Southern Anhui travel guide
皖南
The southern route is shaped by water, clean and clear. As you walk through village after village, the irrigation channels along the way are always there, wherever you go. Even inside the residential houses,…
20 places · In the guidebook: pages 1282–1300
Southern Anhui, Anhui Province · AI illustration for China Trip
Quick itinerary
Southern Anhui in 4 days
- Day 1
- Day 2
- Day 3
- She County→
- Yangchan Earthen Building→
- Shendu Town (take a boat trip along the Xin'an River Landscape Gallery)→
- She County
- Day 4
- She County→
- Jixi→
- Kengkou→
- Hu Village
The feel of the place
- Water
- The southern route is shaped by water, clean and clear. As you walk through village after village, the irrigation channels along the way are always there, wherever you go. Even inside the residential houses, the canal water follows right behind you.
- Tranquillity
- The villages of the southern route are home to simple farming families, an easygoing way of life, a leisurely pace, and green landscapes that always feel cool and peaceful. Here you find not only quiet to the ear, but also stillness of the heart.
Preparation and Advice
Language
You can understand most local dialects, though some local vocabulary can be harder to follow. People in the southern route area who speak Mandarin can all be understood.
Climate and Best Travel Season
The southern route has a subtropical monsoon climate, with an annual average temperature of 15.8℃ and annual rainfall of 1795 mm. May to October is the best time to visit.
Things to see
The Xin'an River Landscape Gallery lies within Shexian County, referring to the waters from Kengkou Township to Shendu Town. The ecological environment on both banks is excellent, and the scenery is especially beautiful in March and April when the rapeseed flowers bloom. You can explore the green hills and Huizhou-style villages on both banks on foot or by boat.
She County
History & Culture · Old Towns & Villages · Hiking & Outdoors · Photography
Shexian County, together with Langzhong in Sichuan, Lijiang in Yunnan and Pingyao in Shanxi, is known as one of China's “four best-preserved ancient cities.” In ancient times it was the seat of Huizhou Prefecture and one of the birthplaces of Huizhou culture. It is also the birthplace of Peking opera and the main production center of the “Four Treasures of the Study,” including Huizhou ink sticks and She inkstones. The ancient memorial archways, ancestral halls and residences together form a grand historical panorama of old Huizhou. All of this is a precious cultural legacy left to us by earlier generations.
Jixi
History & Culture · Old Towns & Villages · Hiking & Outdoors · Photography
A provincial-level historic and cultural city in Anhui, with many historic and cultural villages. Jixi has long been known for the saying “a small county with many notable figures,” and it has produced many prominent figures in Chinese history. It is the hometown of Hu Shih, a leader of the May Fourth New Culture Movement; Hu Xueyan, the “red-hat merchant”; and Hu Kaiwen, the master of Huizhou ink.
Yi County
A provincial-level historic and cultural city on a par with Shexian. The county has well-preserved Huizhou-style traditional residential villages, long celebrated as a treasure trove of ancient Eastern architectural art. Yi County enjoys distinct four seasons and charming pastoral scenery. Tao Yuanming visited here and wrote the immortal essay “Record of the Peach Blossom Spring,” and Li Bai wrote a poem praising it: “Yi County is a small Peach Blossom Spring, wreathed in mist and rosy clouds for a hundred li. Its land abounds in magical herbs and trees, and its people still favour ancient attire.”
History & Culture · Old Towns & Villages · Hiking & Outdoors · Photography
Tunxi Old Street
Stretching 1,273 metres, this old street was the trading hub of Huizhou goods from the Song dynasty through the Ming and Qing. Shops still line both sides, with storefronts, workshops and homes all in one. It preserves the traditional “shop in front, workshop behind” or “storefront with living quarters” layout of ancient merchants, and is hailed as a “living Along the River During the Qingming Festival.” The architecture is distinctive: wooden mortise-and-tenon structures, horse-head gable walls, small grey tiles and Hui-style wood carvings all reward a close look. Among the street's century-old shops are the Tongderen Pharmacy, the Tonghe scale shop and the Chengdexin sauce shop. Local specialties include Huangshan shaobing (sesame flatbread), xiaomu cake and huimo crisp pastries. Try a little maodoufu (fermented tofu), though many visitors find it hard to get used to.
1–3 hours
Huizhou District
Huizhou District, under Huangshan City, has launched the “Huizhou Cultural Relics Tourism Route.” Tangmo Tangan Garden, Baolun Pavilion in Chengkan and the Qiankou Ancient Residences are must-visit sites. Huizhou is known as the “Southern Gateway to Huangshan” and represents Huizhou culture. It preserves more than 300 Hui-style ancient buildings. National-level protected sites include the Zhenjing Luodongshu Ancestral Hall, the Chengkan Ming and Qing ancient village, Laowuge Pavilion and Lüraoting Pavilion. The district also has attractions worth visiting, such as the Wenfeng Pagoda in Yanshi, Fengshan Terrace, the former New Fourth Army headquarters, Shadi Pavilion and the Huizhou Culture Park.
History & Culture · Old Towns & Villages · Hiking & Outdoors · Photography
Tangyue Memorial Archways
At the entrance to Tangyue Village stand seven ancient memorial archways, arranged in the order of “loyalty, filial piety, chastity and righteousness.” They are masterpieces of Ming and Qing archway architecture. Together with the men's and women's ancestral halls in the village, these stone archways are among the highlights of Shexian's tourism. The seven archways were built over several centuries. The first, a granite archway, is more than 450 years old. The second, the Cixiaoli Archway, was approved and commissioned by an emperor. All seven were built without a single nail or rivet, relying entirely on the precise interlocking of stone with stone, and they have withstood a century of wind and rain.
1–2 hours · ¥100
Yangchan Earthen Building
The villagers of Yangchan make use of local materials: they lay bluestone from the surrounding area for paths and bridges, and build their homes from red-clay soil and timber. The result is rows upon rows of densely packed earthen buildings. Unlike the elegant white walls and black tiles of traditional Hui architecture, Yangchan's earthen buildings are simple and full of rustic beauty. The clusters follow the contours of the mountains, taking on countless shapes, with sensible layouts and staggered arrangements. They reflect a harmony between people and nature and display the distinctive character of mountain dwellings, forming a picture that is mysterious, ancient, majestic and beautiful.
1–2 hours · Free
Huizhou Ancient City
Founded in the Qin dynasty, Huizhou Ancient City is one of China's four great ancient cities and feels like a grand, living history museum. Of its gates, the Nanqiao Tower is the most distinctive, while the Xuguo Memorial Archway is the finest part of the old town, and strolling beneath it brings a strong sense of history and gravitas. Several roads lead into the old town, and a loop through it takes in the main sights.
0.5 days · Huizhou Prefectural Yamen admission: ¥60
Kengkou
Kengkou Village, formerly known as Longchuan, has a distinctive landform and beautiful scenery. In front of the village rises the lofty Longxu Mountain, a stream flows through the village, and the village layout is said to resemble a boat. The Hu Clan Ancestral Hall is a national key cultural heritage site. It carries on the traditional features of Huizhou ancestral halls, and its woodcarvings, which take many striking forms, are widely regarded as one of the finest carving collections among China's ancient ancestral halls.
0.5 days
Huihang Ancient Trail
The most spectacular natural scenery and most mysterious culture of any corridor, and a paradise for beginner hikers. Nearby attractions include the Zhangshan Grand Canyon, the Hu Clan Ancestral Hall, Qingliang Peak and the “First Pass South of the Yangtze.” The best time to visit is late March, when the mountains are covered in blooming azaleas.
2 days · ¥62
Xidi
Xidi is a classic representative of a thousand years of Huizhou culture, uniting archways, ancient residences and ancestral halls in one place, the so-called “three wonders.” It is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The village still preserves 124 residences from the Ming and Qing dynasties, earning it the nickname “Museum of Ming and Qing Architecture in China.” The residences are mostly brick-and-wood multi-storey houses in either three-room or courtyard layouts, with horse-head gables and small grey tiles, and they are noted for their orderly planning and refined construction. Many scenes in *Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon* were filmed here, which has further raised Xidi's profile.
2–4 hours · ¥104
Hongcun
Hongcun, like Xidi in Yi County, is a representative of bionic architecture thanks to its unique “ox-shaped village” layout. The Wang clan is the village's dominant surname. Hongcun has one Ming-dynasty residence and 132 Qing-dynasty residences. The largest and most intact is the Chengzhi Hall, which is finely carved and typical of Hongcun's residences. Beyond the village lie many scenic spots, including Yuezhao Lotus Pond, Leigang Sunset, Tachuan Autumn Colours and Mukeng Bamboo Sea, which is why Hongcun is known as “a countryside in a Chinese painting.”
2–5 hours · ¥104
Nanping
A village with more than 1,100 years of history. Director Zhang Yimou's film *Ju Dou* was shot here. Nanping is full of high walls and deep lanes. Its streets criss-cross and twist, so a stranger can feel as though they've walked into a maze, which is why it is also called “a maze-like village.” The village still preserves a considerable number of ancestral halls, branch halls and family shrines, forming a group of elegantly styled halls. Nanping's ancestral hall complex is both a showcase of Huizhou architectural art and a museum for understanding China's ancient clan system.
2–3 hours · ¥43
Qiyun Mountain
Known in ancient times as “White Mountain,” Qiyun Mountain lies 33 km west of the centre of Huangshan City. It takes its name from the phrase “a single rock piercing the sky, level with the clouds.” It is one of China's four great Taoist mountains and a representative site of Danxia landforms. It is now a national key scenic and historic interest area and, together with Huangshan and Jiuhua Mountain, is known as one of the three great mountains of the southern route. Qiyun Mountain's scenery is enchanting, with peculiar peaks, strange rocks, secluded caves, and numerous lakes, pools, springs and waterfalls. The most captivating are Incense Burner Peak, which resembles a mountain in its own right; Stone Bridge Rock, a marvel of nature; the Immortal Cave, with its mysterious depths; the clear, serene Yunyan Lake; and the Zhulian Spring, whose cascade scatters like gold and jade.
1–2 days · Peak season ¥68; off-season ¥60
Southern Sichuan–Tibet Highway (G318)
The Southern Sichuan–Tibet Line, also known as the “Jiangnan Heavenly Road” or “Southern 318.” The highway runs from Qinglong Township in Ningguo City in the east to Caicun Town in Jing County in the west, and its core section is 120 km long. The route combines the beauty of the Guilin landscape, the wonders of the Yunnan Stone Forest, and the perils of the 318 Sichuan–Tibet Line, embodying the finest scenery of southern Anhui. The road winds and thrills, with green mountains and bamboo seas stretching on and wide reservoirs appearing here and there. It passes through Gangkouwan, the largest reservoir in southeast Anhui, and Banqiao Nature Reserve, the largest primeval forest in southeast Anhui. It is truly one of the most alluring self-drive routes in the Jiangnan region.
Photography · Nature
Chengkan
Located on the southern foot of the Huangshan scenic area, Chengkan was called “the finest village in Jiangnan” by the Neo-Confucian scholar Zhu Xi as early as the Song dynasty. The Longxi River runs through the village like the dividing line of yin and yang, and eight surrounding mountains correspond to the eight trigrams, forming a natural trigram layout. This is perhaps the very model of a feng shui treasure land. It holds the best-preserved Ming dynasty village, where Hui architectural art is expressed to the fullest.
2–3 hours · ¥107
Xixinan Ancient Village
Located in western Huizhou District, the village is closely tied to the history of the Huizhou merchants at their peak and retains a relatively original appearance. Its oldest treasures are not the more than 100 Ming and Qing buildings but the centuries-old trees. A small stream winds around the village, and a boat ride along it lets you feel history as you glide past. It feels like a real-life version of “The Wizard of Oz,” as if you've stepped through time.
2–4 hours
Yuliang
Yuliang Ancient Town sits at the downstream mouth of the Lianjiang River. Known in the past as “Liangxia,” it was Shexian's riverside wharf on the Lianjiang, a busy hub for trade and goods. The commercial street of Yuliang runs over 100 metres, lined mostly with historic buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties. The street follows the river's course, zigzagging and rising and falling with the terrain, offering rich and varied views. It is 2–3 metres wide and paved with bluestone slabs, with pebbles set in the center. Yuliang has distinctive sights including Yuliang Dam, the Xin'an Ancient Road, Baiyun Zen Temple, the Site where Li Bai Inquired the Way and the Ba Weizu Memorial Hall. Yuliang Dam is now on Shexian's list for World Cultural Heritage nomination.
0.5–1 day · ¥30
Shitan Village
Shitan Village is far less famous among general visitors than Hongcun or Xidi, the traditional Anhui ancient villages. Yet its superb scenery draws a steady stream of photography enthusiasts, earning it first place among the “Top 100 Photography Spots” of Huangshan City. The village offers Jiangnan-style scenes of small bridges, flowing water and homes, quiet and deep alleys, and poetic landscapes at the village edge where the water flows out. Every year in March and April, rapeseed flowers blanket the hillsides, clouds and mist curl through the mountains, and the ancient village appears and fades like a fairyland. Other seasons are just as stunning: sunflowers flourish in summer, white chrysanthemums cover the hills in autumn, and in winter snow sets off the elegant Hui architecture. Whenever you visit, you'll find good subjects to photograph.
3–4 hours · Free
Xucun Village
“The First Village of Jinshi in Huizhou,” Xucun has the highest-ranking collection of ancient architecture in Shexian. At the village entrance, the Dazhai Ancestral Hall houses the famous Yunxi Hall stele rubbings. The village also has the Ming-dynasty Damu Ancestral Hall, the Qing-dynasty Dabobo Ancestral Hall, and Huizhou's smallest memorial archway, the Double Filial Piety Archway. Xucun's finest views are at Gaoyang Bridge, the Shuangshou Chengen Archway and the Daguan Pavilion, which line up along a single axis. Take your time here to appreciate the clever combination of bridge, archway and pavilion.
1 day · ¥40
Getting there & around
By Air
Buses to Yi County leave from the Huangshan Scenic Area bus station on the Xinguo Line (新国线黄山风景区汽车站) every day at 8:00, 9:30, 13:20 and 15:50. The fare is ¥25. Visitors going to Xidi can get off at the Xidi junction, then transfer to a bus bound for Xidi from the county town direction, which runs every 20 minutes. The fare is about ¥2. Visitors going to Hongcun or other attractions in Yi County should get off in the county town and transfer to a shuttle bus to Hongcun and other sights, costing about ¥2.
By Train
The railway station closest to Yi County is Huangshan Railway Station. After getting off the train, there are two ways to reach the county town, Xidi or Hongcun: first, hire a taxi at the forecourt of the railway station or airport forecourt, which costs about ¥150 to the county town, about ¥150 to Xidi, and about ¥160 to Hongcun; second, take a bus to Hongcun from the Huangshan Tourism Passenger Transport Center near Huangshan Railway Station, for a fare of ¥30.
By Road
Take a bus bound for Hongcun from Yi County, fare ¥2, arriving in about 40 minutes. From the Yi County bus station, take a minibus to Xidi, fare ¥2. There is a direct minibus to Nanping, fare ¥2, but services are infrequent. You can also take a minibus bound for Xiwu Township to the entrance of Nanping village, then walk 1 km to reach Nanping. Buses from Tunxi bus station run to Hongcun, and the entire journey takes about 1.5 hours.
Eat & drink
Food is central to life, and people on the southern route take eating very seriously. The region has many dishes with distinctive flavours that are truly remarkable. Once you taste them, you will not forget them, and as the flavours linger on your lips and tongue, you will marvel at the extraordinary character of Huizhou culture.
Recommended Restaurants in Hongcun
Several restaurants stand at the entrance of Hongcun village. Stinky Mandarin Fish, purple laver flower braised pork and free-range chicken are among their signature dishes. The village's farmhouse guesthouses also serve local home-style meals, and dining in a farmhouse courtyard is also a good choice.
Recommended Guesthouses
Jucshantang Guesthouse in Hongcun: the house is filled with carved wooden galleries, wooden walls, wooden windows and carved wooden beds, exuding a strong sense of history. Behind the main hall is a waterside pavilion garden, simple and elegant, with a feel of the classical gardens of Jiangnan. This guesthouse was once named one of China's Top 10 Atmospheric Guesthouses, so it is not to be missed by those who seek charm.
address: No. 6 Shangshuizhen, Hongcun, Yi County
phone: 18255917075 13705598177
Huizhou Stinky Mandarin Fish
Huizhou stinky mandarin fish is a traditional delicacy of the southern route, with a history of more than 200 years. The fish is first salted and fermented, then braised. It smells pungent but tastes fragrant, with tender, silky and fresh flesh and a distinctive fermented aroma that leaves you wanting more.
Laba Tofu
Laba tofu is a folk speciality of Yi County. On Laba, the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month just before Spring Festival, households in Yi County sun-dry tofu. This naturally dried tofu is known as laba tofu. It can be made into many delicious dishes that are very tempting.
Food in Xidi
Xidi offers a wide variety of food, including Laba porridge, shitou guo (stone-pan cakes), Huizhou guo, bolu guo (corn cakes), bolu song, crab-shell yellow flatbread, Wucheng dried tofu, pan-fried fresh tofu and crispy flatbread. Be sure to try some of these local specialities when you visit Xidi.
Where to stay
There are many guesthouses in the villages along the southern route. Prices are low and the surroundings are pleasant.
Hongcun Guo Family Courtyard
Located within the Chinese Painting Village scenic area, only a 2-minute walk from Nanhu Lake and Yuezhao Pond.
- Address:
- Within the Chinese Painting Village scenic area
- Phone:
- 0559-5541216/13855981974
Shopping
The southern route is rich in local products. Among the most famous are Huizhou ink, one of the Four Treasures of the Study, Shexian inkstone, and tea, a popular gift.
Shexian Inkstone
Shexian inkstone is among the finest inkstones. Its value lies in carvings that display the characteristics of Huizhou stone carving, with vigorous and elegant knife work. Many shops in Shexian County sell Huizhou ink and Shexian inkstone, but quality varies, so if you plan to buy, ask someone knowledgeable to help you judge.
Tea
Top-grade teas such as Haibei Tuzhu, Huangshan Green Peony, Huangshan Maofeng and Dinggu Dafang have long enjoyed a strong reputation at home and abroad.
Huizhou Tribute Chrysanthemum
A superior variety selected from among chrysanthemum populations, originally grown around Jinzhuling in Shexian County. It is valued both for ornamental beauty and for medicinal use.
Source: China Self-Guided Travel 2025 (《中国自助游》, Tianjin Science & Technology Press, Aug 2024), pp. 1282–1300. Translated from the Chinese edition; names and prices follow the guidebook. · Plain text version