Day 1 Shanghai → Hongcun
All day
The itinerary for November 11, 2024 has been optimized based on last week's departures.
7:00-7:15 Meet at the designated location of China-TravelNote and sign in. Depart at 7:15 sharp, with interactive activities and itinerary introductions on board, all filled with laughter and joy along the way.
The tour leader will explain the itinerary and precautions to us, and lead everyone to interact and introduce themselves, so that we can laugh and chat all the way to our destination; lunch will be provided at the service area.
Arriving at Hongcun around 2:30 PM, everyone was assigned their rooms. After purchasing their tickets at the entrance, everyone was free to explore the area or share their meals. A must-see for any visitor to Yixian County, Hongcun is much less crowded in autumn than in spring and summer, making it a quiet and relaxing place to explore. Entering through the west gate, you'll see Nanhu Lake, the filming location for the horse-crossing bridge in Ang Lee's film "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon." With mountains in the background and a small bridge over a pond nearby, this graceful Jiangnan landscape is a never-ending sight. Yuezhao, located in the center of the village, is shaped like a half moon, symbolizing the blooming and falling of flowers, the waxing and waning of the moon. White walls and black tiles are reflected in the clear water, and many of the iconic photos of Hongcun that have gone viral online were captured here. Visiting early in the morning or at sunset is recommended for photos. Around 8:00 AM, you can even see the faint morning mist. After dinner, you can explore the ancient village on your own. The night view of Hongcun is also truly breathtaking (Hongcun tickets include multiple entries).
Lucun Viewing Platform is 2.5km away from Hongcun Village and can be reached on your own.
In the evening, find a farm to taste the local Huizhou cuisine. After a full meal, you can enjoy a night tour of Hongcun.
As of November 21, 2024, the local scenery will be less beautiful than the peak of autumn. 70% of the rice has been harvested, 50% of the Chinese tallow trees are still there, and the metasequoia has begun to turn red. You can refer to the pictures on the Internet for reference.
Day 2 Hongcun → Qishu Lake → Xieli → Tachuan → Shanghai
All day
Meet around 8:00 AM, and your leader will lead you on a hike through the mystical autumn landscape of [Tachuan - Xieli]. Tachuan is known as the "Village in a Chinese Painting." The village entrance and surrounding areas are home to towering tallow trees. Every autumn, after the frost descends, the scenery changes from green to yellow, then from yellow to red, creating a rainbow of colors, attracting a large number of painting and photography enthusiasts. During the hike from Hongcun to Xieli, we'll pass by Qishu Lake. The once tranquil Qishu Lake suddenly comes alive... This place is rarely visited, even unknown, but its scenery is breathtakingly beautiful. Formerly known as the Dongfanghong Reservoir, Qishu Lake reaches depths of dozens of meters at its deepest points. The lake and mountains, with their shimmering blue waters, resemble a virgin, shimmering in the mist and rain. In autumn, large patches of pink flowers gradually bloom along the lake's edge, painting the riverbank a striking pink, a visual feast. When the reservoir water level is low, the exposed riverbed is covered with green grass and wildflowers, creating a breathtaking sight. Continuing onward, we passed through several Huizhou villages and arrived at Xieli, a secluded and rustic Huizhou village, reminiscent of a paradise described by Tao Yuanming. The vibrant red, yellow, green, and purple foliage blanketing the mountains is particularly beautiful against the backdrop of the snow-white horse-head walls. The curling smoke from the chimneys calls to your heart.
Today's lunch is on the road, bring your own dry food, and share the food with everyone
Around 13:00, the bus was waiting for us, and we took the bus to leave southern Anhui, where the autumn was strong, and return to Shanghai.
We arrived at the departure point in Shanghai around 20:00. Everyone was still reluctant to leave and kissed goodbye with tears in their eyes!
As of November 21, 2024, the local scenery will be less beautiful than the peak of autumn. 70% of the rice has been harvested, 50% of the Chinese tallow trees are still there, and the metasequoia has begun to turn red. You can refer to the pictures on the Internet for reference.
