Day 1 Hangzhou → Jingzhou Township → Kantou Village
07:00
Check in and meet at Exit F of Huanglong Sports Center
07:30
Depart for Jixi County, Anhui
10:00
Arrive at the starting point of the Jingkan Ancient Trail, warm up, and begin your hike! After ascending a rural cement road, you'll reach the stone-paved Jiapeng section of the ancient trail. The Jingkan Ancient Trail is a pristine mountain path connecting Kantou Village in Jiapeng Township, Jixi, and Jingzhou Township. Built along a stream, the stone path resembles the Huihang Ancient Trail and was a vital route for the ancient Huizhou people to reach the outside world. With over a thousand years of history, this ancient trail offers a quaint and charming experience, connecting the starting and ending points of the modern Anhui-Zhejiang Sky Road. Shade is limited along the trail, so it's recommended to bring an umbrella and sun protection, and plenty of water.
12:00
Please bring your own lunch for the trip, as we'll have lunch at a convenient time on the mountain. We'll reach the riverbed, where the exposed riverbed is covered in a dazzling array of natural fluorite: purple, white, green, and yellow. We'll choose whether to descend from the riverbed depending on the conditions. The climb down the riverbed requires climbing over rocks, which is quite challenging, so bring gloves. The surface is slippery, so please be sure to wear non-slip shoes!
3:00 PM
We wandered through the terraced fields and arrived at the Meiganling Observation Deck, where we reflected on the ancient path we had walked, the rapeseed terraces beneath the peaks, and the beautiful scenery of the villages of southern Anhui. We descended the trail and passed through Kantou Village. The rice fields turn yellow around mid-to-late September or early October.
Kantou Ancient Village in Jiapeng Township is a very famous spot for photographing rapeseed flowers in southern Anhui. Rapeseed flowers bloom in spring from March to April, azaleas bloom in May, rice fields bloom in autumn from September to October, and the mountains are dotted with yellow and red leaves in November.
4:00 PM
Tourists returning to Jiapeng Township can meet up there to enjoy the delicious Anhui cuisine. Noodle shops, stinky mandarin fish, hairy tofu, and local chicken soup—all kinds of Huizhou delicacies are mouth-watering. Be aware that Anhui cuisine can be quite salty. To savor the flavors, return early to enjoy the hike. Finally, there's a viewing platform in the township, located opposite the Meiganling Viewing Platform, offering views of the terraced fields on the other side. If you have the energy, feel free to visit on your own!
5:00 PM
Go to B&B accommodation
·night
Visit the nearby observation deck for stargazing. Jiapeng Township is a dark-sky hotspot in Anhui Province, boasting only Level 2 light pollution, making it second only to the most remote areas of Tibet. You can even see the Milky Way. From the observation deck, the starry sky, the Milky Way, and the terraced mountains complement the Hui-style architecture, making it a perfect backdrop for long-exposure photography. Winter stargazing is chilly, so be sure to dress appropriately. Stargazing is greatly affected by the weather, so please be prepared for any occasion.
Day 2 Sunrise → Zhangshan Grand Canyon → Huanglong Sports Center
·morning
Gather early in the morning! All tourists who want to watch the sunrise, go to the observation deck
Morning mist often rises in the mountains, shrouding the Huizhou villages. Good luck! Your tour leader will inform you of the sunrise time, but due to the unpredictable weather in the mountains, whether you can see the sunrise depends on your luck. You can go to see the sunrise on your own.
09:00
Wake up! Gather for breakfast! Head to Taijihu Village. Follow your guide for a stroll through the ancient village. Hucun, also known as Taiji Village, boasts over 800 years of history. It boasts numerous ancient bridges, pavilions, dwellings, ancestral halls, temples, millennia-old trees, a Ming Dynasty-era Yinquan Street, and a cluster of large brick-carved gatehouses. Built into the mountainside, it winds its way like a three-dimensional landscape painting. It also preserves the former residences of numerous celebrities, including Zhang Xianghua, the founder of the Huizhou cuisine restaurant industry, and the writer Zhang Yiping. The village also boasts unique swing pavilions and the unique Yaowang Stone, making it a living fossil of Huizhou architecture and culture.
After we had lunch in the village, we headed to the Zhuangshan Grand Canyon!
13:00
We arrived at the Zhuangshan Grand Canyon, a breathtaking example of water quality in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Shanghai, and Anhui, and experienced the natural beauty of southern Anhui. We transferred to a scenic shuttle bus at the visitor center, arrived at the starting point, used the restroom, gathered our belongings, and began our hike deeper into the canyon. As we descended, the roar of waterfalls and the murmur of rushing water filled our ears. Mountain springs swirled along the winding streambed, revealing the smoky rocky riverbed and the glimpses of grouper. As we ascended, the water gradually darkened, becoming a glassy hue that left us spellbound. It was truly the jelly water of southern Anhui.
4:00 PM
In due time we returned to the bus stop
7:00 PM
Back to Huanglong Sports Center
