Nanjing Surrounding Tour Extra 1: Chengkan Guide for Autumn Scenery in Southern Anhui

This time it's a bit off-topic, as it's still a bit far from Nanjing, about a three-hour drive, but the scenery is truly worth it. Taking advantage of the fact that autumn is not over yet, I have to share it. 💰 Ticket price: Bought tickets via Baidu Maps, 103 RMB per person. If you book a homestay inside, it seems one ticket can be used for 3 days; otherwise, it's only valid for one day. 🏠 Accommodation: Homestays need to be booked in advance, otherwise you can only stay at nearby hotels. Pay special attention not to book Demao Tang. 🚗 Transportation: Self-driving is recommended, as the location is quite far from the city center, and parking fees are very cheap. 🕐 Recommended playtime: A whole day. Note that if you want to take photo 1, you should arrive before 8:30 AM; otherwise, it will be crowded and you won’t get the right feel. Here’s a little tip: you can walk to the very end and then shoot back. Many people crowd at the entrance waiting to take photos, but few think in reverse. During the day, it’s recommended to stroll around the Bagua Village. Many villagers will ask if you want a guide for 20 RMB per person. It depends on your preference; I don’t like being led around, but if you get lost, hiring one is not expensive. There are several scattered memorial halls in the village where you can really experience what it means to live in a wealthy family’s house. It feels like you’d get lost living in such a house, haha. The sesame cakes in the village generally cost 3.5 RMB each, a bit pricey but acceptable considering it’s a tourist village. On the outer edge of the village, there is a noodle shop where you can eat your fill for 15 RMB, a very affordable price. The noodles come with local traditional toppings and taste great with pork lard—highly recommended. Besides the village, other great photo spots during the day include the Autumn Drying Plaza, which you won’t miss near the scenic area entrance. On a clear day, you can capture the reflection of Huizhou-style buildings and distant mountains in the lake, which is open and peaceful. Outside the village, there are large fields and winding paths leading into the village, also great for travel photos. There are also several check-in spots like "Guo Kan" and the plaza’s "A Life Without Obstacles," which I won’t elaborate on here. The highlight at night is the fish lanterns. The best viewing spot is, of course, the second floor of the milk tea shop by the plaza, but it’s very expensive and limited in capacity, so it’s almost impossible to get a spot. The fish lanterns perform a show at the plaza, then circle the lake and return to the plaza, stopping to perform on two bridges along the way. With fireworks, it’s quite interesting. Note that it’s best not to watch from the small dirt hill by the riverbank, as the fireworks will be blocked by trees and the view of the plaza performance is poor. The weather is getting cooler recently, and the next few weeks should be even more autumnal. If you have free time, why not try visiting on a weekend? Personal recommendation rating: five stars (out of five).