Life advice: When traveling to Huangshan, be sure to set aside two days for Shexian

Huangshan is bustling with tourists, but Shexian, just tens of kilometers away, quietly preserves a corner of Huizhou's ancient charm. This place retains its simple authenticity and is a hidden gem of Southern Anhui.
The beauty of Shexian lies not in its strange peaks and unique rocks, but in its deeply ingrained cultural heritage and vibrant local life.
Every bluestone slab here holds a story, and every carved window reveals exquisite craftsmanship. It's worth slowing down and spending two days to gently experience it.
📍Shexian
🚄Shexian North
🚘It is recommended to arrive by self-driving or chartered car.
🚶‍♀️Sharing my two-day tour of Huizhou's ancient charm
Day 1: Huizhou Ancient City➡️Tangyue Memorial Archway Complex➡️Xucun Village➡️Huizhou Ancient City Night Tour
Day 2: Xin'an River Landscape Gallery➡️Xiong Village Zhushan Academy➡️Return journey
📷About Photo Spots
1️⃣Huizhou Ancient City: One of the four well-preserved ancient cities, and it's free. The streets and alleys have a complex structure, and the buildings all exude the ancient charm of the Ming and Qing dynasties. It's easy to get lost when there are many people, but wandering around without a specific destination is also a great experience.
You can check out the enclosed Wengcheng (Barbican), and the Big Fish God Lamp cultural and creative store next to it is also great for browsing. When you're tired, sit down at the teahouse in the Qiaolou (Drum Tower) and watch the people coming and going below the city wall. The Huizhou Government Office opposite the teahouse has various performances, and the evening "Fish Dragon Parade" night tour also starts here. You can also make a non-heritage fish lantern in the afternoon and join the parade in the evening.
2️⃣Tangyue Memorial Archway Complex: Walk through the seven archways, and you can hear a story under each one. It's known as a living fossil of Huizhou culture.
3️⃣Xucun Village: A niche ancient village with over 1800 years of history, and the first village in Huizhou to produce a top scholar.
4️⃣Xin'an River Landscape Gallery: Starting from Shendu Pier in Shexian, travel upstream along the Xin'an River to visit the small towns and villages along the river.
5️⃣Xiong Village Zhushan Academy: A well-preserved ancient building. Inside, every brick, tile, and piece of wood tells its own story.
This time, I stayed at Yuexi Xishi Yinji near the ancient city, which was great for both daytime excursions and evening night tours.

Post by cortex3txezkgnib | Sep 20, 2025