan Scenic Area, we headed to Jixi County town. On the way to Jixi County, we could see Ziyuan Garden, but we didn't go in. The Jixi Museum here is also a nice place to take kids for a stroll – not many people, so you can quietly observe this old city with a long history. After visiting the museum, you can wander aimlessly around the town. Surrounded by mountains and rivers, the county allows you to slow down the pace. Riding a shared bike or watching people fish are both good choices.
On the way back, we drove via Yangxi Town and Jinsha Town back to Nanjing. There aren't many photos (I'm a bit lazy and prefer to record with my eyes). The kids didn't get too bored either – in the countryside, they could play with puppies, pick wild fruits, climb small hills, and dig for crab holes.
