Chizhou has returned, it is recommended to visit in July to August

Jiuhuashan, located in Chizhou, Anhui, is one of China's four famous Buddhist mountains, combining profound cultural heritage with enchanting natural scenery.
Stepping into Jiuhuashan, the peaks are steep and shrouded in mist, like a fairyland. Lotus Peak resembles a blooming green lotus, faintly visible in the sea of clouds; Tiantai Peak soars into the clouds, and climbing to the top offers a magnificent sunrise and vast sea of clouds, opening one's heart and mind. Mountain streams flow gently, crystal clear, cascading down the rocks to form lively waterfalls hanging like silver ribbons between the mountains.

Reasons to visit Chizhou in summer
☑ Sea of flowers and Buddhist affinity: Wild lotus blooms in Jiuhuashan, the incense mixes with floral fragrance, blending Zen and romance
Water fun carnival: Best season for Shitai rafting, kayaking through rapids, splashing water is super refreshing~
Fresh flavors: Stinky mandarin fish, Jiuhuashan vegetarian dishes, lotus leaf-wrapped rice, all for about 50 RMB per person to taste southern Anhui flavors

Recommended attractions
Jiuhuashan Scenic Area (5A)
★★★★★ One of China's four famous Buddhist mountains, with 99 peaks and over 80 temples, Buddhist light often seen in summer!
6:00-18:00 (peak season) Ticket 160 RMB (half price for students, must buy 50 RMB shuttle bus ticket)
Activities: Pray at the Mummy Hall in the morning, have vegetarian lunch at Jiyuan Temple, take the cable car to Baishou Palace in the afternoon to see the sea of clouds, watch the sunset at Huatai plank road in the evening

Xinghua Village Cultural Tourism Area
★★★★★ Birthplace of Du Mu's "Qingming," lotus flowers fill the pond in summer, you can ride a black awning boat and wear Hanfu to tour the garden
8:30-17:30 Ticket 60 RMB (half price for students)
Activities: Visit Du Mu Square, taste rice wine at the winery, boat on the lotus pond, watch Huangmei opera in the evening

Pingtian Lake Scenic Area
★★★★ Free "urban lung," lake larger than West Lake, cycling around the lake and watching the sunset is stunning
Activities: Rent a bike to cycle around the lake (20 RMB/hour), check in at Lotus Platform, picnic by the lotus pond, boat ride 50 RMB/person

Guniujiang Scenic Area
★★★★ "Little Jiuzhaigou of southern Anhui," icy cold streams, super fun rafting~
8:00-17:00 Ticket 100 RMB (rafting 120 RMB)
Activities: See the Four-tier Waterfall, enjoy Longmen rafting, visit Yan Family Ancient Village, taste selenium-rich rice

Dawang Cave Scenic Area
★★★★ The largest karst cave in East China, constant temperature 20°C, fantastic stalactites
8:00-17:00 Ticket 85 RMB (cable car 30 RMB one way)
Activities: Take the cable car into the cave, see the "Heavenly Craft Buddha," explore the underground river, try kudzu starch dumplings

Three days two nights itinerary
Day 1: Jiuhuashan Buddhist worship (Mummy Hall → Jiyuan Temple vegetarian lunch → Baishou Palace → Huatai sunset), stay at a guesthouse at the foot of the mountain
Day 2: Xinghua Village (black awning boat → rice wine → lotus leaf-wrapped rice) → Pingtian Lake (lake cycling → sunset), stroll the old street
Day 3: Guniujiang (waterfall → rafting → selenium-rich meal) → Dawang Cave (karst cave → underground river), return trip

Food: Stinky mandarin fish, Jiuhuashan vegetarian dishes, Shitai selenium-rich tea, rice dumplings, kudzu starch dumplings
Accommodation: Jiuhuashan guesthouses (near the scenic area), city hotels (convenient for eating and shopping), Guniujiang inns (farmhouse cuisine)
Transportation: Chizhou Station has high-speed rail (Hefei 1.5h, Nanjing 2h); self-driving from Anqing 1h, Hefei 2.5h; airport near Hefei Xinqiao 2.5h)