Complete Guide to Huangling Autumn Drying: Unlock the Limited Autumn Romance of Jiangnan

Huangling, an ancient village hidden in the northeast of Wuyuan, Jiangxi, is famous for the unique folk custom of "Autumn Drying." Every autumn, households hang crops such as chili peppers, corn, and pumpkins on rooftops and windowsills. The colorful crops contrast beautifully with the black-tiled white walls of Huizhou-style architecture, resembling a flowing autumn oil painting. This guide will take you through the best times to visit, transportation and accommodation options, and key activities to deeply experience the charm of Huangling Autumn Drying.

1. Best Viewing Time: Capture the Autumn "Palette"
Huangling Autumn Drying is not limited to fixed dates but changes with the seasons and crop maturity. The best viewing period is from September to December, with each month offering unique features:
September-October: Corn, chili peppers, and soybeans mature successively, and villagers focus on drying these crops. Rooftops are adorned with strings of red chili peppers and golden corn cobs hanging on drying racks, complemented by green pumpkins. This is the most vibrant color period and the golden time for capturing the "classic autumn drying scenes." Especially around the National Day holiday, the village hosts the "Autumn Drying Cultural Festival," featuring folk performances and hands-on drying experiences, creating a lively atmosphere.
November-December: After the rice harvest, villagers dry rice grains and dried sweet potatoes, with some late-maturing chili peppers still on the branches. The village becomes quieter, and when morning mist lingers, the golden rice between the white walls and black tiles appears faint and poetic. If there is an early snowfall, the crops covered in snow create a unique "red and white" scene, but be sure to check the weather forecast as roads may be slippery after snow.
Best daily times: Early morning 6:30-8:30 (when the morning mist has not yet dissipated, the light is soft, ideal for backlit portraits and village panoramas); afternoon 3:00-5:00 (with slanting sunlight, the crop colors are more vivid, perfect for capturing the "autumn drying light and shadow" details).

2. Transportation Guide: Arriving at the "Autumn Drying Town" from Various Places
Huangling is located in Jiangwan Town, Wuyuan County, about 40 kilometers from Wuyuan County seat. It is recommended to first arrive in Wuyuan and then transfer to Huangling.
External transportation:
High-speed rail: You can take the high-speed train directly to "Wuyuan Station," the most convenient way. Wuyuan Station is located in Ziyang Town, Wuyuan County, about 37 kilometers from Huangling. After exiting the station, you can take a taxi (about 80-100 RMB, 40 minutes) or a direct shuttle bus to the Huangling Scenic Area Visitor Center (tickets sold at the high-speed rail station exit, 20 RMB per person, one bus per hour, about 1 hour travel time).
Airplane: The nearest airports are "Huangshan Tunxi International Airport" (about 150 kilometers from Huangling, 2.5 hours by car) or "Nanchang Changbei International Airport" (about 300 kilometers from Huangling, 4 hours by car). After landing, you can transfer to the high-speed train to Wuyuan Station and then proceed to Huangling.
Internal transportation: Huangling Scenic Area operates a "sightseeing bus + cableway" system. Visitors need to purchase tickets at the visitor center (including sightseeing bus + cableway), take the sightseeing bus to the cableway lower station, then take the cableway up the mountain (about 10 minutes one way, offering panoramic views of the village). The village itself is a pedestrian street with no motor vehicles, suitable for walking tours.

3. Accommodation Recommendations: Stay in an "Autumn Drying Home"
There are various accommodation options inside and around Huangling Scenic Area. It is recommended to prioritize homestays within the scenic area for an immersive autumn drying experience and to avoid peak crowds in the early morning and evening.
Homestays inside the scenic area: Mainly in Huizhou architectural style, most have "autumn drying balconies" or "viewing terraces," allowing you to see the autumn drying scenery right from your window. Recommended are "Huangling Autumn Drying Boutique Stay" and "Huangling Tianjie Hotel." The former is located in the village core area, convenient for walking to attractions; the latter is near the cableway upper station, convenient for travel. Prices range from about 500-1000 RMB per night (may increase during peak season). Some homestays also offer "autumn drying experience" activities, where you can dry corn and weave bamboo baskets with villagers.

4. Key Highlights: Must-Visit "Autumn Drying Landmarks"
Huangling village is small but full of sights. The following key spots are essential for experiencing autumn drying:
Autumn Drying Square: The "core stage" of Huangling Autumn Drying. Dozens of houses around the square have drying racks on their roofs. Every autumn, a large quantity of crops is dried here, making it the best place to photograph the "panoramic autumn drying." The square also features "Autumn Drying Aunties" demonstrating drying techniques live, allowing close observation of how they arrange crops into beautiful shapes.
Tianjie Ancient Alley: The main street running through the village, lined with shops, homestays, and ancient buildings. Drying crops hang from windowsills and corners throughout the alley. Strolling along Tianjie, you can taste local snacks (such as steamed cakes and gray juice fruit) and buy autumn drying-themed handicrafts (like bamboo drying baskets and dried chili peppers).
Wuguitang Autumn Drying Viewing Platform: Located at a high point in the village, it offers an excellent vantage point to overlook the "autumn drying homes." The wide view integrates white walls, black tiles, colorful crops on drying racks, and distant green mountains, especially suitable for photographing autumn drying scenes at sunset.
Terraced Flower Sea (Autumn Edition): Huangling’s terraced fields are rapeseed flower fields in spring and planted with rice and royal chrysanthemums in autumn. From late October to November, the royal chrysanthemums bloom, creating a golden sea of flowers that complements the autumn drying village on the mountaintop, a popular photo spot.
Leixin Bridge: A glass bridge connecting Huangling village and the terraced fields. Part of the bridge floor is transparent glass, allowing visitors to look far over the terraces and village panorama and take creative photos of the "autumn drying village + glass bridge."

5. Food Recommendations: Taste the "Autumn Farmhouse Flavors"
Huangling’s cuisine mainly features Huizhou farmhouse dishes, using locally grown crops with the fresh aroma of autumn:
Huangling Autumn Drying Feast: A must-try specialty banquet featuring dishes made from autumn drying crops, such as "Stir-fried Meat with Dried Chili Peppers" (chili peppers become more flavorful when dried), "Corn Stewed with Ribs" (sweet and tender), and "Pumpkin Cakes" (crispy outside, tender inside). Some homestays offer custom orders, suitable for sharing among groups.
Farmhouse Snacks:
Steamed Cake: Made from rice flour and steamed, topped with dried shrimp, bamboo shoots, chili, and other ingredients. Savory and delicious, available at small stalls in Tianjie Ancient Alley, 5 RMB each.
Gray Juice Fruit: Made with water filtered through rice straw ash and rice flour, can be steamed or stir-fried. It has a chewy texture and is traditionally stir-fried with minced meat and vegetables, a local specialty snack.
Royal Chrysanthemum Tea: Autumn is the blooming season for royal chrysanthemums. Tea brewed from royal chrysanthemums grown in Huangling’s terraced fields is fragrant and refreshing, helps clear heat, and makes a great souvenir.
Souvenirs: Besides royal chrysanthemum tea, you can buy dried chili peppers, corn grits, dried sweet potatoes, and other hand-dried products by villagers, preserving the original flavor of the ingredients, perfect for gifts.

6. Notes: Make Your Trip Smoother
Ticket Booking: Huangling tickets (including sightseeing bus + cableway) cost 145 RMB per person in peak season (March-April, September-November) and 120 RMB in off-season. It is recommended to book in advance on the official website or third-party platforms to avoid queues.
Clothing Suggestions: Autumn in Huangling has a large temperature difference between morning and evening (about 5-10°C). It is recommended to wear long-sleeve shirts and a light jacket for easy layering. The village has many stone-paved roads, so comfortable sneakers are advised; avoid high heels.
Avoid Peak Times: National Day and weekends are peak tourist times with large crowds. To avoid crowds, visit on weekdays or explore core attractions early in the morning (before 8 AM) or late afternoon (after 5 PM) when there are fewer visitors and better photo opportunities.
Respect Local Customs: Please communicate before photographing villagers and do not touch drying crops casually. When entering ancient buildings, follow scenic area rules and do not carve or touch cultural relics.

Huangling Autumn Drying is an autumn feast of harmonious coexistence between people and nature. There is no noisy urban atmosphere here, only the colorful crops between white walls and black tiles and the simple warmth of farmhouse life. We hope this guide helps you plan a perfect trip to Huangling and capture your own autumn romance.