Live Your Best Lives
Recently, news about the Hangzhou-Huangshan High-Speed Railway has been dominating the screen. Finally, after the official announcement of its opening at the end of December, this most beautiful high-speed railway line, which takes as fast as 49 minutes from Hangzhou to Qiandao Lake and 86 minutes from Huangshan, entered our lives at the end of 2018.
The "time distance" between Hangzhou and Huizhou (Huangshan City) has changed from three days downstream to Yuhang, ten days upstream to Huizhou, and the hiking journey of Huizhou merchants on the Huihang Ancient Road. In 1933, the Huihang Highway shortened the travel time to 10 hours, then to 3 hours after the opening of the Huihang Expressway, and now to 86 minutes on the Hangzhou-Huangshan High-speed Railway.
The shortened travel time and distance have made communication between the two regions more frequent and convenient. The Hangzhou-Huangshan High-Speed Railway, known as the most scenic high-speed rail line, has undoubtedly brought significant changes to travelers. While it only stops at 10 stations, the route boasts a dazzling array of scenic attractions, including seven 5A-rated scenic spots (Hangzhou West Lake, Xixi Wetlands, Jixi Longchuan, Ancient Huizhou Cultural Tourism Area, Xidi and Hongcun Village, and Huangshan Scenic Area), making it a truly world-class high-speed rail line for tourism.
Moreover, when the Hangzhou-Huangshan high-speed railway was opened, major scenic spots also offered irresistible discounts. Huangshan offered a half-price discount, and Qiandao Lake and Jiande even offered limited-time free admission. With just a high-speed railway ticket, you can go on a real spontaneous trip.
Eligibility
Residents of 11 cities (including cities along the Hangzhou-Huangshan High-Speed Railway, the Hangzhou Metropolitan Area, and key tourist cities in the Yangtze River Delta) including Shanghai, Hangzhou, Ningbo, Wenzhou, Jiaxing, Nanjing, Suzhou, Shaoxing, Taizhou, Huzhou, and Quzhou
Preferential policies
1. Huangshan Scenic Area: Within two weeks from the official opening of the Hangzhou-Huangshan High-Speed Railway, the scenic area's listed tickets will be half-price (excluding scenic area transportation, tour guide fees, etc.);
2. Other scenic spots in Huangshan City: From the official opening of the Hangzhou-Huangshan High-Speed Railway to February 28, 2019, all scenic spots will enjoy a 50% discount on admission (excluding transportation and tour guide fees).
The discount period does not include the New Year's Day holiday (December 30, 2018 - January 1, 2019) and the Spring Festival holiday (February 4-10, 2019).
Operating details
Citizens can enjoy preferential policies by presenting their household registration books, ID cards, temporary ID cards and other valid documents, as well as high-speed rail tickets to Huangshan. Minors (under 18 years old) without ID cards can enjoy preferential policies by presenting their original household registration books at the ticket offices of relevant scenic spots.
Eligibility
Global tourists
Preferential policies
1. Qiandao Lake Scenic Area: Free admission for 30 days from the opening of the Hangzhou-Huangshan High-Speed Railway; half-price admission from the 31st to the 90th day;
2. Other scenic spots in Chun'an County, including Longchuan Bay, Stone Forest, Wenyuan Lion City, Forest Oxygen Bar, and Thousand Island Secret Realm, will offer the same discounts as Thousand Island Lake Scenic Area.
Operating details
Visitors can apply for discounts at the ticket offices of relevant scenic spots by presenting their high-speed rail tickets (within 3 days) with the destination being Qiandao Lake and their resident ID cards.
Note: Those who enjoy this preferential policy will not be able to arrange for a next-day tour
Eligibility
Global travelers
Preferential policies
1. Within three months from the opening date of the Hangzhou-Huangshan High-Speed Railway, visitors can enjoy free admission to eight scenic spots, including the Jiangnan Ice Cave, Daci Rock, Lingqi Cave, Qili Yangfan, Xin'anjiang Hydropower Station, Xinye Ancient Village, Good Luck Island, and Nongfu Spring.
2. From three months to six months after the opening of the Hangzhou-Huangshan High-Speed Railway, tickets to nine scenic spots, including the Jiangnan Ice Cave, Aviation Town Hot Springs, Daci Rock, Lingqi Cave, Qili Yangfan, Xin'anjiang Hydropower Station, Xinye Ancient Village, Good Luck Island, and Nongfu Spring, will be half-price.
3. In 2019, the 17th of every month will be designated as "Jiande Tourism Day". On that day, there will be free admission to the seven major scenic spots, including Jiangnan Ice Cave, Daci Rock, Lingqi Cave, Qili Yangfan, Xinye Ancient Village, Good Luck Island, and Nongfu Spring.
Operating details
1. Tourists who qualify for the first and second discounts can apply by presenting their high-speed rail ticket (within 7 days) arriving in Jiande and their resident ID card;
2. The application location is the tourist service center of each scenic spot;
3. Before entering the scenic area, tourists must purchase personal accident insurance of 2 yuan per person;
4. Other commercial projects in the scenic area, such as cable cars, slides, cruise ships, sightseeing electric cars, rock climbing, etc., will be charged according to normal regulations.
@Three Colors
"There's heaven above, and Suzhou and Hangzhou below." As the starting point of the Hangzhou-Huangshan High-Speed Railway, Hangzhou itself is the destination for many. Hangzhou's beauty is a profound one. You can explore the history of Longjing tea at the Tianzhu Temple; experience a simple and comfortable life; copy Buddhist scriptures and dine at the Lingyin Temple to experience Zen meditation; travel back to the Republican era at Beishan Street; read about the anecdotes of celebrities from ancient times to the present at Gushan; cruise the ancient Grand Canal on a pleasure boat, drifting southward; witness the prosperity of the Southern Song Dynasty at the Southern Song Imperial Street; and retreat to the secluded Xixi Wetlands to become a literati.
@Tension Vision
@Tension Vision
@Dark Color Cantian
Hangzhou recently welcomed its first snowfall. The city covered in silver was incredibly beautiful, setting off the entire circle of friends. People started to post updates about the snow early in the morning.
The fastest time from Hangzhou to Fuyang is 21 minutes
Fuyang District is located in the southwest corner of Hangzhou City. It was called Fuchun in ancient times. What a poetic name! It lives up to its beautiful mountains and rivers and is a typical Jiangnan landscape city.
@Photo Network
The famous "Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains" records the beautiful mountains and waters on both sides of the Fuchun River, which shows how charming the scenery is.
Yangjia Village Ginkgo
@West City
Every November, thousands of ginkgo trees dot the Yangjia Village Ginkgo Park in Fuyang, their brilliant yellow leaves adorning the treetops and scattering across the ground. At dawn or dusk, the soft sunlight slants through, coating the ginkgo trees in a layer of gold. Strolling along the country lanes, you can hear the crows of chickens and dogs.
Longmen Ancient Town
Longmen Ancient Town, located on the south bank of the Fuchun River, 52 kilometers southwest of Hangzhou, is renowned for its unique Ming and Qing dynasty buildings. It is one of the best-preserved mountain towns in the Jiangnan region. Descendants of Sun Quan, the Eastern Wu emperor during the Three Kingdoms period, settled here. The renowned Han scholar Yan Ziling, upon visiting Longmen Mountain, exclaimed, "This place is so picturesque, its mountains and waters are even more beautiful than Longmen in Lüliang," hence the name Longmen Ancient Town. Longmen Ancient Town exemplifies the traditional clan settlement system of ancient my country, and its architectural complexes and ancient streets from the Ming and Qing dynasties remain remarkably well-preserved. Those who enjoy exploring ancient trails shouldn't miss this opportunity!
The fastest journey from Hangzhou to Tonglu takes 32 minutes
@Yearning for life
The popularity of the second season of "A Longing for Life" has made more people know about Tonglu, a paradise on earth. It is a gentle little town where we can hide in the mountains and forests, be self-sufficient, cook and pick, and experience the secluded life of "picking chrysanthemums under the eastern fence and leisurely seeing the southern mountains". Now, a 32-minute drive allows more people to choose to go to this little town with green mountains and clear waters on a weekend, come to a mountain B&B and relax.
Recommended attractions
Yaolin Wonderland, Chuiyun Tongtian River, and Tianmu Creek Rafting
Yaolin Wonderland enjoys the reputation of "the crown of all caves in China" for its magical landforms and magnificent rock landscapes. It has a cave rafting project called "Galaxy Flying" which is thrilling and exciting.
The Chuiyun Tongtian River is a magical karst cave with an underground river. Rafting here allows you to admire the beautiful karst cave landscape on both sides of the river up close. The Tianmu River rafting is winding, with one shoal after another. It is said that "the river has eighteen shoals, each one higher than the next."
In addition to these, you can also visit Daqishan National Forest Park to see canyon streams and waterfalls, flat lakes and fragrant grass; admire Yan Ziling Fishing Platform, one of the "Top Ten Ancient Fishing Platforms in China"; and enter Shenao Ancient Village to leave only laziness and leisure.
Tianmu River Rafting, located in Yaolin Town, Tonglu County, Zhejiang Province, is a recently developed rafting experience that follows the footsteps of Xu Xiake's boat trip and immerses you in the leisurely atmosphere. Tianmu River, known for its "eighteen rapids, each one higher than the last," is an ideal location for bamboo or rubber rafting. Alternatively, you can paddle your own raft and freely drift along the river, enjoying a relaxing and relaxing experience. After a two-hour rafting trip, enjoy a picnic by the river, barbecue, and enjoy the fresh produce. Alternatively, head to one of the rural camping villages for a camping getaway, fully immersing yourself in the natural wonders.
The fastest journey from Hangzhou to Jiande is 41 minutes
Jiande, the first city in China to be recognized as a climate-friendly city, extends an invitation to global travelers with the opening of the Hangzhou-Huangshan High-Speed Railway. For three months from the opening date of the Hangzhou-Huangshan High-Speed Railway, admission to eight scenic spots, including the Jiangnan Ice Cave, Daci Rock, Lingxi Cave, Qili Yangfan, Xin'anjiang Hydropower Station, Xinye Ancient Village, Good Luck Island, and Nongfu Spring, is free. From three to six months after the opening, admission is half-price. In 2019, the 17th of each month is designated "Jiande Tourism Day," and most scenic spots also offer free admission.
There are completely different ice and snow caves here, the Aviation Town Hot Springs, a resort with complete facilities, the Daci Rock known as the "Little Jiuhua in Western Zhejiang", the Lingqi Cave known as the "Underground Art Palace", the Qili Yangfan in the "Little Three Gorges" of the Fuchun River, the magnificent Xin'an River Hydropower Station, the Xinye Ancient Village, the only filming location in the Yangtze River Delta for the second season of "Where Are We Going, Dad?", and Nongfu Spring, nature's porter.
Xinye Ancient Village
Xinye Ancient Village, located in Daciyan Town, southwest of Jiande, is the filming location for the popular variety show "Where Are We Going, Dad 2?" Founded in 1219, the 12th year of the Jiading reign of the Southern Song Dynasty, Xinye Village is known as the Yuhua Ye Clan because Yuhua Mountain, located behind the village, is the main mountain. According to research, Xinye Village is currently the largest Ye Clan village in China. Sixteen well-preserved ancient ancestral halls, halls, pagodas, temples, and over 200 ancient residential buildings remain here. Due to its age and diverse architectural styles, it has been hailed by ancient architecture experts both domestically and internationally as "China's Open-Air Museum of Ming and Qing Architecture."
Entering Xinye, you'll experience its rich history, simple folk customs, and a sense of nature and tranquility rarely seen in modern society. The village boasts hundreds of streets and alleys, each densely crisscrossed with each other. Houses and rooms connect to form an organic, orderly whole, creating a three-dimensional image that embodies the mystical culture of the East.
Daci Rock
Located 24 kilometers south of Jiande City, Daciyan is a tourist destination that perfectly combines Buddhist culture and beautiful mountains and rivers. It is known as the "Little Jiuhua in Western Zhejiang" and is famous for its "Hanging Temple in Jiangnan, Changgu Stream, and the First Natural Standing Buddha in the Country". It is one of the "Excellent Scenic Spots in Zhejiang Province".
A major feature of Daciyan is its high-altitude cave architecture. The temples, plank roads, and cableways all embody the concept of "hanging." The main hall, the Ksitigarbha Hall, is nestled within a cave, half embedded in the rock and half suspended in the air. This breathtaking spectacle is reminiscent of the Hanging Temple on Hengshan Mountain in Shanxi, earning it the nickname "Jiangnan Hanging Temple."
Another unique feature of Daciyan is the country's largest natural standing Buddha. From the side, the main peak of Daciyan looks like a standing statue of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva. The Buddha's features are harmoniously formed from unusual rocks, caves, and vegetation, creating a lifelike and realistic image.
The fastest journey from Hangzhou to Qiandao Lake is 49 minutes
@Photo Network
For most people in Hangzhou, Qiandao Lake is probably very familiar to them. Known as the "back garden" of Hangzhou, this beautiful Qiandao Lake is the first choice for many people to go on vacation.
@Photo Network
Qiandao Lake, located in Chun'an, Zhejiang Province, boasts the world's largest number of islands, with numerous islands scattered across the lake. The lake boasts excellent water quality, supplying Nongfu Spring. This naturally fertile fish contributes to the delicious fish soup. Thousand Island Lake offers a wide variety of activities, including island cycling, rafting, kayaking, canoeing, hot air ballooning, and island exploration.
Red Leaf Bay
Hongye Bay is part of the Pingfeng Scenic Area in the central area of the Qiandao Lake Scenic Area. It lies between the Xiaojinshan Peninsula and the Jinxian Islands, commonly known as Xiaojinshan. The main bay is V-shaped and approximately 4 kilometers long, offering convenient access to the lake from the Huangshan direction. The bay is as smooth as a mirror, its waters crystal clear, with vivid reflections of the mountains and forests. The bay is dotted with islands, creating a diverse terrain with peaks, valleys, and slopes, earning it the nickname of a water maze. Qiandao Lake authorities have reportedly spent nearly a year developing the scenic area by enhancing vegetation, adding interesting exhibits, and stocking ornamental fish and waterfowl. To make it a suitable tourist destination, they have restricted entry to quiet vessels such as battery boats, rowboats, and small wooden canoes.
Qinchuan Ancient Village
Qinchuan Ancient Village is located in Langchuan Township, Chun'an County, Zhejiang Province. Entering Qinchuan Ancient Village, one is naturally transported to a scene reminiscent of Tao Yuanming's "picking chrysanthemums under the eastern fence, leisurely gazing at the southern mountains." The Qinxi River flows through the village, like a silk ribbon flowing from upstream to the village entrance. Within and beyond the village, 36 original covered bridges, single-arch stone bridges, single-log bridges, and wooden plank bridges span the stream. While a small number of these wooden bridges have been converted to concrete over time, most retain their original appearance. The wooden planks often creak as you step on them. The houses on either side of the stream, built around the stream, resemble the Peach Blossom Spring described by Tao Yuanming.
Every spring when flowers bloom, this picturesque ancient village becomes particularly charming, making people unable to resist pressing the shutter to freeze this intoxicating scenery.
The unique landscape of Qinchuan is shaded by trees, with small bridges, flowing water, and houses all around. It is also a key conservation area for pristine grouper fish. The crystal-clear Qinchuan Stream, with its gurgling water and the swarms of small fish swimming in the stream, is truly captivating.
Wenyuan Lion City
Located in the heart of the charming Jiangjia Town, Wenyuan Lion City is China's first intangible cultural heritage living experience center. It recreates the pristine scenery of the underwater millennium Lion City, reviving the 1,400-year-old civilization of the ancient city. Through revitalization, it brings traditional crafts, intangible cultural heritage items, folk customs, festivals, and other cultural products to life and contextualize them. Within the Wenyuan Lion City scenic area, not only are there Lion City's most prosperous streets, East Street and North Street, but seven of the city's famous memorial archways, including the Yao Family Archway, the Merit Archway, and the Chastity Archway, recreated on North Street. This unique memorial archway street has become a veritable living museum of China's Jiangnan archway culture. The nightlife of Wenyuan Lion City includes underwater ancient city sightseeing products, open-air concerts, song and dance performances in open-air bars, night cycling and running, fluorescent night fishing, wonderful night of the ancient city, and light shows for exploration. There are bars and performance bars that never sleep for you to get drunk, and clear bars for you to enjoy the night view of the lake. Of course, those who like shopping, eating, and local specialties can also visit the night temple fair.
The fastest journey from Hangzhou to Huangshan takes 86 minutes
@Photo Network
After visiting the Five Sacred Mountains, one should not look at any other mountain. After visiting Mount Huangshan, one should not look at any other mountain. This was Xu Xiake's impression after his two visits to Mount Huangshan, and it also reflects the most common impression of the mountain. Mount Huangshan boasts 82 peaks, large and small, some majestic and towering, some steep and beautiful, a natural wonder. The three main peaks, Tiandu Peak, Lianhua Peak, and Guangmingding, are particularly captivating, truly earning its title as the world's most extraordinary mountain.
@Photo Network
In addition to this mountain, Huangshan also has Hui-style buildings with white walls and gray tiles. Among them, Xidi and Hongcun are so picturesque that you feel like you are in a dream.
Huangshan Scenic Area
Huangshan, located in Huangshan City in southern Anhui Province, borders Zhejiang Province to the east, Jiangxi Province to the south, and the cities of Xuancheng and Chizhou to the north. It forms the watershed between the Yangtze and Qiantang River systems and is Anhui Province's most famous scenic spot. Its renowned "Five Wonders"—strange pines, unusual rocks, seas of clouds, hot springs, and winter snow—are the most celebrated features of Huangshan.
After visiting the Five Sacred Mountains, one should not look at any other mountain. After visiting Mount Huangshan, one should not look at any other mountain. This was Xu Xiake's impression after his two visits to Mount Huangshan, and it also reflects the most common impression of the mountain. Mount Huangshan boasts 82 peaks, large and small, some majestic and towering, some steep and beautiful, a natural wonder. The three main peaks, Tiandu Peak, Lianhua Peak, and Guangmingding, are particularly captivating, truly earning its title as the world's most extraordinary mountain.
In addition to the magnificent scenery of Huangshan Scenic Area, Tunxi Old Street in Huangshan City, which has a thousand-year history, and the Hui cuisine restaurants and study shops on the old street, which are also historic, are the best places to understand Huangshan and Huizhou culture.
Hongcun
Hongcun, located northeast of Yi County, Huangshan City, Anhui Province, is an ancient town tucked away in the "Peach Blossom Spring." It gained international fame thanks to the Oscar-winning film "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon." But it's even more widely known for its reputation as a "village in a Chinese painting." Its iconic Hui-style architecture, towering horse-head walls, clear lotus ponds, and arched bridges have captured the hearts of many like a painting.
The village, covering an area of 19.17 hectares (over 300 mu), was founded during the Shaoxing reign of the Southern Song Dynasty (1131 AD). Originally named "Hongcun," it was renamed "Hongcun" during the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty, boasting a history of over 870 years. Originally inhabited by the Wang family, it boasts 138 extant Ming and Qing dynasty buildings. In terms of appearance, Hongcun is a unique ox-shaped village within the ancient Peach Blossom Spring of Yi. Backed by the remnants of Huangshan Mountain, including Yangzhanling and Leigang Mountain, it sits on a high ground. The surrounding mountains, their whitewashed walls, and blue tiles are reflected in the lake, resembling a slowly unfolding landscape painting. This has attracted numerous sketching enthusiasts, photographers, and filmmakers.
Hundreds of ancient dwellings stand side by side in the village, among which Chengzhi Hall is the most perfectly preserved ancient dwelling in Yi County. The wood carvings on the main hall's beams, brackets, flower-shaped doors, and window lattices are exquisitely crafted, with intricate layers and numerous figures, each with a different face and spirit. It is a masterpiece of the "Four Carvings" art of the Anhui School. Visitors from home and abroad are invariably captivated by the carvings.
The most beautiful high-speed rail line really lives up to its name, and the discounts offered when it opened were unprecedented. I remember a friend said that when he was a child, it took him ten hours to travel to Huangshan, but now it only takes 90 minutes. Our way of traveling has undergone earth-shaking changes.
The opening of the Hangzhou-Huangshan high-speed railway has made our travel more convenient and comfortable, and there are more options for weekend travel. The 5+2 lifestyle has become more and more convenient, and the preferential policies of scenic spots are really irresistible. Let us take the high-speed rail tickets and go on a trip at any time!
