Xidi Ancient Village in Huangshan: A Hidden Gem Worth Revisiting

Just returned from Xidi and my social media is blowing up! This thousand-year-old village, recommended by National Geographic, truly has stories etched in every brick! Here's your fresh guide to capturing magazine-worthy ink-painting shots and avoiding tourist traps👇

1️⃣ Basic Information
🎫Admission: CNY 104 (free for guests staying at hotels within the scenic area)
⏰Opening Hours: 8:00-21:30 (light show extends until 22:00)
🚗Transportation: 1-hour direct tourist bus from Huangshan North Station (last bus at 17:00)
📸Outfit Rental: Traditional qipao/hanfu + oil paper umbrella (CNY 20/hour at village entrance)

2️⃣ Touring Route
🕗Morning: Hu Wenguang Memorial Arch → Jing'ai Hall → Qingyun Pavilion → Dafu Mansion (2.5h)
🍜Lunch: Guyue Restaurant (Signature stinky mandarin fish + hairy tofu combo)
🕑Afternoon: Ruiyu Court → East Garden → West Garden → Stone Paved Street (2h)
🌙Evening: Mingjing Lake light show → night tour of ancient lanes (1.5h)

3️⃣ Attractions
① Hu Wenguang Memorial Arch
📍Village entrance landmark | Built in 1578
✨Highlights: Three-bay, four-pillar, five-story bluestone arch, a masterpiece of Huizhou stone carving. The inscription "Prime Minister of Jing" showcases the Hu family's prestigious status
📸Photo tip: Shoot against the light at 7am, framing the arch with canola fields

② Dafu Mansion
📍Core area | Official residence from Kangxi period
✨Highlights:
▫️"Home in Peach Blossom Spring" plaque, immersive embroidered ball-throwing custom
▫️Door inscription "Think Before Retreating" reflects Hui merchants' wisdom
💡Experience: Huiju opera performances every Saturday night, participate in ball-throwing in hanfu

③ Jing'ai Hall
📍Ancestral hall culture | 1,800㎡
✨Highlights:
▫️Rare "Filial Piety" brick carving (Zhu Xi's calligraphy)
▫️"Four Waters Return to Hall" feng shui courtyard layout
🎧Must-hear: Free guided tours at 10:00/15:00 daily, revealing Hu family's history

④ Qingyun Pavilion
📍Classic Hui-style garden
✨Features:
▫️Natural "air-conditioning well" (warm in winter, cool in summer)
▫️Treasured stone window carvings: "Pine and Rock," "Bamboo and Plum"
💡Hidden experience: Enjoy Huangshan Maofeng tea by century-old peony window (free tea set provided)

⑤ Mingjing Lake Night Tour
📍Village entrance | 19:30-21:30
✨Highlights:
▫️"Legend of Xidi" light show: 3D mapping showcasing merchant stories
▫️Hundred lantern parade: stroll in hanfu with lanterns
📸Photo tip: Long exposure for light reflections (Settings: ISO100, 2s shutter)

4️⃣ Experiences
✅ Stone Street Wandering
🔸Enjoy 99 high-walled lanes alone at 6am, watch morning smoke rise above stone paths
🔸Must-buy: Bamboo tube "Xidi Coffee," heritage Hui ink pastries

✅ Ancient House Treasure Hunt
▪️Ruiyu Court: Find upside-down bat woodcarving (meaning "fortune arrives")
▪️Peach and Plum Garden: See double-layer carved door screens, hear Hu family teachings

✅ Cultural Immersion
🎎Woodblock printing/Hui ink making (CNY 50/person, keep your work)
🎭Wednesday/Saturday exclusive: Huizhou ancestral ceremony heritage show

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5️⃣ Best Photo Spots
① Canola Fields Meet Horse-head Walls
📍Village entrance canola fields + Mingjing Lake reflections
📸Low-angle shots framing flowers and horse-head walls
💡Outfit: Solid-color qipao/hanfu + oil paper umbrella (rentable at entrance)

② Stone Lane Light and Shadow
📍Dafu Mansion lane/Qingyun Pavilion corner
📸Capture Tyndall effect at 8am
💡Poses: Looking back with umbrella/lifting dress while climbing stairs

③ Night Photography Paradise
📍Mingjing Lake light show (19:30-21:30)
📸Long exposure for lantern trails, Settings: ISO100, 2s shutter

6️⃣ Local Delicacies
✅ Stinky Mandarin Fish + Hairy Tofu Combo
👉🏻Recommended: Guyue Restaurant (30-year establishment)
💡Hidden tip: Dip hairy tofu in chili sauce with yellow wine

✅ Spring Bamboo Shoots with Cured Meat Pot
👉🏻Must-order: Hanmo Residence private kitchen
💡April seasonal special, house-smoked meat by villagers

✅ Hui Ink Pastries Souvenirs
👉🏻Purchase at: Ruiyu Court cultural shop
💡Traditional handmade, perfect with Huangshan Maofeng tea

7️⃣ Accommodation
✨ Hanmo Residence (CNY 200+ per person)
✔️Horse-head wall view ✔️Butler service ✔️Free hanfu experience

✨ Boxin Cloud Lodge (Luxury option)
✔️Stargazing terrace ✔️Huiju opera shows ✔️Custom breakfast

8️⃣ Photo Editing Tips
▫️Filter A8+6.0
▫️Exposure -1.5 ▫️Contrast -2.0
▫️Tone highlights +9 ▫️White balance temperature -1.5
▫️HSL blue saturation +3 (enhance water reflections)

⚠️ Tips to Avoid Tourist Traps
❌Avoid tour group peak hours (10:00-15:00)
⭕️Save CNY 104 by staying in scenic area hotels
❌Avoid paid photographers at village entrance
⭕️Fewer tourists on Wednesday/Thursday