South Lake

Choosing a destination in the south of the Yangtze River, this time I pick Hongcun. The ultimate place of infatuation, where dreams of Huizhou come without sleep. If the ink in paintings could come to life, it would surely be Huizhou's Hongcun. Unlike most ancient towns in the south of the Yangtze River, it is like the always fitting makeup of the south; under blue skies and white clouds, it becomes a watercolor painting, while in misty rain, it transforms into the ink-washed south of many people's dreams. Recommended spots: Nan Lake (for a panoramic view of Hongcun), Yuezhao (the sky realm of the half-moon-shaped ancient village) Suggested duration of visit: More than 2 days. In the early morning, one can see Hongcun amidst the clouds and fog, with fewer people for better photography.

Today, I strongly recommend you to enjoy the autumn in Hongcun and Tachuan in Huizhou. In addition to the pink walls, black tiles, and horse-head walls, there are golden ginkgo, red maple leaves, and bright red persimmons. A rich autumn scene, like nature has overturned the palette, everywhere is a scene, everywhere is a painting, endless art students come here to find inspiration, capture the fusion of Chinese traditional ink painting elegance and Western Van Gogh impressionist's unrestrained. Follow me to take a look, if you like it, please like and collect it. ▲Hongcun Introduction: Hongcun, known as the 'village in the painting'. It is a thousand-year-old village built during the Shaoxing period of the Southern Song Dynasty, with an area of 188.95 square kilometers, and it is the best-preserved ancient village in Huizhou. The Hui-style architectural group in the village is an outstanding representative of Hui-style architecture, which is mutually set off with distant mountains, lakes, and small bridges, and gradually unfolds a natural ink painting scroll in front of tourists. The village has a unique ancient water system, with a clean and clear water surface, surrounding the ancient village, adding a lot of aura to the village. The lake in front of the village is called Nanhu, and the Huaqiao on Nanhu is the place where Li Mubai, with the Qingming Sword, led the horse in the movie 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon'. In the early morning, put down the hustle and bustle and obsession in the city, take a walk by Nanhu, enjoy the lake and mountain scenery and the ancient village, watch the teenagers who are concentrating on sketching by the lake, taste a period of Li Mubai and Yu Jiaolong's rivers and lakes, and you will find the return of the soul and the place to go. ▲ Tachuan Introduction: Also known as Tashang, it is 2 kilometers away from Hongcun. Tachuan is built against the mountain. In the autumn of Tachuan, from the head of the village to the end of the village, from the foot of the mountain to the top of the mountain, the wujiu trees are colorful and the autumn colors are layered. The smoke from the small mountain village with white walls and black tiles in the field is curling up, and it is known as one of the 'Four Great Autumns in China'. ◆Recommended tour route: ●Day 1: Visit Hongcun (Nanhu——Nanhu Academy——Jingdetang——Yuezhe——Lexutang——Jingxiutang——Chengzhitang——Deyitang——Taoyuan Residence——Red and White Ancient Trees), it is recommended for one day. ●Day 2: Visit Tachuan, it is recommended for half a day. ◆Recommended food: Crab shell yellow baked bun, pickled vegetable bacon baked bun, stinky mandarin fish, dried bamboo shoots stewed pork, tiger skin tofu, pen holder meat, chicken fort and hibiscus cake, you must try it. Especially the stinky mandarin fish, which is a famous local delicacy. ◆Recommended tea: Try Huangshan Maofeng in a teahouse. ◆Recommended accommodation: It is recommended to choose accommodation in the Hongcun scenic area, so you can experience the Hui-style old house with a history of hundreds of years and feel the simple atmosphere that has been precipitated for a hundred years. There are also farmhouses and homestays in Tachuan Village, which are affordable. ◆ Recommended nearby: There are many ancient villages nearby, such as Chengkan and Xidi (Huizhou villages that are as famous as Hongcun), as well as Huihang Ancient Road, Qishu Lake, Baibu Sanqiao, ●Ticket price: Hongcun 94 yuan, Tachuan 40 yuan, cheaper online. ●Address: Hongcun Town, Yi County, Huangshan City, Anhui ●Transportation: Take the high-speed train to Huangshan Station, there is a direct bus from the high-speed rail station to Hongcun. ●Best time to enjoy autumn: Late October-Mid November Rush to Hongcun and Tachuan to enjoy a feast of autumn! Believe me, it satisfies all your imaginations about Huizhou and autumn.

"A place of sheer devotion in life, where dreams reach Huizhou without slumber." If you're tired of the city's hustle and bustle, why not take a stroll in Huizhou? The tranquility of Hongcun in Anhui is like the calm waters of Nanhu Lake, a landscape painting shrouded in morning mist, and a poetic human world. This is the true Jiangnan in my heart! 🌟Recommended Route Scenic entrance - Nanhu Lake - Nanhu Academy - Jingde Hall - Yuezhao - Lexu Hall - Jingxiu Hall - Chengzhi Hall - Shuren Hall - Taoyuan Residence - Ancient Red and White Trees 🚗How to get to Hongcun 1️⃣Self-driving from the surrounding areas of Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai is more convenient. 2️⃣Take a taxi from Yixian High-speed Railway Station, there are also buses 🍃Best season to visit Hongcun 🌸Spring and summer seasons have the typical misty rain feeling of Jiangnan, and in March-April, the rapeseed flowers in Hongcun also bloom, adding a touch of color to the ancient town. 🍂In autumn, the leaves turn yellow and fall, and there are relatively fewer tourists. ❄️After the snow in winter, Hongcun is shrouded in rain and fog, which is quite different from the spring and summer seasons. 🌈What to do in Hongcun ✅Visit Nanhu Academy to experience the elegance and wisdom of ancient Huizhou culture. ✅Find a teahouse in the village and taste the local Huangshan Maofeng tea. ✅Stroll around Chengzhi Hall, known as the 'Folk Forbidden City'. ✅Watch the famous local live stage drama 'Hongcun Aju'. ✅Taste various Huizhou cuisines in Hongcun. 📷How to take photos in Hongcun ‼️Good photo spots are at Nanhu and Yuezhao ▪️Nanhu is the classic panoramic shooting spot for Hongcun, with a misty rain and fog rising on rainy days, giving the feeling of a Jiangnan landscape painting. ▪️The small bridge on Nanhu Lake was where Li Mubai led his horse in the movie 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon', and it later became a favorite spot for many artists who came to Hongcun to sketch. ▪️Yuezhao is famous for its half-moon-shaped lake, hailed as the 'Sky Realm' in the ancient village. 🍜What to eat in Hongcun ▪️You must try the local specialty stinky mandarin fish, which smells bad but tastes delicious. ▪️The locally famous Mao tofu is a must-try ▪️Huangshan baked cakes, dried vegetable and bacon baked cakes, osmanthus rice wine, etc. 🏨Where to stay in Hongcun ▪️Stay in homestays outside the scenic area: close to the scenic area, more convenient, and cheaper in price ▪️Stay in homestays inside the scenic area: exempt from Hongcun ticket, and you can also experience living in a century-old Huizhou building, with Hongcun in the morning mist like a fairyland on earth. ⛰️What's nearby Hongcun Chengkan, Bishan Bookstore, Tunxi Old Street, Xidi, Tachuan, and others are nearby and can be visited together.

Hongcun, known as the 'village in Chinese painting', is quiet, peaceful, and beautiful, a typical example of Huizhou architecture. ~ Beautiful natural scenery: Hongcun is surrounded by water systems, such as Nanhu and Yuezhao, making it a village like in a painting. You can stroll in the ancient village, enjoy the natural scenery of Hongcun, and enjoy the quiet rural atmosphere. ~ Local gourmet food: Hongcun also offers a rich food experience. You can taste local Huizhou cuisine and special snacks, such as Huizhou stewed pigeon, Yi County tripe, Huizhou beef soup, etc. These delicacies will add more wonderful memories to your trip. ~ Tour suggestions Nanhu>Nanhu Academy>Yuezhao>Chengzhitang>Shurentang>Two ancient trees>Nanhu Nanhu>Huabridge>Nanhu Academy>Jingdetang>Yuezhao>Wang's Ancestral Hall>Lexutang>Jingxiutang>Chengzhitang>De Yitang>Shurentang>Taoyuan Residence>Ancient tree>Nanhu ~ Transportation information ①Huangshan North Station—Hongcun, 30 yuan ②Huangshan Scenic Area—Hongcun, 25 yuan

Hongcun in Anhui is known as the "village in Chinese painting", a peculiar ancient village in the shape of a cow in the ancient Yi Tao Peach Blossom Source. Hongcun is backed by the Yellow Mountain's Yangzhanling and Leigang Mountain, due to its high terrain, it is often clouded and misty, integrating the cultural landscape of the ancient village with the natural landscape that is like ink and wash, sometimes like heavy color ink, sometimes like splash-ink freehand brushwork, like a slowly unfolding landscape scroll. The lake and mountain scenery coexist harmoniously with the layered houses, and the natural landscape and cultural connotations complement each other, which is the characteristic of Hongcun's different residential architectural layout and has become a great miracle of today's world cultural heritage. Must-visit attractions 1 South Lake, Moon Marsh, Chengzhitang, South Lake Academy, Jicun Street; while tasting tea at Deyitang, Genxintang, Jianqinge, etc., you can also enjoy the local tea ceremony performance in Huizhou. 2 It is recommended to follow the village guide (free) for a tour, to appreciate the profound cultural heritage of Huizhou from the ancient residences of Hongcun, and then to wander around according to your own preferences. What needs special attention is that the geomantic pattern of Hongcun mountain village is a cow-shaped structure layout, the two trees at the head of the village are the horns of the cow, the Moon Marsh is the stomach of the cow, and the waterway in the village is the intestine of the cow, which is very interesting. 3 When visiting Hongcun, it is best to stay for two or three days, and you must stay in the village, so that you don't have to buy extra tickets to enter and exit Hongcun. And there are many old houses in the village, if you are lucky, you can even stay in a room with a carved big bed. 4 Mukan Bamboo Sea is lush all year round, but it is recommended not to go in April and May, as this is the time when the bamboo leaves are changing, and there will be some green and yellow. Tour route 1 Hongcun One-day Panorama Tour: One-day tour of the classic scenery of Hongcun, South Lake → South Lake Academy → Jingdetang → Moon Marsh → Jingxiutang → Chengzhitang → Shurentang → Taoyuan Residence → Red and White Ancient Trees 2 Hongcun Huipai Ancient Building Tour: "Village in Chinese Painting", a model of Huipai architecture; South Lake → South Lake Academy → Jingdetang → Jingxiutang → Chengzhitang → Shurentang → Taoyuan Residence Must-eat delicacies Crab shell yellow roast cake, dried bamboo shoots roast pork, tiger skin hairy tofu, hibiscus cake, Laba tofu Accommodation recommendation It is recommended to stay in the scenic area and book a homestay online in advance! Practical Tips The end of March to early April is the season when the rapeseed flowers are in full bloom, and Hongcun at this time is too beautiful. Location & Transportation 1 Self-driving: Shanghai Hangzhou direction: Shanghai-Hangzhou (Huihang Expressway) -Tunxi-Yixian; Hefei direction: Hefei (Hefei-Tonghuang Expressway) -Tongling-Huangshan-Yixian; 2 Bus: From Huangshan City Long-distance Passenger Transport Station to Xidi Scenic Area 12 yuan/person, from Hongcun Scenic Area to Xidi Scenic Area 4 yuan/person Address: Hongcun Town, Yi County, Huangshan City, Anhui Province

Hongcun, established during the Southern Song Dynasty, is a place where the Wang clan gathered to live. The village is built by the mountains and near the water, and after nearly nine hundred years, generations have continuously paved roads, built houses, dug channels, and repaired ponds. The clan has thrived and preserved its heritage to this day. Approaching Hongcun, the first thing you feel is the beauty of the ancient village's water. Since the Ming Dynasty, the Wang clan, following Feng Shui principles, built dams to block rivers and dug canals to divert water. Then they paved roads along the canals and built houses along the roads, Hongcun's past thrived because of water. Later, they constructed Yuezhao and excavated Nanhu. With clear water and green ponds, small bridges over flowing water, Hongcun's present is beautiful because of water. With the nourishment of water, Hongcun exudes a unique charm. The flowing streams are the breath of the ancient village; the rippling blue waves are the village's spirit. The tranquil water surface is gentle and graceful, and the picturesque reflections are calm and serene. If water is the soft soul of Hongcun, then the more than one hundred ancestral halls and residences from different periods are the solid body of Hongcun. These buildings, with their simple and majestic exteriors and exquisitely detailed interiors, are representative works of Hui-style architecture. Well-preserved Hongcun, with its layered horse-head walls standing in rows, is orderly and harmonious; the outer walls are mottled with gray and white, thick and full of vicissitudes; the gatehouses with their flying eaves and upturned corners are simple and spirited; the courtyards with their carved beams and painted rafters are lively and delicate. Simplicity and refinement, style and charm, Hui-style ancient buildings are certainly the indestructible body of Hongcun. Hongcun's winding stone alleys, through the changes of time, villagers never cease to wander and work; the meandering clear streams, regardless of the changing winds and clouds, generations keep flowing; the ancient towering trees, accompanying the old village, following the seasons, leaves green and yellow, grow freely. Day after day, this constructs the village's millennia of unceasing time. Hongcun, Yi County

Free travel is here for a limited time, allowing you to fully enjoy the charm of Huangshan Yi County. The misty rain lingers over Sanjie Street, and the ninety-nine alleys come to life. The landscape of southern Anhui is picturesque, and its elegance is fully displayed in Hongcun. In a place of utter devotion, one dreams not of Huizhou. The misty rain has soaked Sanjie Street and the ninety-nine alleys, and the ink-wash Jiangnan of southern Anhui is displayed one by one in Hongcun. In summer, Chengkan is in my heart, and the sight of lotus leaves reaching to the sky arouses endless longing. Yet, fate has brought me to Huangshan Yi County in winter. It is at this time that Yi County welcomes the opening of the Changjinghuang High-Speed Rail. With a high-speed rail ticket to Yi County, you can not only enjoy the benefit of free admission to Yi County's attractions but also deduct the cost of one night's accommodation. Therefore, a free visit to Hongcun is too tempting! Hongcun is as affectionate as water. As soon as you set foot in Hongcun, you can see Nanhu Lake and the Painted Bridge. This is also the place where Li Mubai led his horse in the movie 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon'. Stroll to the Hongcun Post Office, pick a favorite cultural or fridge magnet, and take it home to remember. At Nanhu Academy, experience the Jiangnan style unique to Huizhou and the literary thoughts of the ancients. At the center of Hongcun is a crescent-shaped Moon Pond. The ancients valued the waxing and waning of the moon, the fullness and spilling of water, hence the special shape of this Moon Pond. Hongcun is full of people sketching, where you can appreciate the style of Hongcun through others' eyes and paintings. Recommended Hongcun tour route: Start from Nanhu Lake, pass by Nanhu Academy, Jingde Hall, Moon Pond, Wang's Ancestral Hall, Chengzhi Hall/DeYi Hall, Shuren Hall, Peach Blossom Residence, and finally reach the ancient red and white trees. If time allows, it is highly recommended to stay in Hongcun for one night. The morning mist is lingering, and the evening is golden dusk. If you encounter a light drizzle, the poetic and picturesque charm of Huizhou Jiangnan will unfold before your eyes. Yi County free travel guide: Starting from December 27, 2023, Yi County East High-Speed Rail Station will be open for one month. With a high-speed rail ticket to Yi County East Station, you can enjoy free admission to 14 attractions in Yi County. The free admission policy for Hongcun and Xidi will last until January 31, 2024. In addition, the high-speed rail ticket can also be used to deduct one night's accommodation fee in Yi County, with a limit of 300 yuan. Just participate in the 'Huihuang Tour' high-speed rail subsidy tour, and submit the relevant materials according to the instructions to participate. Transportation in Hongcun: First, there is a Route 8 tourist express line between Hongcun and Yi County East Station, with a bus every half hour, costing 8 yuan for the whole journey. Second, there are fixed departures from Hongcun to Huangshan North Station, with 10 buses from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, taking 100 minutes, costing 30 yuan per person. Third, there is also a fixed-time tourist bus between Hongcun and Xidi Ancient Village. Fourth, if there is a larger group, you can choose a ride-hailing car, which is more convenient. Hongcun is no longer far away, and it also offers better value for money. Free travel is here for a limited time, allowing you to fully enjoy the charm of Huangshan Yi County.