26°C Summer｜I Admit Coming to Huangshan This Summer Was the Best Choice

"Continuous rain unaware of spring's departure, sudden sunshine reveals summer's depth." The best way to spend summer vacation? Escaping into the mountains: To witness Morning mist, afternoon pines, evening glows, and midnight stars… Pack your bags 🚄 Take the high-speed train straight to Huangshan And kick off your summer retreat! [One] Xixinan: Xixinan: The "Enchanted Forest" unique to southern Anhui. Home to thousands of acres of wingnut trees, it’s the largest natural wingnut wetland in East China, stretching 6 kilometers with lush shade in summer. The Fengle River runs through the wetland, creating eight scenic spots like "Clear Stream Embracing the Moon" and "Mountain Spring Swelling in Spring." The Qing Dynasty painter Shi Tao depicted these in his album *Eight Scenes of Xinan*. Further in, you’ll find well-preserved Ming and Qing ancient architecture, such as Laowu Pavilion and Lürao Pavilion. 🌟 Tip: During summer, Xixinan hosts a nighttime fish lantern festival. [Two] Chengkan: Chengkan: A Hui-style ancient village hailed as "China’s No. 1 Feng Shui Village" and "Jiangnan’s First Village," with over 1,800 years of history. Famous for its unique Bagua (Eight Trigrams) feng shui layout and well-preserved Hui architecture, it’s surrounded by mountains and crossed by Yongxing Lake and Longxi River, creating ink-painting-like scenery. Over 150 ancient buildings from the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties remain, including Luodongshu Ancestral Hall ("Jiangnan’s First Ancestral Hall"), Baolun Pavilion, and Yanyi Hall, all showcasing classic Hui-style white walls, black tiles, and horse-head gables. 🌟 Tip: In summer, you can snap photos with the same intangible cultural heritage fish lanterns featured in Yang Zi’s drama *Family Legacy*. [Three] Huizhou Ancient City: Huizhou Ancient City: Also known as Shexian Ancient City, historically called Xin’an Prefecture. It’s the birthplace of "Huizhou Studies," one of China’s three major regional schools of thought, and is praised as the "Zoulu of the Southeast, Land of Etiquette." One of China’s best-preserved ancient cities, its highlights include Xu Guo Stone Arch, Huizhou Prefecture Office, Huizhou History and Culture Museum, Hui Garden, and Doushan Street. Recommended route: Main Gate → Huizhou History and Culture Museum → Nanqiao Tower → Huizhou Prefecture Office → Yanghe Gate → Xu Guo Stone Arch → Dagujing Street → Huang Binhong Memorial Hall → Tao Xingzhi Memorial Hall → Zhonghe Street → Bell Tower → Zhongshan Lane → Bell Tower → Doushan Street → Dabe Street → Return to Zhonghe Street. [Four] Stay Recommendation: 🏡 Boutique Stay: Youtan Valley Wild Luxury Resort ✔️ A neo-Chinese retreat preserving Hui-style architecture, spanning 20,000+ sqm ✔️ Gold Medal Homestay in Anhui Province ✔️ Awarded multiple international design gold prizes ✔️ Inclusions: Welcome fruit, Chinese breakfast, garden afternoon tea; Activities: Water park, Hanfu experience, fruit/veggie picking, pet feeding, lawn camping/swings/trampoline/archery ✔️ Services: High-speed train station transfers, 1:1 butler & housekeeping ✔️ Room amenities: L’Occitane toiletries, smart home tech ✔️ Private kitchen: Stinky mandarin fish, free-range chicken soup, Hui-style braised duck, organic veggies [Five] 3-Day Itinerary by High-Speed Rail: Day 1: Huangshan North Station → Youtan Valley → Huizhou Ancient City Day 2: Youtan Valley → Chengkan Day 3: Youtan Valley → Xixinan 🌟 Nearby Attractions: ✅ Daling Mountain Resort (5-min drive) ✅ Shuyuan Village (5-min walk) ✅ Tangmo (5-min drive) ✅ Tangyue Memorial Archways (10-min drive) ✅ Qianshou Folk Houses (10-min drive) In Huangshan’s summer, the wind decides. In a 38°C world, this is a 26°C exception. I admit—choosing Huangshan for summer was the best decision.