After Zhaji, No Other Village

Zhaji Ancient Town: The Last Virgin Land of Huizhou | Complete Family Travel Guide

📍 Location: Jing County, Xuancheng City, Anhui Province, nestled between Mount Huang and Mount Jiuhua, a thousand-year-old Huizhou ancient village hidden in the mountains of southern Anhui.

🌿 Zhaji Ancient Town・Highlights

1. Original Huizhou Architecture Museum: Ming and Qing ancient buildings – over 200 extant Ming and Qing structures, 30 ancestral halls, 40+ bridges, no commercial imitation streets, all real residential houses. Three must-sees:

✅ Degong Hall – Yuan Dynasty 'gate-style' building, rare 'Five Phoenix Tower' structure

✅ Baogong Ancestral Hall – Ming Dynasty woodcarving essence, see the 'Carp Leaping over the Dragon Gate' openwork carving

✅ Honggong Ancestral Hall – Qing Dynasty 'running horse tower' design, second floor hides an embroidered boudoir wedding room

2. Living, smoky ancient town

Original residents' life: old ladies beating clothes by the stream, elderly artisans making hairy tofu, carpenter shop emitting the scent of planed wood – non-performance scenes.

Streams running through the town: Xu Stream, Cen Stream, and Shi Stream converge; you can step on stone piers to cross, kids can play in the water and catch shrimp 🦐.

3. Family-friendly experiences

Intangible heritage handicrafts: bamboo woven frogs, Huizhou ink gold tracing (recommend ‘Zhashi Ink Workshop’)

Nature classroom: tea picking on the back hill (best in Qingming Festival), sketching by the stream (art students' gathering place 🎨)

Night tour bonus: carry lanterns along the bluestone path, see horse-head walls under the starry sky ✨

🚗 Transportation Guide

How to get there: High-speed rail to 'Jingxian Station' → taxi 1h (about 120 yuan) or bus 'Jingxian - Zhaji' shuttle (last bus 16:30)

Self-drive: about 3h from Hefei/Nanjing, navigate to 'Zhaji Ancient Town Scenic Area Parking Lot' (fee 10 yuan/day)

2. Internal route

Walking core area: main street 'Xuxi Road' + 'Honglou Bridge' as axis, no sightseeing car needed

Hidden route: turn into alleys from 'Caishen Bridge' to avoid crowds and take empty shots 📸

🏡 Accommodation Recommendations

1. Family-friendly guesthouses

Censhan Du Yinxi: courtyard by the stream, provides children's Hanfu and sketching tools (average 400+ yuan)

Field Private School: converted from an old ancestral hall, has a parent-child reading room and outdoor movie (host can take you tea picking)

2. Money-saving tips

On non-holidays, you can bargain at the door; off-season standard rooms as low as 150 yuan

Choose accommodation downstream of 'Honglou Bridge' – quieter and cheaper

🍜 Food List

1. Three must-eat items

Zhaji Hairy Tofu: go to 'Zhashi Tofu Workshop' for moldy hairy tofu + chili sauce

Qin Fish Steamed Egg: steamed with local qin fish (mini silverfish), incredibly fresh

Osmanthus Rice Wine: farmhouse-brewed, 2% alcohol, suitable for kids to lick the bowl

2. Things to avoid with kids

❌ Avoid buying 'instant arrowroot cake' – texture like chewing rubber

✅ Recommend 'small wonton + dried bamboo shoot sesame cake' combo, kids accept it well

📅 Suggested Itinerary

1. One-day essence version

AM: Degong Hall → Baogong Ancestral Hall → Sketch by Xu Stream

PM: Honggong Ancestral Hall → Photo at Honglou Bridge → Catch fish in the stream

Night: Lantern night tour + taste rice wine

2. Two-day immersive version

Day 1: Ancient architecture study (ancestral halls + bridges) + intangible heritage handicraft experience

Day 2: Tea picking/hiking on the back hill → buy dried bamboo shoots as souvenir before departure

💡 Family Travel Exclusive Tips

Clothing: prepare Hanfu or blue calico clothes for kids – great for photos

Safety: Bluestone paths are slippery! Wear non-slip shoes; keep an eye on kids when playing by the stream

Cultural preparation: watch the documentary 'Huizhou' before the trip – easier for kids to resonate

⚠️ Pitfall Avoidance Guide

Tickets: 65 yuan/person (free for children under 1.2m); enter before 7am or after 5pm to avoid ticket fees

Shopping: be careful about buying 'antiques' – real old items are mostly in residents' homes, not shops

Crowds: tour groups dense from 10am-3pm on weekends; suggest early morning or evening action

Ultimate secret: The beauty of Zhaji is not in checking off attractions, but in the serendipity of 'turning into a wrong alley and stumbling upon a peach blossom, with an old man inviting you for tea.'

Suitable for families who want their children to experience 'Slow China' – here, time still flows at the speed of the stream ⏳.