Day 1 Various locations → → Hangzhou ★Gathering day
All day
All day, photographers from all over the world will gather at Hangzhou hotels (accommodation near West Lake - Ctrip 4-diamond rating). Early arrivals can explore West Lake on their own, where the famous Ten Scenic Spots of West Lake are located. At sunset, visit Changqiao Park on the edge of West Lake, where you can witness the Leifeng Pagoda Sunset, one of the world's top ten sunsets. Of course, the night view of West Lake is also worth photographing. In the evening, you can explore Hangzhou's famous Hefang Ancient Street and Southern Song Imperial Street and sample some of Hangzhou's local delicacies. Please exercise caution during free time.
Day 2 Hangzhou → Rucun → Xieli → Tachuan → Hongcun
·morning
After breakfast, we will leave the car and the team leader will explain the itinerary and photography techniques. The team members will introduce themselves and there will be laughter and chatter along the way. Lunch will be arranged at the service area or Tunxi Old Street.
·afternoon
We will first arrive at Ru Village in the afternoon. Along the way, we will see large areas of chrysanthemums of various colors, yellow and white, blooming all over the mountains. We will stop here for a while and take some free photos!
After exiting the Hongcun Tunnel in the afternoon, we arrived at the Xieli Observation Deck, highly recommended by Huizhou locals. Xieli, known as the "Colorful World," is a more secluded and rustic Huizhou village, boasting vibrant autumn colors, perfect for photo opportunities!
We then drove to Tachuan, a village reminiscent of a Chinese painting. Tung trees are planted in and around the village entrance. In autumn, the mountains are covered in vibrant foliage, creating a breathtaking spectacle. The vibrant colors of the leaves cast a shadow over the whitewashed walls and black tiles, creating a breathtaking scene.
·night
After photographing the sunset at Tachuan, we gathered at the entrance to Hongcun Scenic Area, purchased our tickets, and were assigned rooms to freely photograph the night view of Hongcun. If the weather was good, we could also photograph star trails.
Day 3 Hongcun → Lucun → Huangling → Shicheng
·morning
Today we woke up early to photograph Lu Village shrouded in morning mist (we recommend bringing your own snacks and hot water for breakfast). Standing on the observation deck and looking down, the view was a visual feast of colors.
·morning
After the photoshoot, we returned to Hongcun for some free time to shoot and create. Hongcun is a quintessence of Huizhou-style architecture, an ancient village with an ox-shaped layout. The entire village is surrounded by a marvelous water system designed by our ancestors, creating a magnificent and exquisite experience.
·afternoon
We set off at the right time, arriving at the foot of Huangling Mountain about 1.5 hours later. We loaded our gear and transferred to a scenic shuttle bus to the ancient village on the mountain. Huangling is a masterpiece of human culture, with dozens of ancient Hui-style dwellings scattered across a valley with a hundred-meter drop. Every home features windows for natural light and racks for drying produce. Here, we thoroughly enjoyed photographing this masterpiece of folklore—Huangling's autumn sun drying!
We went down the mountain to Shicheng in time to check in and prepare to photograph the sunrise in Shicheng the next day.
4th Tianshicheng → Chrysanthemum Path → Changxi
·morning
I got up early this morning to photograph the sunrise in Shicheng. Cheng Village, nestled among maple trees, was bathed in morning mist, its crimson leaves looming through the mist. Add to that the morning smoke from the villagers' cooking and the smoke from burning tea leaves, and the small valley formed a dreamlike wonderland, as picturesque as poetry.
·morning
After wrapping up our Shicheng photography trip, we drove to Jujing Village. We climbed to the top of the mountain to capture the stunning panoramic views of this unique circular village in China. Afterward, we headed to Tsinghua University for lunch.
·afternoon
In the afternoon, we set off for the famous Jialu Umbrella Factory in Wuyuan to photograph the oil-paper umbrella making, a handicraft that has been passed down for thousands of years and an intangible cultural heritage.
We arrived in Changxi just in time, just before dusk. Evening is the most beautiful time of the day in Changxi. As the sun sets, the over 200 century-old sweetgum trees lining the village turn a fiery crimson, blending seamlessly with the white walls, black tiles, and horse-head walls, creating a unique red maple forest. The village also boasts numerous profound alleys, with bluestone paths guiding us through the cultural heritage of Huizhou architecture. We took plenty of photos until the light faded and we checked into our guesthouse.
Day 5 Changxi → Moon Bay → Huangshan
·morning
In the morning, you can take photos of the cultural landscape in Changxi Village on your own, or go to the observation deck to take photos of the sunrise.
·morning
After breakfast, we will drive to the beautiful Moon Bay. We will arrange for a fishing boat to take photos. The sandbar is like a crescent moon lying quietly in the water, and the fishermen casting their nets add a touch of the gentle beauty of the Jiangnan region. It is very easy to produce great photos, so feel free to create as much as you want.
·afternoon
Afterwards, we drove to Huangshan Scenic Area, changed to a scenic shuttle bus to go to the back mountain and took the cable car up the mountain. After reaching the mountain, tourists began to appreciate the strangeness, danger, beauty and elegance of Huangshan. We went to take pictures of the sunset over the sea of clouds at Huangshan, and when the afterglow faded, we went to check into the hotel on the mountain.
Day 6 Huangshan → Hangzhou ★ Disbandment Day
·morning
We woke up early today and headed to Guangmingding to capture the sunrise over Huangshan's sea of clouds. From afar, we'll overlook the Three Penglai Islands, Aoyu Peak, Lianhua Peak, and Tiandu Peak, each a breathtaking spectacle of peaks and a changing landscape. Of course, tourists with limited energy can also capture the sunrise from the hotel's plaza, which won't disappoint. In autumn, Huangshan boasts crisp air and vibrant colors. Afterward, we'll take the cable car down the mountain.
·afternoon
We returned to Hangzhou at about 5 p.m. and were taken to the Wulinmen Airport Bus Ticket Office. We were reluctant to leave and kissed each other tearfully. Don't forget to hand in your homework when you get back!
