Emerald Waters and Verdant Mountains, Dreamlike Southern Anhui: A 6-Day Leisurely Tour of Southern Anhui

A misty dream of Huizhou, with its blue bricks, black tiles, and horse-head walls. You must visit southern Anhui to see the tender water towns, climb the lush green mountains, savor the unique southern Anhui cuisine, and explore the profound Huizhou culture. Compared to popular spots, this time we chose relatively less crowded scenic areas, hoping to provide some reference for friends planning a trip.

Ningguo, located in southern Anhui, is known as "eight parts mountains, one part water, half a part farmland, and half a part roads and estates." In Ningguo, the most worthwhile attraction is the Southern Anhui Sichuan-Tibet Highway, 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 eastern entrance of the Sichuan-Tibet Highway 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 view and also visit the Huiyun Zen Temple on the island. Adult cruise ticket: 60 yuan per person.

Third stop: Fangtang Township. Located in the middle of the Southern Anhui Sichuan-Tibet Highway, deep in the mountains, there are many attractions nearby. For example, the Redwood Forest, Shangtan Bridge, Baiyun Temple, Shijing Orchard, etc. Among them, the Dawn Redwood Wetland beside the lake and mountains is the most famous. Mid-to-late November is the best time to visit—don't miss it.

Others: Since we didn't complete the entire route, there are also Baiyunchan Temple, Yunyanshanye Viewing Platform, and Longshan Grand Canyon worth visiting.

*Tips: The road conditions on the Southern Anhui Sichuan-Tibet Highway are complex, so be careful while driving. There are usually good views near parking spots along the route. There are many homestays in Chujiatan and Fangtang where you can choose accommodation and meals.

Jixi County, under the jurisdiction of Xuancheng City, was one of the six counties of old Huizhou and has profound cultural heritage. This county, with a population of less than 140,000, has long earned the golden signboard of National Historical and Cultural City. It is also the place where the name "Huizhou" originated, and there are many places worth visiting.

First stop: Jixi Museum. The largest county-level local museum in Anhui, featuring elegant and fresh Huizhou-style courtyards and dignified spatial design. The interior exhibits are rich and suitable for photo-taking.

Second stop: Zhangshan Grand Canyon. Located southeast of Jixi County, near the Anhui-Zhejiang border. There is a saying: "After visiting Zhangshan Grand Canyon, you'll forget the water scenery of Jiuzhaigou." It is recommended to take the shuttle bus inside the scenic area, then walk down the trail to enjoy the views, which saves a lot of energy.

Third stop: Longchuan Scenic Area. The most famous scenic area in Jixi and a national 5A-level scenic spot. It is a thousand-year-old ancient village where the Hu family lives together. 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 before returning.

Fourth stop: Ziyuan Garden. Located on the必经之路 from Jixi to Longchuan, it is known as a grand view garden of Huizhou ancient residential architecture and also the filming location for the TV drama "Huizhou Woman." Ziyuan Garden gathers various elements of Huizhou village architecture, including pavilions, towers, residences, ancestral halls, and archways. For first-time visitors to southern Anhui, it still has some appeal.

*Tips: Compared with other Huizhou villages and ancient towns, Longchuan Scenic Area is relatively small. If your subsequent itinerary includes attractions like Chengkan, Hongcun, Xidi, Zhaji, Tangmo, or Huizhou Ancient City, I personally feel you can skip Longchuan. However, Longchuan's advantage is fewer tourists, suitable for leisurely strolls. For those who don't like crowds and group tours, this is still a good choice. Ziyuan Garden is a scenic spot built by a tourism development company; the ticket price is a bit high. If you have similar attractions planned later, it's recommended to skip it.

I'm in Huangshan, but I'm not going to Huangshan... You heard it right. In Anhui, Huangshan usually refers to Huangshan Scenic Area, but it could also mean Huangshan District or Tunxi District of Huangshan City. On our six-day trip to southern Anhui, we arrived at Huangshan City, a place described in the line "A lifetime of痴绝处, no dreams come to Huizhou." Although we didn't visit the popular Huangshan Scenic Area, our itinerary was still wonderful.

First stop: She County.

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

The Xuguo Stone Archway, known as the "Eastern Triumphal Arch," has stood here for over 400 years. This unique eight-legged archway is adorned with exquisite carvings, making it a masterpiece of Huizhou stone carving craftsmanship.

In Huizhou Ancient City, you must visit the Huizhou Government Office to see what it's all about. Take a look at the bright mirror hanging high in the court, climb the winding city walls, and feed the koi in the Huizhou garden.

Don't miss the Huizhou Culture Museum on the south side of the ancient city. Over 1,500 exquisite artifacts are a feast for the eyes, and the "Dream Huizhou" section vividly presents Huizhou culture.

If you want to visit less crowded places, Xiong Village, a ten-minute drive from Huizhou Ancient City, is a good alternative.

Experience the bamboo rafting on the Xin'an River to get free admission. Zhushan Academy, meritorious archways, and ancient trees guard this ancient village with a history of over 800 years.

Second stop: Huangshan urban area.

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

This is the administrative center of Huangshan City and the "gas station" on our six-day trip to southern Anhui. In Tunxi, you should walk across Zhenhai Bridge. The weathered pier foundations still support the brand-new bridge deck, welcoming visitors.

On the other side of the bridge, Liyang In Lane is a model of renovated old streets in Huangshan.

Compared with the prices near the scenic area, the cost of living in Huangshan urban area can be described as "competitive." If you don't believe it, walk along Tunxi Old Street on this side of the bridge. The one-kilometer-long old street offers various free tastings that make it hard to stop eating. The fierce competition among restaurants has also driven down the price of the famous Huizhou dish, stinky mandarin fish.

Third stop: Chengkan.

The next day, we continued visiting Huangshan attractions.

If it's your first time here, I would definitely recommend Xidi, Hongcun, Tangyue, and Tangmo. For our Nth visit to Huangshan, we went to Chengkan, north of Huizhou District.

Known as the "No. 1 Village in Jiangnan," Chengkan is a famous Bagua Village and a geomantic treasure land of Huizhou District.

"Visit Chengkan, and you'll have no坎 (pitfalls) in life." In Chengkan, remember to hire a local villager guide to lead you through the two canals, five streets, and ninety-nine alleys, telling various anecdotes. The guide fee is only 20 yuan, truly not expensive. Also, hug the golden nanmu pillar worth 1.2 billion yuan in Luodongshu Ancestral Hall to bring wealth and good fortune home.

On the way back, passing Qiankou, you can also visit the Xiajian Pagoda here. I wonder if the legendary deep well at the pagoda's base really exists.

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

*Tips: Huangshan City has a vast territory, and its three districts and four counties all have excellent scenic spots. It's a great destination for in-depth travel. Interested friends can plan multi-day visits to experience the rich Huizhou culture.

This trip to Jiuhua Mountain marked the completion of visiting all four famous Buddhist mountains in China. It was probably our most casual pilgrimage trip—we didn't make any preparations, just booked the tickets and drove up the mountain. Only after returning home and doing some research did we learn that the classic pilgrimage route on Jiuhua Mountain is divided into Dragon Head, Dragon Body, and Dragon Tail.

So here, I've rearranged the itinerary according to the recommended route, providing a super practical lazy-mode pilgrimage route:

- Day 1: Arrive at Jiuhua Mountain Scenic Area's Dayuan Cultural Park at noon. Visit Hongyuan Hall, then take an electric cart to see the 99-meter-tall Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva statue. At 3 PM, there is a musical fountain performance at Baggong Deshui (electric cart transfer point)—don't miss it. After the tour, drive up the mountain (during long holidays and weekends, private cars are not allowed; you need to take the scenic area shuttle). Stay in Jiuhua Town (recommend the area enclosed by Furong Road and Longchi Road, which is lively and convenient).

- Day 2 morning: Officially start the pilgrimage tour, following the legendary Dragon Head-Dragon Body-Dragon Tail route to complete the morning prayers.

- First stop: Tiantai Scenic Area. This is the essence of Jiuhua Mountain. 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. It is crowded with pilgrims and is the location of the legendary Dragon Head. Don't forget to offer incense.

- Second stop: Flesh Body Palace. It is said to house the physical body of Jin Dizang and is the location of the legendary Dragon Body. There are three mountain paths leading to "Laoye Ding" Flesh Body Palace. The classic walking route is to ascend from the north gate, passing by Dizang Zen Temple - Longzhu Bridge - Flesh Body Palace - Zhuanlun Bao Hall - South Gate - Wanfo Tower - then descend. A less strenuous option is to drive to the Flesh Body Palace parking lot on Longchi Road, then climb from the Jinxiu Zhuang side to Laoye Ding and return the same way.

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

- Fourth stop: Baisui Palace. Take the cable car from Qiyuan Temple Station. Exit to see the natural sleeping Buddha of Jiuhua Mountain—the nose bridge, Adam's apple, and even eyelashes are clearly visible. Truly, "horizontally it's a mountain, vertically it's a Buddha." Baisui Palace is the legendary Dragon Tail of Jiuhua Mountain. You must pay respects to the manifested Bodhisattva here. The golden body of the 124-year-old Wuxia meditating monk is awe-inspiring.

After finishing prayers at Baisui Palace, the morning is basically over. If you want to continue exploring Jiuhua Mountain in the afternoon, it is recommended to visit Huatai Scenic Area. Huatai is where the natural sleeping Buddha is located. It is advised to take the cable car up and down. Huatai is a natural scenery area with no temples on the mountain, but the views are excellent—spectacular peaks, strange rocks, and sea of clouds are captivating.

For thousands of years, Jiuhua Mountain, known as the "Lotus Buddha Land," has had continuous incense and many monks. The essence and spirit of the 99 hanging temples are worth savoring.

Who says you have to go to Fantawild when visiting Wuhu? According to recommendations from local friends in Wuhu, a budget-friendly experience can also be very exciting.

First stop: You must visit Zhongshan Road Pedestrian Street. Within a 300-meter radius, there are shopping centers, transportation hubs, and the picturesque Jiuci Scenic Area with its large and small Mirror Lakes—perfect for shopping, eating, and sightseeing.

Second stop: Take the Wuhu Monorail at Jiuci Square. As one of the few cities in China with a monorail, Wuhu's monorail can soar into the sky and dive underground. Its nearly 45-kilometer elevated line serves as a moving city viewing platform. Remember to take Line 1 to Yu'an Road Station, then walk back one stop. On one side is the Yinhu Lake scenery embracing the city; on the other is the three-dimensional monorail crossing the lake—great for photos.

Third stop: Binjiang Park. Where there are rivers and lakes, there is Wuhu. Stroll along the riverbank, take in the Wuhu city skyline, and enjoy many small pleasures. For lunch, visit the century-old Xiaoma Duck Shop on Xinwu Road. Order 20 yuan of duck for two people, plus a hearty bowl of beef noodles—delicious and affordable.

Fourth stop: Wuhu Museum. For an in-depth understanding of Wuhu's history and culture, the Wuhu Museum is a good choice. Its collection is surprisingly rich.

- A bronze tripod from the Western Han Dynasty

- A bronze sacrificial tripod from the Spring and Autumn Period, stylish in shape

- One of the museum's treasures: a Song Dynasty porcelain pillow, exquisitely crafted

- Another treasure: a Three Kingdoms period celadon sheep zun, incredibly cute.

For dinner, we visited Laoling Pigeon Soup on Xinwu Road. Each person gets a clay pot of pigeon soup—so fresh it makes your eyebrows drop. Drink it while hot. The fragrant and sizzling farm-style stir-fried pork is a perfect rice accompaniment, instantly putting you in "rice-devourer" mode and wiping away the day's fatigue.

*Tips: Our brief visit to Wuhu was like looking at a leopard through a bamboo tube—it doesn't fully reflect Wuhu's style or cultural characteristics. Local friends also recommended other fun attractions like Wuhu Ancient City, Jiuci Ancient Town, Zheshan Park, etc. Wuhu natives also suggested Xiao Gao Zharou Steamed Rice opposite Huicui Middle School, Gengji Xiaolongbao on Zheshan Road, Zhangji Plum Cake, and Ruan Xiaowu Squid. If you go to Wuhu, remember to check them out.

That's the complete itinerary for our six-day trip to southern Anhui. A hasty conclusion, yet it's nearly 4,000 words. Finally, I just want to say: You must come to southern Anhui to see the emerald waters and green mountains, savor the refreshing Taiping Houkui tea, and enjoy the poetic tableau of dreamlike southern Anhui. You will not regret it.

Travel Diary Contents: 1. Day 1: Ningguo Southern Anhui Sichuan-Tibet Highway 2. Day 2: Jixi 3. Day 3: She County, Huangshan City 4. Day 4, 5: Jiuhua Mountain 5. Day 6: Wuhu

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