Day 1 Suzhou → Anhui → Shitan
07:00
Meeting Point 1 07:00-07:10 (10 minutes to sign in, please do not be late), intersection of Jintang Street and Zongguantang Road (near Exit 6 of Pinghe Road Station on Metro Line 2. Cars can park at Yaosheng Building, capped at 20 yuan/day)
Meeting Point 2 07:30-07:35 (5 minutes to get on the bus, don't be late), Suzhou City Toll Station (G1522 Changtai Expressway Entrance), 200 meters south, waiting under the elevated road (if you drive, you can park at Huadong Decoration City, the maximum fee is about 25 yuan/day)
Meeting Point 3 07:55-08:00 (5 minutes to get on the bus, don't be late), Metro Line 4 - Wujiang Bus Station - Exit 2 (free parking nearby for self-driving cars, paid parking lots are also available, capped at 30 yuan/day)
After signing in, we set off on the highway. The team leader led the interaction, introduced himself and explained the itinerary, and we laughed and laughed all the way to our destination.
1:30 PM
Arrive at Shitan around 13:30. Bring your own lunch or have it at the service area.
Shitan is a paradise for photography enthusiasts. It is known as the most beautiful ancient village in the mountains. When autumn comes, maple leaves sway all over the mountains and fields, and the people are simple and honest, and the mountains and rivers are interdependent. Shitan is surrounded by the Chang River. In the season with great temperature differences, the sea of clouds here is surrounded 360 degrees in all directions. Overlooking the entire Shitan, it is truly a paradise on earth in Huizhou.
This 800-year-old village still maintains its vibrant energy, whether it's the curling smoke from cooking fires in the morning or the hard work of farmers at dusk, it gives it a strong sense of life. Walking into this place feels like stepping back through thousands of years. Although dusty and dusty, it still maintains its high spirits!
We set off at the right time, hiking up the mountain along the ancient bluestone path. After about an hour's hike, we arrived at Xiatai Village, where the winding Changyuan River unfolded before us. Surrounded by mountains, the valley was dotted with whitewashed, black-tiled villages of Southern Anhui. Strolling through the valley, visitors could see ancient Hui-style villages with their whitewashed walls and black tiles. Green mountains, clear waters, gray tiles, and white walls – every step brought a new scene, like a painting, a breathtaking beauty. Everyone took photos as they walked, immersing themselves in the breathtaking scene of "people walking in a mirror, birds flying through a screen"! Flower fields cascaded down the hillside, surrounding the ancient villages of Southern Anhui.
5:30 PM
Around 17:30, arrive at the farmhouse where you will stay and have dinner.
Around 6:30 PM, after lunch, it's time for some fun, like playing games like "Kill the Killer" and "Three Kingdoms Kill." Those who can't sleep can gaze up at the stars and chat. On clear nights, photography enthusiasts can also gather together to take photos of the starry sky, the Milky Way, and star trails.
Day 2: Mountaintop → Shitan → Yangchan → Suzhou
05:30
Students who are diligent in the morning can go to the observation deck to take pictures of the sunrise. If you are lucky, you can experience the glorious sunrise and the magnificent sea of clouds over Shitan.
7:30 After breakfast, we will go down the mountain and follow the mountain trails, enjoying the autumn scenery along the way. We will arrive at Changxi Ancient Village along the Changyuan River. Changxi Ancient Village is a typical historical and cultural ancient village in southern Anhui. It retains ancient buildings from the Yuan Dynasty, ancestral halls, Huizhou ancient archways, and cemeteries. It has a profound historical heritage. There are thousand-year-old camphor trees and ginkgo trees here, guarding the ancient village. We will spend some time in Changxi Ancient Village.
10:00
At 10:00 AM, we'll gather by car and depart for Yangchan Tulou, one of the last pristine sites in southern Anhui, a well-preserved cluster of rammed earth buildings. As the tulou are sheltered by mountains, we'll transfer to a local van at the foot of the mountain to ascend. Walking along the village's stone paths, we'll experience the originality of the tulou up close. This is a paradise on earth known to photography enthusiasts. Yangchan's autumn sun-drying has gained increasing fame in recent years, even being filmed by CCTV. We'll have two hours of free time here. After lunch, we'll return.
6:30 PM
Arrived at the departure point in Suzhou at 18:30, everyone was reluctant to leave and kissed goodbye with tears in their eyes!!!
