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A lifetime of poetic sentiment, yet nowhere to be found, dreams can be found everywhere: autumn is everywhere. Ancient villages dotted like stars, their whitewashed walls towering, their tiles scaly. Beyond the walls, tallow trees brush against the corners of the houses, and smoke from cooking in the fields shimmers in the morning light. The unconcealable autumn colors of Huizhou, humming softly along the roadsides, beckon visitors back as promised.
Many people who want to experience the dreamlike beauty of Huizhou often wonder: when is the best time to see the autumn colors? Unlike the distinct autumn colors of northern China, Huizhou's autumn boasts vibrant colors without being intense. Even more alluring than the vibrant colors of the forests is its harmonious and varied rhythm. Starting in October, the changing colors of autumn-colored trees like sweetgum, pale yellow ginkgo, orange-yellow Chinese tallow tree, golden chrysanthemum, soapberry, and Japanese maple begin to quietly unfold.
Autumn is the season for Huangling. As the leader in ancient town tourism, it has the titles of the most beautiful Chinese symbol, the most beautiful filming location in China and abroad, and the six most beautiful villages and towns in the world. Because the land is not flat, in order to solve the problem of insufficient land, villagers began to dry crops on the eaves, and now it has evolved into an indispensable viewing activity all year round.
Here, the Autumn Drying Festival is held year-round, allowing everything to dry in the sun. Peppers, corn, chrysanthemums, and other abundant crops are harvested, while red maples, persimmons, and ginkgo trees bloom, adorning the ancient village like a vibrant oil painting. During the Autumn Drying Festival, the scenic area also hosts numerous carnival activities, including retro singing competitions, harvest feasts, and Autumn Drying dances.
Recommended viewing spots: Drying workshop, second floor photography bar, Wugui Hall, autumn drying display platform, Shuikou Forest, ancient stage
(Photo source: Wuyuan Huangling Scenic Area)
(Huangling Scenic Area Tour Map)
Huanglingcheck the details
Huangling, located in the northeastern part of Wuyuan County, Shangrao City, Jiangxi Province, boasts classic Hui-style architecture and the grotesque rock formations of Shi'er Mountain. It is the birthplace of the renowned "sun-drying autumn leaves" (qiu shuang) culture and a Huizhou ancient village with nearly 600 years of history. Huangling is a typical mountain village, with dwellings arranged in a fan-shaped, terraced pattern around a water source. Renowned for its "sun-drying autumn leaves," the village's "Heavenly Street" resembles a jade belt, connecting classic ancient buildings. It is lined with Hui-style shops, with shops in front and workshops in the back, creating a moving, abbreviated version of the "Along the River During the Qingming Festival." Surrounded by thousands of ancient trees and ten thousand acres of terraced fields, the surrounding area features stunning "land art" displays of flowers throughout the seasons. This unique tourist experience allows you to walk across cable bridges, slide across zip lines, and ride a high-altitude cableway, overlooking the unique spectacle of sun-drying autumn leaves.
Recommended months: March, October
5533 recommendations, 7807 visits
Tips:
【Location】Huangling Village, Jiangwan Town, Wuyuan County, Shangrao City
【Business Hours】07:00-17:30 (Extended to 21:00 on holidays)
Tickets: 145 yuan/person (entrance fee: 135 yuan/person + cable car: 120 yuan/person)
【Scenic Area Phone Number】(0793)7255555
[Warm Tips] Traffic jams are common during peak hours, so be sure to leave enough time
Compared with the hustle and bustle of Huangling, the Yangchan Tulou hidden deep in the mountains of Shendu Town, She County is much more low-key. Yangchan Village is a mountain village built on the mountain with hundreds of Tulou. The Tulou are all built with bluestone as the foundation. There are stone slabs or stone steps or bluestone paving between the Tulou. The earliest one has a history of more than 300 years.
Every autumn harvest season, corn, pumpkin, dogwood, red pepper, and lantern persimmon, which carry the deep affection of the soil and the joy of farmers, are harvested one after another. In the courtyard, the open space in front of the door, and the roofs of farmers' houses, all kinds of fruits are in full bloom.
The "dirty" Yangchan Village is located at a high altitude and has inconvenient transportation. There is a parking lot near Dingtan after the bus arrives. The road up the mountain is narrow and you need to change to a car. The road from the service center to Yangchan Village is a winding mountain road with basically no external vehicles. The local villagers are familiar with the road conditions and drive very fast. In addition, it is difficult to meet other cars on the curves. For safety reasons, it is recommended to take the local scenic spot shuttle bus to and from the village.
Depart from Huangshan | 2 days and 1 night
Travel by Car | From Xin'an River to Qiandao Lake, a 2-Day In-Depth Tour of Landscape Gallery
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【Location】Yangchan Village, Shendu Town, She County, Huangshan City
【Ticket exchange time】09:00-16:00
【Scenic tour fee】30 yuan/person
【Scenic spot phone number】0559-2751208
[Accommodation Recommendation] There are only two B&Bs in Yangchan Tulou, and the number of rooms is very small. It is generally recommended to stay in Shendu Town
In 2020, the villagers of Chengkan used colorful fruits in the drying yard to spell out the words "peace and prosperity, good weather and good harvests", which became popular on WeChat Moments. As "a must-visit place when climbing Mount Huangshan", in addition to the well-preserved ancient buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties, the custom of drying fruits in autumn in Chengkan has actually been going on for hundreds of years.
Because the climate in southern Anhui is humid, local villagers dry their harvested crops from September to November every year to better preserve the food.
Chengkan Village was sited and laid out according to the principles of Bagua feng shui. Its three streets and ninety-nine alleys, interconnected by houses, create a maze-like pattern. It's impossible to dry food in front of one's doorstep, so the villagers built a spacious autumn sun-drying square by the Yongxin Lake at the village entrance. In autumn, the square resembles a canvas, its winnowing baskets a palette, a vibrant display of the joy of a bountiful harvest.
Shuyuan Village, not far from Chengkan, has a large area of sunflowers planted. The sunflowers bloom around National Day every year, and hundreds of acres of sunflower fields are open to the public free of charge. Against the backdrop of blue sky and green mountains, they form a picturesque rural beauty with the ancient village of Paifang.
(Chengkan Scenic Area Guide Map)
Chengkancheck the details
Chengkan, also known as Longxi and Bagua Village, is a town under the jurisdiction of Huizhou District, Huangshan City, Anhui Province. Its location and layout follow the Bagua feng shui theory of the I Ching, which embodies the concept of "Yin (Kan) and Yang (Cheng), the unity of the two energies, and the unity of heaven and man." Nestled between mountains and water, Chengkan's maze of three streets and ninety-nine alleys creates a serene experience. Nestled amidst verdant mountains and bamboo, Chengkan blends both natural and cultural attractions. A land of outstanding people, a vibrant cultural landscape, and a rich history and culture, Chengkan boasts over 30 plaques inscribed by figures from past dynasties, including Dong Qichang and Lin Zexu. Since the Song Dynasty, Chengkan has seen the rise of Huizhou merchants and flourished cultural and educational institutions, creating a unique presence in the history and development of Huizhou. Chinese master painter Liu Haisu once said, "When climbing Mount Huangshan, you must visit Chengkan." Huizhou folk houses are among the best in the world, and Chengkan's are among the best in Huizhou.
4998 recommendations, 2260 visits
Tips:
[Location] No. 7, Baolun Road, Chengkan Village, Chengkan Town, Huizhou District, Huangshan City
[Business hours] 08:00-17:00
[Tickets] 107 yuan/person
【Scenic Area Phone Number】(0559)3537777
[Note] Shuyuan Flower Sea is free, but the road is narrow, so please pay attention to traffic.
The autumn scenery of Tachuan has become a business card of Huizhou tourism. The ancient village and rural autumn scenery attracts endless people to Tachuan every year to enjoy the autumn, and the traffic on nearby roads is often congested.
The red leaves in Tachuan are mainly from the Chinese tallow tree. In recent years, the meteorological department of Yi County, Huangshan City has issued a landscape forecast for the autumn colors of Tachuan. According to previous years, the red leaves usually appear around October 20, reach their maximum range around mid-November, and gradually fall off at the end of November.
The best time to view and photograph the autumn colors of Takamatsu is at dusk and early morning. Compared to the red leaves that are over-promoted on the Internet, the pastoral scenery here is actually more gorgeous and moving. On the way from Huangshan to Takamatsu, you will see an observation deck after passing the Hongcun Tunnel. This is also one of the top 100 photography spots recommended by Huangshan City. The view is wide and, weather permitting, you can capture Xieli, Fengdeng Village, and Qishu Lake.
Tachuancheck the details
Tachuan Village, also known as Tashang, is located between Hongcun, a famous tourist attraction in Yi County's Peach Blossom Spring, and Mukeng Bamboo Sea. Just 2 kilometers from Hongcun, it stands as a uniquely charming mountain village among the many natural villages in Yi County's Little Peach Blossom Spring. Tachuan, nestled between Gao'an and Di'an Peaks (named after the former Xilin Temple at their summits), flows gently down the mountainside, through the village, and into the scenic Qishu Lake. The village is imbued with an infinite spiritual energy by the "river," and the stream, flowing through the "tower," is imbued with even greater vitality. This is how the name Tachuan comes to be.
Recommended months: September and October
4067 recommendations, 2858 visits
Tips:
[Location] Tachuan Village, Hongcun Town, Yi County, Huangshan City
[Business hours] 07:30-17:00
【Ticket】40 yuan/person
【Scenic spot phone number】0559-5541555
[Warm Tips] The color of the leaves of the Chinese tallow tree is affected by many factors, such as temperature and precipitation. In the past two years, there have not been many red leaves in full bloom. It is recommended to keep a calm mind when visiting so that you can discover more beautiful rural scenery.
The Shicheng Red Maple Scenic Area in Wuyuan is also a private treasure trove for many photography enthusiasts. The reason why the red maples here are famous is not because of their large area, but because of their special Huizhou artistic conception.
A century-old maple tree, more than 30 meters high, is hidden in an ancient village surrounded by mountains. This ancient village with white walls and black tiles is unique to Huizhou. It is surrounded by morning mist and curling smoke. As the light and shadow change with time, the colors in front of you appear in layers, a mixture of reality and illusion, and a hazy and dreamy look.
Shicheng attracts a large number of photography enthusiasts every year when the red maple season begins in mid-to-late November. There are two villages nearby for accommodation: Cheng Village is close to the maple forest, and Dai Village is close to the viewing platform. The accommodation conditions in the villages are relatively simple.
(Shicheng Village route diagram)
Depart from Huangshan | 5 days and 4 nights
5-Day Autumn Highlights of Ancient Huizhou | Southern Anhui + Wuyuan: Autumn in Eastern China Sees Southern Anhui
￥2380 from 1149 people have registered Register nowTips:
【Location】Dazhang Township, Wuyuan County, Shangrao City, Jiangxi Province
【Business hours】All day
[Tickets] 60 yuan/person
[Note] In previous years, the red maple leaves in Shicheng would enter the viewing period in the middle and late part of November 10th. The winding mountain road leading into Shicheng is steep and has many turns, so it is generally not recommended to drive there.
Changxi Village, also known as Mayuan Village, is one of the oldest original ecological ancient villages in Wuyuan. Due to its remote geographical location, few tourists visit it. Many local people in Wuyuan cannot point out its exact geographical location. Changxi Village consists of four natural villages: Shangchangxi, Xiachangxi, Dongjia, Caojia, Fangjia, and Lingjiao. There are more than 200 maple trees in total. Most of the houses in the village are late Qing Dynasty buildings. Because there are few tourists disturbing them, at dusk, the small bridges, flowing water, blue bricks and black tiles give a quiet and comfortable feeling of a paradise.
(Photo source: Dai Xiangyang from Changxi Village)
Tips:
【Location】Changxi Village, Fuchun Town, Wuyuan County, Jiangxi Province
【Ticket】Free
[Notes] The mountain road leading to the village is rugged and has many turns, so please be careful to honk your horn when driving.
Fog forms when water vapor in the air condenses into tiny droplets that float in the air, reducing ground-level visibility. In autumn and winter, the temperature difference between day and night is significant, and the early morning temperatures on rivers and lakes are lower, making morning fog more likely to form. Combined with the ancient charm of Huizhou's unique blue bricks and black tiles, it creates an even more dreamlike illusion. Qishu Lake, also known as the "Dongfanghong Reservoir," is located in Hongcun Town, Yi County. Qishu Village lies dormant at the bottom of the lake, while the shores are shimmering with vibrant Metasequoia trees.
The mountains on both sides of the river are winding, and the houses are scattered in an orderly manner. The morning mist of Taohuatan is cool, bright, and elusive. Unlike morning mists elsewhere, Taohuatan's river mist is not seasonal. Under suitable temperatures, it is very likely to appear in the early morning after rain. The sky connects with the clouds and the morning mist, and the stars seem to turn and the sails dance. The morning mist of Taohuatan is like the poets who came here thousands of years ago, full of fairy spirit.
"A stone pierces the sky, reaching into the clouds, and is level with the blue clouds." Qiyun Mountain is not only one of the four famous Taoist mountains with karst landforms, but also a famous mountain with sea of clouds that was once as famous as Huangshan. When the sky clears after the autumn rain, the sea of clouds is misty and the air is full of fairy air.
Tips:
【Location】Qiyunshan Town, Xiuning County, Huangshan City, Anhui Province
[Business hours] 08:00-17:00
【Ticket】75 yuan/person
【Consultation Hotline】(0559)7560167
[Accommodation Reminder] There are many B&Bs and farmhouses on Yuehua Tianjie Street on the mountain, but due to the climate, most of them will be slightly humid.
[Note] The hiking trails are basically steps, so it is recommended to take the cable car up the mountain. If you stay on the mountain, you need to leave your luggage at the visitor center at the foot of the mountain.
Over 200 days a year, you can see the sea of clouds in Tianshang Village, a remarkable and beautiful ancient mountain village. Perched on a mountain ridge, suspended on three sides, it is also the most difficult place to reach in ancient Huizhou. The spectacular sunrises over the sea of clouds continue to attract more and more people.
Tips:
【Location】Xikou Town, Xiuning County, Huangshan City, Anhui Province
【Business hours】All day
【Ticket】Free
[Note] Most of the B&Bs in Muliqiao are renovated local farmhouses in recent years. Due to geographical restrictions, the rooms are generally small and the supporting facilities are poor.
Another topic that cannot be avoided when visiting Huizhou is the Feng Shui ancient villages, which also exude another dimension of charming charm during the harvest season. There is the ox-shaped village of Hongcun, which is in the painting, the film and television ancient village of Nanping, the circular village of Jujing, and the Ming and Qing ancient residential museum Xidi. The beauty of Huizhou is not composed of any isolated element. The artistic conception is as tranquil as ink and wash, and you will be fascinated by it as soon as you arrive.
(Circular Village Chrysanthemum Path)
Although there are countless beautiful sights in the world, the autumn charm of Huizhou is unique. When the epidemic is over, go to the poetic and picturesque ancient Huizhou for a trip.
