Self-driving Couple's Tour of Anhui and Hunan (Part 1)
I had long harbored the idea of traveling alone by car, but my spouse firmly disagreed, saying she would worry if I went alone. When I decided to drive out, she took leave specially to accompany me.
Before departure, I pre-planned an itinerary, mainly focusing on the Anhui Sichuan-Tibet Line and Mount Heng in Nanyue. However, after visiting Orange Isle in Hunan, my spouse proposed seeing Fenghuang Ancient Town. Since we were driving and had flexible schedules, we immediately turned to western Hunan, visiting Tianmen Mountain, Furong Ancient Town, and Fenghuang Ancient Town.
Originally considering a solo trip, I had bought some daily necessities, including a small-capacity electric pressure cooker, a kettle, a car mattress, a car fridge, a large-capacity thermos, a 700V battery, and some nutritious porridge packs, self-heating claypot rice, etc. In the end, the items that were needed were used, except the mattress was only used half the time for afternoon naps.
Finally, at the scheduled time, we set off punctually in the afternoon. By dusk, in a light drizzle, we arrived at Ningguo City, Anhui Province. We cooked multigrain porridge using the electric cooker we brought, along with two dishes from home, and had a simple dinner at the hotel.
The next morning, we strolled around Ningyang Park near the accommodation.
First Stop: Ningyang Park
Ningyang Park is the oldest urban park in Ningguo City, originally built on April 1, 2013, and completed on November 20, 2014. The area includes Ningyang Lake Mountain Recreation Area, Historic Cemetery Reflection Area, and Ecological Leisure and Entertainment Area. Among them, the Ningyang Lake Mountain Recreation Area features Huajia Pavilion, corridor frames, Qiuzhi Pavilion, and other attractions, while the Ecological Leisure and Entertainment Area includes amusement facilities, hiking trails, etc. The plant configuration mainly uses native species, highlighting plant landscaping.
The bridge and water in the park
Huajia Pavilion - one of Ningguo's historic sites, built in the 20th year of Tang Zhenyuan (804 AD) by Ningguo County Magistrate Fan Chuanzhen. In the 3rd year of Tang Qianning (896 AD), Hanlin Academician Shen Yan came to Ningguo, gazed upon Huajia Pavilion, understood its marvels, heard of Fan Gong's noble integrity and love for the people, willingly serving as a public servant, and thus deeply admired him, gladly writing "Record of Huajia Pavilion."
Zhuangyuan Archway - below it is a row of golden embossed characters: "Champion of the Dingchou Year of Song Jiading Era, Wu Qian."
Continued with breakfast at the hotel, then departed after the meal.
Ningguo - This is the eastern entrance of the Anhui Sichuan-Tibet Line!
Second Stop: Chujiatan
Chujiatan Scenic Area is a comprehensive tourist attraction integrating natural scenery, cultural landscapes, and leisure entertainment. It is located by Qinglong Bay Lake in Ningguo City, Xuancheng City, Anhui Province. It attracts many tourists for its beautiful natural scenery and rich cultural heritage. Driving 13 kilometers along the Xijin River, we arrived at Chujiatan.
Vast stretches of grassland, fresh green grass, moist air.
The water surface is as smooth as a mirror, with green mountains and clear waters.
A picturesque mood, we were mesmerized!
A fisherman with cormorants sat on a bamboo raft. Sometimes cormorants emerged from the water, ripples spreading, combined with the reflection of green mountains and trees in the water, creating a harmony of motion and stillness.
A branch stream, with a camping base at the other end of the bridge. This place is also called Ningguo Xijin River Provincial Wetland Park.
Deeply attracted by this clean, quiet greenery!
In the distance is Xijin Wild Ferry.
The guesthouse at the Chujiatan camping and barbecue base has some character!
Third Stop: Huiyun Zen Temple
After another 30 minutes of driving, we arrived at Huiyun Zen Temple.
This is an ancient temple built in the Taihe era of the Tang Dynasty, most famous for the Song Dynasty eminent monk Zonggao who became a monk here at the age of 13. In 2002, it was moved to the top of Xiuyun Island on Qinglong Lake, and in 2004, it was rebuilt under the auspices of Master Miaochuang, a monk from Mount Wutai. The temple covers a vast area of 105.6 mu, blending the exquisite and unique Hui-style architecture, nestled by mountains and water, in a serene environment. The temple is not only a pilgrimage site for Buddhists but also a shooting location for photography enthusiasts, but with few worshippers, it is very quiet!
Shi Zonggao (1089-1163), courtesy name Tanhui, a native of Ningguo, lay surname Xi, of the Linji school, was the founder of the "Kanhua Chan" (observing the critical phrase) school in Song Dynasty Chan history. His Dharma name was Miaoxi, and he was given the honorific title "Dahui Pujue Chanshi." He lived during the transition between Northern and Southern Song. After the southward retreat, he made great contributions in promoting the integration of Confucianism and Buddhism and responding to Confucian criticism of Buddhism. He was not only an important link connecting monks and Confucian scholars in the Northern and Southern Song but also the most representative figure in Southern Song Buddhist history. Zonggao holds an important position in Song academic history as a bridge between the past and future. Because of his frequent interactions with literati and officials, which affected state affairs, he was stripped of his monk status by Emperor Gaozong of Song and was only reinstated 15 years later.
The island is not high. Standing outside the temple, you can see Qinglong Lake Reservoir (also called Gangkouwan Reservoir) at the foot of the mountain.
At the foot of the mountain, a visitor service center is under construction. There is a dock by the water. Walking to the water's edge, I took a photo of Qinglong Lake, feeling the tranquility of the times.
Fourth Stop: Bald Cypress Wetland Park
This place is famous for its unique bald cypress forest and beautiful natural scenery, making it a popular spot for tourism and photography. The park has abundant natural ecological resources, including a large number of bald cypress trees, which turn golden yellow and red in autumn and winter, creating a unique landscape.
We parked by Provincial Highway S345, took a few photos from a distance while standing at the roadside, and did not go down the slope into the scenic area.
The best travel season is November and December each year, when the bald cypress trees turn red all over, and this wetland becomes the most beautiful redwood forest park. The upstream river of Qinglong Lake winds through the forest. There are wooden boardwalks for visitors to walk on, and bamboo raft rides are available. Since it was not the best season, we did not enter, just stood at a high point by the roadside to take in the view.
Fifth Stop: Fish Scale Weir
As the saying goes: As high as the mountain, so high is the water. Naturally, differences in water level arise. For flood control, water regulation, irrigation, etc., people build various control structures in waterways. Large ones include reservoirs like the Three Gorges Dam; small ones include various regulating facilities such as stations, gates, culverts, and tunnels. The fish scale weir is a type of rolling weir and overflow weir with a unique shape. The fish scale weirs in Shendu Ancient Town and Moon Bay seem to be more famous.
We saw a fish scale weir along the way, so we stopped to admire it.
Sixth Stop: Shui Mo Ting Xi (Ink Painting Tingxi)
Following the Anhui Sichuan-Tibet Line (S345) winding westward, passing Fangtang, we reached Banqiao Village, then turned north and drove about 5-6 kilometers to arrive at Shui Mo Ting Xi Scenic Area.
By this point, we had entered Jing County.
Approaching Tingxi, we saw water flowing over the bridge. I deliberately drove through the water to create splashing waves. First, I took my wife across the bridge, then drove back across the bridge alone so she could take photos.
Dense forests, the river water reflected a deep green.
The small path on Tingxi, probably also covered by water during heavy rain.
Although the trees are not large, they look ancient and weathered.
The sound of flowing water had its own rhythm.
Beside the overflow dam, there are four characters carved on the rock: "南山幽谷" (Nanshan Yougu).
A human figure made of gravel, somewhat resembling the totem stone figures of Yelang Kingdom in Guizhou.
This place lies on the mysterious 30th parallel north. Walking among the mountains, the air was fresh and refreshing.
"Anhui Shu Road" - using the danger of the Shu Road to describe the difficulty of the local roads.
In the mountain streams, we often saw these flagstone bridges hidden among green trees.
At a guesthouse, we ordered several local specialty dishes. The host cooked them himself, and the taste was quite good.
After a night's rest, we had breakfast the next morning and set off for the next stop.
