World Heritage Huizhou Charm | Huangshan + Tunxi Ancient Town + Hongcun + Xidi Village 4-Day Historical and Cultural Heritage Tour

Welcome to Huangshan. Our driver will meet you at the airport/train station exit and escort you to your downtown hotel for check-in. You can arrange the remaining time freely. If you are tired, you can rest at the hotel to recharge; if it is still early, you can also stroll around the neighborhood. Suggested ways to arrive 1. By plane: Huangshan Tunxi International Airport (TXN) is the only international airport serving Huangshan. Domestic flights to and from Huangshan are available from major cities such as Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guilin, Chongqing, Chengdu, and Xi'an. 2. By train: There are 3 commonly used railway stations in Huangshan. You can take high-speed rail to Huangshan from cities such as Shanghai (2.5 to 3.5 hours), Hangzhou (1.5 to 2 hours), Suzhou (2 to 3.5 hours), Beijing (5.5 to 7 hours), and Guangzhou (7 hours).

After breakfast, you will drive 80 km (about 1.5 hours) to visit Huangshan, one of China's famous Five Great Mountains. Huangshan is not only a World Natural and Cultural Heritage Site but also one of the outstanding representatives of China's magnificent mountains and rivers and splendid culture. It is renowned for its "Five Wonders" of strangely shaped pines, grotesque rocks, sea of clouds, hot springs, and winter snow, as well as its "Five Excellences" of historical relics, painting and calligraphy, literature, legends, and famous figures. It enjoys the reputation of "the most fantastic mountain under heaven," and the saying "Having returned from the Five Great Mountains, no other mountains are worth seeing; having returned from Huangshan, no other mountains are worth seeing" is precisely the highest praise for Huangshan. Today's suggested route in Huangshan: Yungu Cableway - Shixin Peak - Paiyun Pavilion - West Sea Grand Canyon - Bright Summit - Flying-Over Rock. The total walk is about 7 to 9 km and takes about 5 to 6 hours. First, you will take a sightseeing bus from the foot of Huangshan's rear mountain to Yungu Temple, then take the cableway to Bai'e Ridge Station (8 minutes). As the cableway ascends, you can overlook the majestic and magnificent peaks and the misty clouds lingering among the mountains, as if you were in a fairyland. Along the way, you can also see various strangely shaped pines and rocks, enjoying Huangshan's stunning scenery from a unique perspective. After arriving at Bai'e Ridge Station, you will begin a wonderful hike to Shixin Peak. Along the way, you will pass scenic spots such as Black Tiger Pine, Harp Pine, and Interlocking Pine. The scenery is very charming and perfect for photos. On the way, you can also capture the countless forms of fantastic peaks and rocks. These masterpieces of nature bring you endless room for imagination and offer the best experience. Standing on Shixin Peak, you can take in the magnificent mountain scenery around you. After enjoying the beautiful scenery of Shixin Peak, you will hike for about 40 minutes to reach the mountaintop hotel to rest. After lunch, you will visit the fantastical West Sea Grand Canyon. Here there are magnificent canyon scenery, peculiar rock formations and peak forests, and charming seas of clouds, making it one of the must-see attractions in Huangshan. In addition, this hiking route can be tailored to your physical strength and time. (Note: The hiking path in the West Sea Grand Canyon is thrilling and rugged, full of challenges, and highly demanding on physical strength; in addition, during cold weather and heavy snow, the West Sea Grand Canyon is usually closed.) Afterwards, you can choose to watch the stunning sunset at Paiyun Pavilion or at the higher Bright Summit. Paiyun Pavilion is named because the clouds and mist of the West Sea rise and roll, and dissipate when they reach the stone pavilion. Here you can enjoy magnificent views of the sea of clouds, sunset glow, fantastic peaks, and deep valleys. Especially when the sun sets and the sunset glow radiates, it is very charming. It takes about 30 minutes to return to the hotel from Paiyun Pavilion. Bright Summit (about 1,860 meters above sea level) is one of the main peaks of Huangshan and the second highest peak of Huangshan. Here you can view the sea of clouds, strange pines, strange rocks, peaks, sunrise and sunset, among which the sunset scene with red clouds filling the sky is extremely beautiful. It takes about 40 minutes to hike back to the hotel from Bright Summit. If your time and energy permit, you may consider extending by 1 hour and hiking to the Tianhai Scenic Area to see the Flying-Over Rock. This is a famous scenic spot in Huangshan, about 12 meters high and weighing 600 tons, standing on a flat rock with a very small contact area at the bottom, as if it had flown in from beyond the sky. Travel Tips 1. Travel light: There is a lot of walking in Huangshan. To save energy and enjoy the trip easily, it is recommended to carry only essentials and travel light; or store your luggage at the foot of the mountain. 2. Environmental protection and hygiene: Some hotels on Huangshan do not provide disposable toiletries. Therefore, for environmental protection and hygiene, it is recommended to bring your own. 3. Accommodation note: Staying on Huangshan allows more time to enjoy more of Huangshan's beauty, especially the sunrise and sea of clouds. However, due to higher transportation costs on the mountain, hotel facilities may be limited. Even star-rated hotels may not reach the standards of big cities such as Shanghai. In addition, the climate on the mountain is humid, and rooms may be a bit damp. Although there are not many choices, we will choose a relatively comfortable hotel for you.

Today's Huangshan tour route reference: Sunrise - Shuguang Pavilion - Qingliang Terrace - Monkey Watching the Sea - Lion Peak - Yungu Cableway, about 3 kilometers of walking in total, taking about 2 hours. Early this morning (usually around 5 to 6 AM), you will witness the most magnificent natural wonder - Huangshan sunrise: as the morning light first shines, the eastern sky gradually turns pale, then red light begins to appear on the horizon, the dawn appears, and the rosy clouds reflect each other, breathtakingly beautiful. (Note: 1. The temperature in the mountains in the early morning is very low, so it is recommended to wear thicker clothes. 2. The sunrise is affected by weather and season, and whether you can see it depends on actual conditions.) After watching the sunrise, return to the hotel for breakfast. Then, head to the steep Lion Peak (about 1,690 meters above sea level). It is named because it resembles a crouching lion. Qingliang Terrace is the lion's waist, and Shuguang Pavilion is the lion's tail. Both are the best places to view Huangshan's stunning sunrise, sunset, and sea of clouds. In addition, on Lion Peak, you can also see one of Huangshan's iconic attractions - Monkey Watching the Sea, famous for its lifelike monkey image. The stone monkey sits alone on the peak, as if gazing into the distance, or as if jumping to quietly watch the sea of clouds. The scene is spectacular. Afterwards, walk to Bai'e Ridge Cableway Station and take the Yungu Cableway down the mountain. Our driver is already waiting at the foot of the mountain and will take you back to Huangshan city for lunch. After lunch, you will visit [Tunxi Ancient Town], known as "Today's Song City." This is one of the best-preserved ancient commercial streets in China with architectural styles from the Southern Song and Ming-Qing dynasties. It has a history of several hundred years, is 832 meters long and 5-8 meters wide. The entire district consists of 1 straight street, 3 cross streets, and 18 alleys, forming a unique fishbone layout. Strolling through it, you can admire the simple and elegant Huizhou-style architecture, picturesque ancient town scenery, browse various antique-style shops with golden signboards, and taste authentic Huizhou cuisine. If you are interested in Huizhou's history and culture, you can visit the Tunxi Museum, the only museum in China that comprehensively reflects Huizhou culture. Here, you can admire precious collections such as Xin'an paintings and calligraphy, She inkstones, Huizhou three carvings, and Ming-Qing furniture. Among them, the Huizhou ink and She inkstones in the museum are treasures of Huizhou culture, deeply loved by literati. After the tour, you can continue to visit the Hu Kaiwen Ink Factory, known as a "China Time-honored Brand." It is one of the oldest and most prestigious ink factories in China and one of the three major ink-making factories in China, famous for producing Huizhou ink. Here, you can gain an in-depth understanding of China's long history of ink-making techniques, admire exquisite ink mold carving art, and experience the charm of Huizhou ink culture up close.

After breakfast, you will follow our knowledgeable guide to fully explore two of China's most representative ancient villages in southern Anhui: Hongcun and Xidi Village, and appreciate the essence of ancient Huizhou culture. These two ancient villages are famous worldwide for their idyllic pastoral scenery, well-preserved village forms, exquisitely crafted Huizhou-style dwellings, and profound history and culture. They were inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2000. First, start visiting [Hongcun], known as "the village in Chinese paintings". Hongcun was first built during the Shaoxing period of the Southern Song Dynasty (1131 AD), with a history of over 900 years. It is famous for its unique Huizhou-style architecture and tranquil water system landscape. The village preserves about 140 well-preserved ancient dwellings from the Ming and Qing dynasties, scattered in every corner of the village, like a living Huizhou scroll. South Lake and Moon Pond are the two most famous water landscapes in Hongcun. The lake water is clear as a mirror, reflecting the simple Huizhou-style buildings, making the entire village full of spirituality. As a representative of Huizhou family academy architecture, South Lake Academy cultivated many talents. The Wenchang Pavilion, corridors, and other structures in the courtyard are finely constructed, a great place for taking ancient-style photos. In addition, Hongcun also has many residences, courtyards, and ancestral halls such as Chengzhi Hall and Wang Family Ancestral Hall. Among them, Chengzhi Hall, known as the "Folk Forbidden City", is one of the most representative Huizhou-style buildings in Hongcun. The brick carvings, wood carvings, and stone carvings in the hall are exquisite, worthy of being the pinnacle of Huizhou-style architectural art. Wang Family Ancestral Hall is the largest and best-preserved ancestral hall in Hongcun. Then, continue to visit [Xidi Village] near Hongcun. Compared to Hongcun, Xidi has fewer tourists and is more tranquil, allowing you to experience a more authentic ancient village style. Xidi has a history of nearly a thousand years. The village well preserves many ancient dwellings and ancestral halls from the Ming and Qing dynasties. It is one of the main birthplaces of Huizhou culture, known as the "Museum of Ming and Qing Dwellings", and was once rated as one of the "Best Tourism Villages" in the world. The Huizhou-style architecture here is very exquisite, with horse-head walls being a highlight. It also has many distinctive buildings. Among them, the Hu Wenguang Memorial Archway is one of Xidi Village's iconic buildings, 12.3 meters high, entirely carved from the unique blue stone of Yixian County. It is not only the treasure of Xidi Village but also a masterpiece of Huizhou-style architectural art; the Hu Family Ancestral Hall, where the Hu family of Xidi worshipped ancestors, is magnificent, with a rigorous and symmetrical layout and exquisite carving techniques. The Jing'ai Hall inside was originally the residence of Hu Shihong, the 14th generation ancestor of Xidi, and is now the best place to learn about Xidi's folk culture; as another iconic building of Xidi, Lingyun Pavilion has a simple overall shape and vigorous momentum, with fine carvings and vivid colored paintings inside, full of highlights. Here, you can also watch traditional performances such as Huangmei Opera, throwing embroidered balls, and tea ceremony. After the tour, this wonderful and unforgettable 4-day Huangshan World Heritage Tour will come to an end. Our driver will take you to the airport/train station. If you wish to extend this trip and explore more destinations in China, such as Hangzhou, Shanghai, Suzhou, Beijing, Harbin, Yunnan, Xi'an, Zhangjiajie, Chengdu, Tibet, Guilin, Xinjiang, etc., you can also contact our customer service to arrange it for you.