Anqing: An unexpectedly discovered treasure city

A Southern Anhui Self-Driving Adventure: From a Disappointing Jingdezhen to an Amazing 72 Hours in Anqing

I had originally planned to begin my ceramics tour in Jingdezhen, but heavy rain and crowds put me off. I made a last-minute change of route and drove three hours into the heart of southern Anhui. This underrated, ancient city, with its vibrant atmosphere and sense of history, soothed my travel anxiety.

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🏛️ Anqing Museum: A 3D Textbook That Travels Through Time

Recommendation Rating: ★★★★★

I thought the city-level museum would be a quick tour, but I didn't expect it to hold half of Anhui's modern history. From Neolithic pottery to Republican-era Huizhou merchant account books, the most impressive part was the Huangmei Opera exhibition—a 1:1 replica of a Qing Dynasty stage, Mei Lanfang's handwritten music scores, and even a QR code to listen to excerpts from the original version of "The Legend of the Cowherd and the Fairy." I recommend setting aside two hours for this tour. The "costume experience" in the cultural and creative area is a fantastic value at 30 yuan per set.

Hidden Gems: Free guided tours are offered every Saturday afternoon, allowing local volunteers to uncover even more interesting historical facts.

🚶♂️ An In-Depth Tour of Da Nan Men: A Double Feast of Taste and History

Recommended Route: Daobaoshi Historical District → National Goods Street → Da Nan Men Beef Buns → 27 Cafe

I thought eating Shaanxi noodles in Anhui was a bit of a culinary nightmare, but I was pleasantly surprised by the "Guanzhong Old Noodle House," recommended by a cultural and creative shop owner. The biang biang noodles paired with Bingfeng soda are a perfect combination of sour, spicy, and fragrant. The century-old bun shop around the corner is even better. The beef pan-fried buns, priced at 3 yuan each, are bursting with juice, and I recommend pairing them with the mung bean smoothie from the stall next door to help with the greasiness.

A must-see for coffee lovers: 27 Cafe, hidden in an old alley, is a pleasant surprise. The owner is a Q-Grader certified barista, and I recommend the "Southern Anhui Light Roast" latte (28 yuan). The citrus notes of washed Yirgacheffe blend perfectly with oat milk, earning a cupping score of 86.5.

🎭 Zaifen Huangmei Mansion: Immersive Opera Blind Box

Ticketing Tips: Next-day ticket reservations open at 2:30 PM daily (0556-XXXXXXX). It's recommended to call 10 minutes in advance. The 50 RMB ticket price for a selected performance of "The Female Imperial Concubine" includes four classic excerpts and an encore performance with the actors. When the post-90s lead actress explains the Huangmei Opera version of Romeo and Juliet to a foreign audience in fluent English, traditional art comes alive.

Tips: The best value is to reserve seats on the second floor, allowing you to clearly see the actors' expressions without being obscured by the audience in the front row. After the show, you can take photos with the actors backstage, and if you're lucky, you might get an autographed folding fan.

🌉 Yingjiang Temple Zhenfeng Pagoda: A Secret Place in the Clouds Along the Yangtze River

Tower Climbing Guide:

• Tickets are 20 RMB, including incense. It's recommended to visit early in the morning or evening to avoid the crowds.

• The spiral staircase inside the pagoda is steep, so wear non-slip shoes! The seventh floor houses the "treasure of the pagoda," a Ming Dynasty bronze bell.

• Those afraid of heights beware! The top floor fence is only 70cm high, but the panoramic views of the Yangtze River are worth the risk.

Hidden camera spot: The hexagonal pavilion by the temple's release pond offers a magical view of the Zhenfeng Pagoda and Yangtze River cargo ships.

🚗 Practical Driving Tips

1. Transportation: Shenzhen → Jingdezhen (5 hours by high-speed rail) → Anqing (3 hours by car). For city parking, choose the Renmin Road underground parking lot (5 yuan/hour).

2. Accommodation: We recommend the Grand Court Hotel on Daobaoshi Street, a 5-minute walk from all attractions. The ancient-style lobby is perfect for photo ops.

3. Tips to Avoid:

• Be cautious when buying "freshly cut mangoes" sold on the street; they're often underweight.

• Taxis often don't use meters; use Didi.

• The "souvenir shops" around the Huangmei Opera Art Center mostly sell goods from Yiwu.

My 48 hours in Anqing were like opening a carefully prepared gift box. The bluestone slabs of Daobaoshi Street hold 600 years of stories, the latte in my coffee cup ripples with the gentle charm of southern Anhui, and the breeze atop the Zhenfeng Pagoda dispels any travel regrets. This city, where history is steeped in tea and opera is brought to life, is worth a special detour.