I. Huangshan Scenic Area
Huangshan, located in Huangshan City, Anhui Province, was originally named Yishan. It was renamed Huangshan during the Tang Dynasty, meaning “Mountain of the Yellow Emperor.” Huangshan is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognized as both a natural and cultural heritage site, a global geopark, and one of China’s top ten scenic spots. It is also a National 5A Tourist Attraction. 
The Huangshan Scenic Area covers an area of 160.6 square kilometers, stretching from Huangshi in the east to Xiaoling in the west, starting at Erlong Bridge in the north and reaching Tangkou Town in the south. It is divided into nine management areas: Hot Springs, Cloud Valley, Jade Screen, North Sea, Pine Valley, Fishing Bridge, Floating Stream, Yang Lake, and Fuguyuan, featuring over 200 scenic spots.
Huangshan is renowned for its “Five Wonders”: peculiar pines, grotesque rocks, sea of clouds, hot springs, and winter snow, earning it the title of “the most extraordinary mountain in the world.” The saying, “After visiting the Five Great Mountains, you need not look at others; after visiting Huangshan, you need not see the Great Mountains,” encapsulates its appeal.
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Major Attractions:
Four Wonders of Huangshan:
The Four Wonders refer to the four unique landscapes of Huangshan: peculiar pines, grotesque rocks, sea of clouds, and hot springs.
- Peculiar Pines: Huangshan’s “Welcoming Guest Pine” is famous for its unique shape. Notable Huangshan pines include the Welcoming Guest Pine, Looking Guest Pine, Sending-off Pine, Sea-viewing Pine, Meditation Pine, Black Tiger Pine, Sleeping Dragon Pine, Qilin Pine, and Intertwined Pine, totaling ten famous pines. Many pines have been cataloged in the “Pine Genealogy,” highlighting the hundreds of pine trees, each with its unique beauty and elegance.
- Grotesque Rocks: Over 120 uniquely shaped rocks have been named in Huangshan. Their forms vary greatly, and viewing them from different angles and under various weather conditions leads to differing perceptions, as expressed in the saying, “A ridge from one side, a peak from the other, and heights and depths differ.” Iconic formations include “Dream Pen,” “Magpie on Plum,” “Old Monk Collecting Herbs,” “Su Wu Herding Sheep,” “Flying Rock,” and “Monkey Gazing at Peace.”
- Sea of Clouds: Huangshan is famous for its clouds and mist, creating spectacular “sea of clouds” views that are celebrated for their beauty and surreal qualities throughout the year, especially in winter. The sea of clouds can be seen from various directions, including East Sea, South Sea, West Sea, North Sea, and Tianhai. The area experiences over 200 cloudy days a year, particularly after rain.
- Hot Springs: One of Huangshan’s Four Wonders, the hot springs (historically known as Tangquan), emerge from beneath Ziyun Peak at an altitude of 850 meters. The mineral-rich water can be enjoyed for drinking and bathing. According to legend, the Yellow Emperor bathed here for 49 days, achieving rejuvenation and immortality.
Scenic Areas:
- Yuping Scenic Area: Centered around Yuping Tower, this area features Lotus Peak and Tiandu Peak. Attractions include “Penglai Islands,” “Hundred-step Cloud Ladder,” “Skyline,” and “Aoyu Cave.”
- Beihai Scenic Area: Situated in the heart of Huangshan, this area lies between Guangming Ding and the peaks of Shixin, Lion, and White Goose. It features open spaces at an altitude of approximately 1600 meters, with prominent peaks such as Shizifeng and Gongyangshan.
- Hot Springs Scenic Area: Formerly known as Taoyuan Fairyland, this area is now a reception center for Huangshan tourism, featuring scenic bridges, Peach Blossom Stream, and Xiaoyao Stream.
- Baiyun Scenic Area: Located in western Huangshan, this area encompasses 1655 hectares and is known for its beautiful landscapes and the Diao Bridge Monastery.
- Songgu Scenic Area: Situated in the northern foothills of Huangshan, this area offers a rich variety of flora and fauna, along with unique rock formations.
- Yungu Scenic Area: Located in the eastern part of Huangshan, Yungu is a valley with historical significance, known for its ancient trees, peculiar rocks, and scenic waterfalls.
II. Xidi Ancient Town
Xidi Ancient Town
Xidi Ancient Town is located in the southeast of Yi County, Anhui Province, with a village area of 12.96 hectares. It originated in the 11th century and flourished from the 14th to 19th centuries.
Xidi Village is surrounded by mountains on all sides. Two streams pass through the north and east of the village and converge at Huiyuan Bridge in the south of the village. The village is mainly composed of a longitudinal street and two roads along the streams, forming a village street and alley system that extends north and south mainly to the east. All the streets and alleys in Xidi Ancient Town are paved with bluestone from Yi County. The ancient buildings are made of wood structure and maintained by brick walls. Wood carvings, stone carvings, and brick carvings are rich and colorful. The alleys, streams, and building layouts are suitable. The spatial changes of the village are full of charm. The building colors are simple and elegant, reflecting the outstanding talent and achievements in creating the living environment of ancient villages in southern Anhui. It has high historical, artistic, and scientific value. There are currently 124 existing ancient dwellings from the Ming and Qing dynasties and 3 ancestral halls. Xidi Ancient Town is known as a museum of ancient buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties by the world. It is a national 5A-level tourist attraction.
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Main attractions:
Xidi Memorial Archway
A glimpse of ancient town architecture. Xidi is located 8 kilometers east of Yi County, Huangshan City, Anhui Province. It is named because it is located to the west of the ancient Huizhou Prefecture and there was once a post station called “Pudi Institute”. As a place where descendants of the Li family in the Tang Dynasty took refuge and changed their surname to Hu and lived for generations, Xidi Village was built in the Northern Song Dynasty and has a history of nearly a thousand years. It is said that the ancestor of the Hu family in Xidi, who is of the same clan as the Hu family in Jixi, chose this barracks settlement mainly because he saw that the stream on this basin flows from east to west, thinking it is an extraordinary place.
Xidi Zoumalou (galloping horse tower)
In Xidi Village, which is in the shape of a ship, the rows of ancient residential buildings are like cabins, forming the hull of a large ship. The tall trees and 13 memorial archways at the village entrance in the past are like the masts and sails of a ship. The rolling mountains around the village are like the waves of the sea. The Yuehu Lake and hundreds of acres of fertile fields in front of the village surround the village, just like a giant ship on a long voyage moored in a peaceful harbor.
When coming to the entrance of Xidi Village, a “Hu Wenguang Memorial Archway” built in 1578, the sixth year of Wanli in the Ming Dynasty, commonly known as the “Xidi Memorial Archway”, stands tall in front of us. At that time, Hu Wenguang (1521-1593), a native of Xidi, passed the imperial examination in the Yimao year of Jiajing. He first served as the magistrate of Wanzai County, Jiangxi Province, then as the governor of Jiaozhou, was transferred to be the chief historian of Jingwang Mansion, and was conferred the title of fourth-rank court official. Due to his remarkable political achievements, the emperor granted permission to build this stone archway.
Taoli Garden and Xiyuan Garden
Walking along the bluestone slab road into Dajie Street in the village, the first residential scenic spot you see is “Kuanggu Zhai”. The hall name “Kuanggu Zhai” was given by people today, implying the broad and ancient Huizhou culture. It was written by Liu Bingsen, a famous contemporary calligrapher.
A few steps forward from Ruiyu Court is “Taoli Garden”. Taoli Garden was also built during the Xianfeng period of the Qing Dynasty. It is composed of the main house and courtyard. It is the former residence and private school of Hu Yuanxi, a Huizhou merchant in Xidi. The main house is a three-room, three-entry, two-story structure. The first two entries are two small sets of three-room houses facing in opposite directions. On the second floor of the second entry, there is a unique “upstairs well”, which makes the whole house full of light and air circulation. Moreover, the wooden carved guardrail on the upstairs is used as a hole for young ladies to secretly observe the young men coming and going in the house to see if they can choose a satisfactory husband. The second and third entries are separated by a whitewashed wall with a door in the middle. There is a horizontal inscription of “People in the Peach Blossom Spring” in official script on the door. On the small door leading to the street, there is an inscription of “Taoli Garden” in seal script, implying “having students all over the world”.
Courtyards and embroidery buildings
Courtyards in Xidi. Most of the ancient dwellings in Xidi are equipped with “courtyards”, which is a major feature of Huizhou architecture. The setting of courtyards generally has three rooms with a courtyard in front of the hall. In a quadrangle house, the courtyard is in the middle, serving functions such as lighting and ventilation. In the past, because Huizhou merchants and tycoons needed to hide their wealth and prevent theft, most of their residences were built with tall and closed house walls and rarely had windows facing outside. The setting of courtyards integrates nature into the house, making “harmony between man and nature”. People can see the sky without going outdoors. There is also a saying that merchants take accumulation as the foundation and are always afraid of the outflow of wealth. Therefore, courtyards are created so that “water from all directions gathers in the hall”, that is, the wealth from all directions is like the rain on the roof, gathering in the courtyard and not flowing out to other people’s homes. It is commonly known as “keeping the fertile water from flowing out”.
The embroidery building is an attic facing the street built by the owner of Dafu Di (a kind of official residence title) using the vacant land next to the main house. It is commonly known as the “young lady’s embroidery building”. The embroidery building with upturned eaves and corners has a unique architecture, delicate and elegant. The wooden inscriptions on the lintel are “Mountain City” written by Zhu Shilu, a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations in the Qing Dynasty, and “People in the Peach Blossom Spring” written in official script by Wang Endao, a calligrapher from this county in the Qing Dynasty. When writing the character “source”, intentionally move a dot to the top of the “factory” character, which makes the overall beauty more prominent. Especially the character “people”, vividly looks like a young man stretching out his arms to welcome the young lady’s colorful ball. The small door on the downstairs is set back a big step compared to the main house wall, which is in contrast to the stone inscription on the door lintel written by the owner himself, “Think of taking a step back”. It is thought-provoking. Truly, “advancing is elegant, and retreating is also unrestrained”.
III. Jiuhua Mountain Scenic Area
Jiuhua Mountain Scenic Area, a national 5A-level tourist destination, is located in Chizhou City, Anhui Province. It is a mountainous national scenic area characterized by Buddhist culture and natural and cultural landscapes. It is one of the four famous Buddhist mountains in China, one of the first national natural and cultural dual heritage sites, and the main scenic area of Anhui Province’s “two mountains and one lake” (Jiuhua Mountain, Taiping Lake, and Huangshan Mountain) tourism development strategy.
The planned area of the scenic area is 120 square kilometers, and the protected area is 174 square kilometers. It is composed of 11 major scenic areas. Jiuhua Mountain is magically created by nature, beautiful and refined. It is known as the “Lotus Buddha Kingdom”. There are more than 2,000 cultural relics existing in Jiuhua Mountain, and more than 500 poems and songs by famous scholars and refined scholars of all dynasties. There are more than 20 sites of academies and lecture halls. Among them, the Tang Dynasty palm-leaf scriptures, the Ming Dynasty Tripitaka, the blood scriptures, the imperial edict of Emperor Wanli of the Ming Dynasty, and the inscriptions of Emperor Kangxi and Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty are rare treasures. Jiuhua Mountain Scenic Area is a famous tourist and summer resort in the country. There are many ancient temples and lingering incense in the scenic area. It is a holy place for believers to worship. Jiuhua Mountain has beautiful scenery and pleasant climate. It is a wonderful place for tourism and summer vacation.
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Main attractions:
True Body Treasure Hall
The True Body Treasure Hall, commonly known as the “flesh body” or “flesh body tower”, is located on Shenguang Ridge (Laoyeding) of Jiuhua Mountain. It is the main place for Buddhists to pay homage to the holy land of Jiuhua. Because it mainly enshrines Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, it is different from ordinary Buddhist temples. The flesh body hall of Jiuhua Mountain is a typical palace building. The hall is 15 meters high, and the door faces southwest. To enter the hall, one must climb eighty-one steps. Standing below the steps and looking up, two plaques can be seen on the south gate hall: the upper plaque reads “True Body Treasure Hall”, and the lower plaque reads “The First Mountain in Southeast China”. Above the corridors around the main hall, there are carved beams and painted pillars. Rare birds and animals such as cranes and elk, and various fresh flowers and rare grasses such as peonies and ganoderma.
Shiwang Peak
Shiwang Peak is located on the south side of Tiantai Peak of Jiuhua Mountain. The two peaks are connected by a mountain ridge. With an altitude of 1,342 meters, it is the highest peak of Jiuhua Mountain. Shiwang Peak has magnificent and beautiful landscapes. The peaks compete with each other. There are numerous strange peaks, jagged rocks, gushing springs and waterfalls, and murmuring brooks. On the east and west sides of the peak top, there are layers of dangerous cliffs. To the southwest is “Boyu Peak” with an altitude of 1,143 meters, which is very similar to a monk’s alms bowl. To the northwest is “Luohan Peak” with an altitude of 1,280 meters. “Yanxian Terrace” is located to the west of Shiwang Peak.
Great Compassion Treasure Hall
The Great Compassion Treasure Hall is a new hall expanded after Zhantanlin rebuilt the mountain gate in 1988. This hall was built by Master Huishan, the abbot of Zhantanlin, with a great vow. The entire project is designed in a classic and elegant style, majestic and magnificent. The main building is six feet and three inches high. In the middle of the hall is the Thousand-Handed and Thousand-Eyed Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva. The entire project covers an area of more than 3,000 square meters and is a place of worship for Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva. The Jiuhua Mountain Buddhist Association is located in this temple and is one of the places for large-scale Buddhist activities.
Gantuo Temple
Gantuo Temple is one of the temples in Jiuhua Mountain. It is located under Dingxin Stone on Huacheng Mountain. It was originally named Gantuo Nunnery and also known as Gantuo Chanlin. The exterior of the temple mainly consists of mountain gates, the Mahavira Hall, the Skanda Hall, the Patriarch Hall, the Jade Buddha Tower, the meditation hall, the dharma hall, the guest hall, and the abbot’s quarters. There is also the “Jiuhua Mountain Buddhist Academy” in the temple. The main gate of the temple is uniquely designed. After entering, one can see the back wall immediately and it is not connected to the courtyard. To enter the main hall, one must enter through the small side doors on both sides of the mountain wall. The entire temple is laid out according to the mountain terrain. There are five floors in total. The halls and pavilions are complete and neat. Beside the temple, there is Dingxin Stone, which is where Monk Yulin rested in the past. In 1983, Gantuo Temple was designated as a key national temple for Han people.
Longevity Palace
Longevity Palace was built in the Ming Dynasty. At first, it was named “Zhaixing Nunnery” and also known as “Wannian Chan Temple”. Together with Zhiyuan Temple, Dongya Temple, and Gantuo Temple, it is one of the “four great jungles” of Jiuhua Mountain. Longevity Palace is also the second flesh body hall in Jiuhua Mountain. The buildings of Longevity Palace are built according to the mountain terrain, connected up and down and through from side to side, forming a whole. The main buildings include mountain gates, the Mahavira Hall, the dining hall, and the monks’ quarters. In the main hall, there is an unblemished flesh body statue. In 1983, this temple was designated as a key national temple for Han people.
IV. Tianzhu Mountain Scenic Area
Anqing Tianzhu Mountain National Scenic Area is located in the west of Qianshan County, Anqing City. The central location is approximately at latitude N30°44′12.99″ and longitude E116°27′18.84″. It is a part (or a residual vein) of the eastward extension of the Dabie Mountains. The main peak has an altitude of 1,488.4 meters. The planned protected area is 333 square kilometers, and the scenic area is 82.46 square kilometers.
There are natural landscapes such as famous cliffs, strange stones, different caves, mountain streams and waterfalls, and sea of clouds distributed in the scenic area. It is one of the three famous mountains in Anhui Province (Huangshan Mountain, Jiuhua Mountain, and Tianzhu Mountain). In 106 BC, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty enshrined Tianzhu Mountain as “Southern Mountain”. There have been cultural activities on Tianzhu Mountain in all dynasties. The poem “The strange peak of Tianzhu holds up the sun and the moon, and the thousand-foot cave door locks the clouds and thunder” by the Tang Dynasty poet Bai Juyi is a description of the majestic scenery of Tianzhu Mountain. After 1949, it was developed into a scenic area.
Anqing Tianzhu Mountain National Scenic Area is a national AAAAA-level tourist attraction, a world geological park, a national key scenic area, and a national forest park.
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Main attractions:
Tianzhu Peak
Tianzhu Peak
Tianzhu Peak, with an altitude of 1,489.8 meters. It stands towering in the air, supporting the sky like a pillar. It is all made of stone, jagged and extremely beautiful. It is like a pillar, a cone, a torch, a sword, a tower, or a wonderful writing brush. Therefore, there is a praise that “after returning from the Five Sacred Mountains, one doesn’t need to see other mountains; after returning from Huangshan Mountain, one doesn’t need to see other mountains; after returning from Tianzhu Mountain, one doesn’t need to see other peaks!” When the great poet Li Bai of the Tang Dynasty passed by the Yangtze River surface in Susong and saw the majestic and magnificent Tianzhu Peak, he sang loudly: “The strange peak gives birth to extraordinary clouds, and the beautiful trees contain elegant charm. The lofty Gonggong Mountain is extremely pleasing to people’s hearts…” Bai Juyi also chanted: “Tianzhu Peak holds up the sun and the moon with one peak, and the thousand-foot cave door locks the clouds and thunder.” Zhu Xi of the Song Dynasty sighed deeply: “Standing firmly like a pillar supporting the sky, it is a majestic pillar in the east of the world. Only talking about the vastness of heaven and earth, who knows the great achievement of establishing the pole.” Li Geng of the Ming Dynasty also praised: “The lofty Tianzhu Peak is steeply inserted into the sky. Before climbing halfway up, one already feels like being on Penglai Island. Leaning on emptiness, one can see cranes and phoenixes. Taking a step, one is surrounded by clouds. There are strange mountains all over the world, but none is as good as this mountain.” Tianzhu Peak rises abruptly as a solitary peak. The mountain is extremely steep and difficult to climb. According to records, only two people have climbed to the top as tourists.
One-Line-Sky
Under Tianzhu Peak, there is a peak that is split from the main peak by a crack, as if split open by a huge axe. It doesn’t touch the ground below. It is commonly known as the Small Tianmen Gate, also known as “One-Line-Sky”. The peak is no more than 10 meters high. Like a newly blooming flower, the peak is named “Huafeng Peak”. Looking up at the stone wall of Tianzhu Peak, there are four large characters in regular script horizontally written: “Reaching the Heavens and Standing on the Earth”. This was inscribed by Liu Yichun, a Kuomintang general during the Republic of China.
Flying Peak
At the westernmost end of the “Dragon Roaring and Tiger Howling Cliff”, there is a peak that stands independently in the clouds. The boulder on the peak is like a cover. The whole peak is made of stone. There are shallow water marks all over the body. This is the third highest peak of Tianzhu Mountain – Flying Peak. It has an altitude of 1,424 meters. The entire peak is made of a single huge boulder. On the top, there is a stone more than three feet long and more than thirty feet in circumference. It is more than one foot high and round like a cover pressing on the peak top. The stone is called “Flying Stone”, and the peak is named after the stone. The flying stone on the peak top is like a magnificent crown properly placed on the peak top. Many tourists are very surprised when they see Flying Peak.
Legend has it that 2.6 billion years ago, Tianzhu Mountain was a vast West Sea. In the West Sea, many snake demons and turtle spirits were making trouble, disturbing the people. Later, when Laozi saw the injustice on his way and used his magic power to borrow a demon-suppressing stone from the Dragon King of the East Sea and put it on Flying Peak to suppress the demons.
Fairy Crossing Bridge
Tianchi Peak, the second highest peak of Tianzhu Mountain, is slightly higher than Flying Peak, with an altitude of 1,426 meters. Tianchi Peak is split into three parts and connected by two thin sections of stone strips. This is the famous “Fairy Crossing Bridge”. There is a saying: “Everyone who reaches the bridge is a fairy.”
Climbing to the top of Tianchi Peak, one can experience the grandeur of “Reaching the top of a great height, one sees all the mountains small.” Here, the view is extremely wide and the scenery is very magnificent. It is the best position to watch the sunrise, sea of clouds, Buddha’s light, and sunset glow. On a clear day, looking into the distance, Flying Peak, Xianzhu Peak, Wuzhi Peak, and the mountains seem to connect with the sky. The Lianhu Lake is like a glittering mirror sandwiched between the Qian River and the Wan River by two silver chains. Dalongwo Peak, the back mountain, and the peaks in Dongguan are like mounds, all within sight.
Penglai Island
To the left of Huafeng Peak, there is a peak that is green, beautiful, and round. It is Penglai Peak. Penglai Peak has an altitude of 1,350 meters. Looking south is Tianchi Peak, and looking north is Tianzhu Peak. Penglai Peak is a single stone wall. The west, south, and north sides are steep cliffs. Extending more than one hundred meters to the west is a bottomless abyss. The peak top is long and narrow and extremely dangerous. It is more than one hundred meters long and only two or three meters wide. Ancient trees protect the stones, and kudzu vines wrap around the knees. Walking back and forth is full of dangerous situations. Under the peak, there are often clouds and mist surrounding it. The peak top appears and disappears among the sea of clouds. When one reaches Penglai Island, one can see lush vines. Few people have been here. The thick fog is lingering. It is like being in a fairyland on a fairy pond! The southwest, north, and east sides are steep cliffs. Ancient pine trees are hanging upside down. Clouds are flying. It is like a fairy island on the sea. Li Geng of the Ming Dynasty had a poem: “Before climbing halfway up, one already feels like being in Penglai.” Therefore, it is called Penglai Peak. Climbing to the top of the mountain, one can overlook Yingshan County in Hubei Province, Huoshan County and Jinzhai County in Anhui Province, and appreciate the magnificent scene described in Mao Zedong’s poem “The green mountains are like a sea, and the setting sun is like blood.”
Nine Wells River
The Nine Wells River originates from the back palace of Tianzhu Mountain. It meanders for more than ten kilometers, gathering thousands of brooks and springs. Along the way, there are secluded pools, flying waterfalls, fresh air, and cool breeze. “The west wind of Nine Wells” is one of the ten scenic spots in Qianshan.
The west wind of Nine Wells can be considered a unique sight of Tianzhu Mountain. It is unique in that there is a northwest wind blowing into Gukou and Yezhai areas all year round, regardless of cloudy, sunny, rainy, or snowy days. Especially in summer, no matter how hot it is during the day, when the west wind comes at night, the summer heat disappears immediately. Therefore, Gukou and Yezhai are not only good places for people to listen to the wind and enjoy the scenery but also summer resorts.
Lianhua Lake
Lianhua Lake has a water surface area of nearly 30,000 square meters and a water storage capacity of 80,000 cubic meters. With an altitude of 1,100 meters, it can be compared with “Tianchi” in Tianshan Mountain and “Tianchi” in Changbai Mountain among famous mountains in China. The water is clear and green like jade. Surrounded by mountains, the environment is elegant. On a clear day without wind, the lake is like a mirror. The blue sky and white clouds are reflected in it. The green cliffs and pine trees around are also reflected in it, like a beautiful brocade, adding vitality to this calm water surface. When a gentle breeze blows, the water surface ripples, presenting another scene. Boating on it is like being in a fairyland. Under the calm water surface of “Lianhua Lake”, before the lake was built, it was called “Liangyaoping”, also known as “Upper Lianhua”. In the late Han Dynasty, Zuo Ci, a famous Taoist, once gathered herbs and made pills here. Now the name “Lianhua Lake” comes from this. The “Pill Making Room” where Zuo Ci lived when making pills and the “Pill Making Platform” where he started the furnace are still there. On the “Pill Making Platform”, looking around, one can see the peaks in Xiguan clearly. Flying Peak is like falling from the sky. Baoyue Peak is like tin. Xianzhu Peak is like about to fall. Tianzhu Peak is in sight. Shifeng Peak is on the left. Qinglongbei Peak is on the right. Dengxian and Dagu peaks are to the east. Linjiao Peak, Fupen Peak, and Yingzhen Peak are to the south. Looking far and near, one can enjoy all the beauty of Tianzhu Mountain.
Xuejiagang Ancient Cultural Site
Xuejiagang Ancient Cultural Site, also known as Xuejiagang Neolithic Cultural Site, has a history of five or six thousand years. It is located at the junction of Lihua Village and Shuigang Village, Hezhen Township, 7.5 kilometers south of Qianshan County seat.
This site is located on the bank of the Qian River, 3 to 7 meters higher than the nearby farmland. It is an oval platform with a total area of more than 60,000 square meters. In the excavated square pond of more than 1,000 square meters, people can see five natural layers from the soil structure. The first layer is the cultivated layer. The second layer is the Tang and Song cultural layer. The third layer is the Shang and Zhou cultural layer. The fourth and fifth layers are the Neolithic cultural layers. Judging from the superimposed relationship of the fourth and fifth layers and the combination changes of the burial objects, the people in Qianshan during the Neolithic period had left the wandering life of primitive people and gradually moved towards settlement and created quite advanced living and production tools.
Sanzu Temple
Sanzu Temple, also known as Qianyuan Temple or Shangu Temple, is the dojo of Sengcan, the third patriarch of Zen Buddhism.
In the Southern Dynasties, Baozhi, a famous monk from Daolin Temple in Nanjing, took a fancy to Fengxing Mountain at the mouth of the valley. Baihe Taoist, a traveling alchemist in the south of the Yangtze River, also took a fancy to this place. The two reported to Emperor Liang Wu and both wanted to build a Taoist temple and a Buddhist monastery here. Emperor Liang Wu ordered the two to show their magical powers and mark the land with objects. Whoever got it could live there. Baozhi and Baihe Taoist competed in magic. Baozhi stuck his monk’s staff here. Baozhi
V. Tiantangzhai Scenic Area
Tiantangzhai Scenic Area is located at the junction of Jinzhai County, Lu’an City, Anhui Province and Luotian County, Hubei Province. It is a national 5A-level tourist attraction. Tiantangzhai was formerly known as “Duoyun Mountain”. The highest peak has an altitude of 1,729.13 meters. It is one of the main peaks of the Dabie Mountains. It was formerly known as “the first pass in the southeast of Wu and Chu”. There are 108 waterfalls of various sizes in the scenic area, among which 18 waterfalls have a drop of more than 50 meters.
The Dabie Mountains where Tiantangzhai is located are the watershed of the water systems in the north and south of China. The water in the north of the mountain flows northward into the Huaihe River, and the water in the south of the mountain flows southward into the Yangtze River. Therefore, on the peak of Tiantangzhai, one can look north to the Central Plains and south to Jingchu. At an altitude of 1,729 meters on the Tiantang Peak, there is a celestial pond. The water in the pond neither overflows nor dries up. It is commonly known as “Jade Pond”.
The total area of the scenic area is 120 square kilometers. There are 25 peaks above 1,000 meters in the territory. The highest peak of Tiantangzhai is one of the main peaks of the Dabie Mountains. Its main attractions include Baima Grand Canyon, Longjian Peak, Baima Peak, waterfalls, etc.
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Main attractions:
No. 3 Waterfall (Xieyu Waterfall)
The vertical height is 62 meters. The water curtain is 11-13 meters wide. The waterfall rock is lavender in color, slightly inclined, and the rock surface is uneven.
Strange peaks and rocks
Nature’s ingenious workmanship has carved the peaks and rocks of Tiantangzhai into a bonsai garden with strange shapes and various forms, full of fun. Tiantangzhai, located in the hinterland of the Dabie Mountains, has unique granite and granite-gneiss, which have weathered into a landform feature surrounded by mountains and numerous peaks. Thus, it forms the unique mountain scenery of Tiantangzhai Forest Park. Among them, the most attractive ones are Xiaohua Mountain, Baima Peak, Philosophers Peak, Tiantangzhai, and Wulong Facing Tiantang.
Baima Peak
Baima Peak with an altitude of 1,480 meters is mainly composed of a saddle, horseback, and horse tail. On all four sides are sheer cliffs of thousands of meters. On the ridge, there are famous scenic spots such as “Sunny Snow on Horse Tail” and “Sunset on Saddle”, which are the main scenic spots of Tiantangzhai Forest Park. Longjian Peak: The dragon ridge stretches. There are strange rocks and unique pines on the ridge, with different shapes. Famous scenic spots include “Thunder-Split Rock” and “Turtle and Pine with the Same Longevity” and many others. Tiantangzhai Main Peak: The main peak of Tiantangzhai has an altitude of 1,729.13 meters. It is one of the main peaks of the Dabie Mountains. It is the border between Anhui and Hubei provinces and also the watershed between the Yangtze River and the Huaihe River. Tiantangzhai is majestic, dangerous, strange, and deep. The mountains are covered with lush vegetation. Vegetation such as Huangshan pine and Huangshan oak has obvious zonal distribution.
Fairy Valley
It can be reached by walking 200 meters south along the river from the management office of Luotian Tiantangzhai Scenic Area. Fairy Valley is about 2,500 meters long. The valley is formed by the confluence of two streams, Longjing River and Xiaojia River. The valley is about 30-40 meters wide.
Xiaohua Mountain
Xiaohua Mountain has an altitude of 1,102 meters. There is only a path that is only a little over a foot wide to climb. On both sides are steep cliffs. On the ridge.
Shiyan Rock
Located in the northeast of the west gate, upstream of Kongling Valley, it is a stone mountain completely composed of rock masses. It is also like a huge bird’s nest upside down in the air. From a distance, a group of swallows are perched on the huge stone wall and are picking mud to build nests. Its majestic state is self-evident.
Philosophers Peak
Also known as “Tianwen Peak”, it is a mountain body completely composed of rocks. At the northeast end, a huge rock cliff is about 100 meters high and resembles a huge head.
Baima Peak
Tiantangzhai is beautiful with green mountains and clear waters, singing birds and fragrant flowers. The main peak has an altitude of 1,729.13 meters. It is the second highest peak in the Dabie Mountains. It was formerly known as “the first pass in the southeast of Wu and Chu.” The mountain stone landscapes of Tiantangzhai are ingeniously crafted, ever-changing, surrounded by clouds and mist. Baima Peak is majestic, and Longjian Peak is shaped like a dinosaur. Shenggua Peak is mysterious.
Baima Grand Canyon
The Baima Grand Canyon of Tiantangzhai is located at the foot of Baima Peak at an altitude of 1,600 meters. It is about 6 kilometers long. It is one of the main sources of the Huaihe River and also the water source of Hefei, the capital city of Anhui Province.
Longjian Peak Scenic Area
Located above Xieyu Waterfall, the whole peak is named after its resemblance to a huge sword with stone as its skeleton.
Yanziling Grand Canyon
Yanziling Grand Canyon is located in Yanziling Town, Jinzhai County, a famous revolutionary old area in the Dabie Mountains and a famous county of generals. It is connected to the last virgin forest in East China and the national forest park Tiantangzhai Scenic Area. It is about 3,800 meters long. The highest peak of the river valley is 568 meters above sea level, the lowest point is about 350 meters above sea level, and the deepest part of the river valley is about 218 meters. It is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction. There is the “Tiankeng”, known as the first strange pit in the Dabie Mountains. The pit is more than 50 feet deep, and the pit mouth has a diameter of more than 20 feet. The pit wall is extremely dangerous and impossible to climb. It can be described as a masterpiece of nature. There is the “celestial waterfall” of the heaven-sent wonder waterfall that “seems to be the Milky Way falling from the ninth heaven”, with a vertical drop of more than 150 meters, hanging straight into the sky. There is the “fairy cave” on the sheer cliff that is like “a fairy cave is born in a place with beautiful scenery and danger”. There is also the “listening-wish willow” known as “the first thousand-year strange willow in China”. In addition to the “four wonders”, Yanziling Grand Canyon is rarely visited by people. The ecosystem is well preserved and is known for “four wonders and five interests”: “strange pit, strange willow, strange waterfall, strange cave”, “interesting stone, interesting pool, interesting beach, interesting valley, interesting gorge”. It is truly “the first valley with interesting wonders intertwined”.
Beautiful Jingangtai
Jingangtai, also known as Shie Mountain, is located at the junction of Henan and Anhui provinces. The mountain is steep and dangerous, with two peaks towering. It is like a huge vajra stone gate, standing on the border between Henan and Anhui, standing alone and indestructible. Therefore, since ancient times, Jingangtai has become a place of military contention with “peaks and ridges lined up with weapons”. Due to its superior natural conditions and dangerous terrain, Jingangtai, also known as Shie Mountain, is located at the junction of Henan and Anhui provinces. The mountain is steep and dangerous, with two peaks towering. It is like a huge vajra stone gate, standing on the border between Henan and Anhui, standing alone and indestructible. Therefore, since ancient times, Jingangtai has become a place of military contention with “peaks and ridges lined up with weapons”. Due to its superior natural conditions and dangerous terrain, it has been a must-contend military fortress and a must-contend place in all dynasties.
Mazongling Nature Reserve
Mazongling Forest Farm was established in 1958. In 1998, Anhui Tianma National Nature Reserve was established. Mazongling Scenic Area is located at the northern foot of the Dabie Mountains and in the southwest of Jinzhai County. Its geographical coordinates are 31°10′-31°20′N and 115°30′-115°50′E. The total area is 4779.3 square kilometers, of which the forested area is 4584.7 square kilometers, the natural forest area is 2170.7 square kilometers, the forest stock volume is 430,000 cubic meters, and the forest coverage rate is 95.9%. The highest peak in the territory is 1671 meters. The entrance of the scenic area is above 600 meters above sea level. There are 1576 species of higher plants and 185 species of animals. 42 species of rare animals and plants are distributed throughout the area. The natural conditions are unique.
Zaoqian’ao Scenic Area
The scenic area starts from Baima Peak Scenic Area in the north, borders Yingshan County, Hubei Province in the south, connects Fengbodou – Jixin Peak line in the east, and adjoins Waterfall Scenic Area in the west. It covers an area of 4.4 square kilometers. The highest peak in the area, Fengbodou, has an altitude of 1591 meters, and the lowest altitude is only 700 meters. According to the “Records of Huoshan County” in the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty, after Xu Shouhui led an uprising in 1351 AD, he once minted coins here, hence the name “Zaoqian’ao”. The forest landscape is the main body and characteristic of Zaoqian’ao Scenic Area. The scenic area is rich in forest resources, with beautiful mountains and clear waters, green trees providing shade, and a natural environment that is elegant and comfortable for forest wilderness fun, convalescence, summer vacation, and bathing. The main attractions include: Fenglongjing Waterfall, E’gongbao, Jixin Peak, Zhong Kui Wielding a Sword, alpine meadow, Dragon Girl Dressing Up, and the ancient coin minting site.
Shenggua Peak Scenic Area
Shenggua Peak Scenic Area is a virgin land in Tiantangzhai Scenic Area. It is a comprehensive natural landscape integrating strange peaks, dangerous cliffs, strange rocks, sea of clouds, waterfalls, flowers and plants. The main attractions include “Three Dragons Exploring the Secluded”, “Jingzhong Struck by Roaring Water”, “Shenggua Precipice” and so on. With an altitude of 1715 meters, it is a good place for climbing and exploring.
Shenggua Peak was formed 1.8 billion years ago in the Sinian Period. After the Luliangshan Movement, Yanshan Movement, and Himalayan Movement, it was bred. Because it resembles a sacred divination symbol, it is named as such. From Dashucha, crossing Jingzhong Struck by Roaring Water, and climbing the Shenggua Precipice via Baiyun Ladder, one can look west to see the wind and clouds of Chu and the vast sea of clouds, as if being in a fairyland on Penglai. Looking north, there is a vast expanse of forests, generating abundant electric ions. Under photosynthesis, negative oxygen ions are generated. Standing on the top of Shenggua Peak, one can see the beautiful scenery of Tiantangzhai and enjoy a forest bath.
Dragon Scale Bamboo
On the Qinglong Mouth of the ancient dwellings in Xinwuwan, Nanhe, Tiantangzhai, there is a large bamboo forest. There, the bamboo is deep and the leaves are emerald green. Hwamei and kingfishers live there all year round. Botanists call it a wonder in the plant kingdom.
VI. Balihe Scenic Area
Balihe Scenic Area is a national AAAAA-level tourist attraction and one of the “Global 500 Best” in environmental protection. It is located in Yingshang County in the southeast of Fuyang City, Anhui Province. It is south of the Huaihe River, east of the Yinghe River. It is 8 kilometers north of Yingshang City and 60 kilometers west of Fuyang City. It is 170 kilometers southeast of Hefei. Its main park area, namely “World Scenery”, “Splendid China”, “Blue Wave Tourist Area”, and “Bird Language Forest”, covers an area of 3,600 mu and enjoys the reputation of “the world’s first peasant park”.
Balihe Scenic Area is a lake and water area scenery relying on natural original resources. It is known for its beautiful lakes and waters. It is a gift of nature. The natural scenic area has rural charm. Visiting Balihe gives people a feeling of returning to nature and simplicity. At present, the scenic area receives 500,000 tourists annually. The ticket revenue alone reaches 5 million yuan. It provides more than 2,600 social employment opportunities. Tourism has become a leading industry promoting regional development and has achieved huge economic and social benefits. Balihe Scenic Area is beautiful everywhere and charming in every scene. It is the best place for your leisure vacation and sightseeing.
Main attractions:
World Scenery
World Scenery
The main park area “World Scenery” miniaturizes world-famous buildings such as the Greek Temple of Zeus, the Arc de Triomphe in France, the Reichstag in Berlin, Germany, the Grand Canyon in the United States, Dutch windmills, the Sacré-Cœur in Paris, and the White Pagoda in Beihai. The Swan Lake is rippling with blue waves and filled with the joy of fish and the singing of birds. The calligraphy and painting corridor in the center of the lake is exquisitely carved and exquisitely crafted. The willow embankment is graceful with swaying green willows, presenting a charming scenery of the Jiangnan water town. The “amusement park” located on the west side of the “World Scenery” park has complete facilities, allowing people to fully experience various moods of excitement or comfort. The swimming pools are of different depths, and the diving platforms are of different heights for you to choose. “Thrilling and extremely challenging and charming. The children’s paradise has dozens of electric toys that make children reluctant to leave.
Splendid China Garden
“Splendid China Garden” combines the characteristics of Oriental architectural art and the essence of traditional Chinese culture. The Suzhou-style garden is small, unique, antique, and elegant. The Baique Temple has majestic halls and is simple and thick. The Jiutian Waterfall is like flying curtains splashing jade, magnificent. Under the Bailong Pavilion, green willows are shaded, and clear lotuses are in the water. The people’s monument soars into the clouds and is majestic. On Zhanggong Mountain, the Great Wall meanders and the winding path leads to a secluded place. Climbing to the top and looking far, you can see the entire panorama of the scenic area.
Blue Wave Tourist Area
The “Blue Wave Tourist Area” covers an area of 3,000 mu. You can cross the Great Wall, walk on the long iron cable bridge, and climb the islands in the lake to watch hippos and crocodiles, tease groups of monkeys playing, see tortoises and pythons. At the same time, you can also see many rare wild animals such as Mongolian wild asses, Xinjiang wild horses, Mongolian camels, seals, bears, giraffes, and black swans. The Han ethnic cultural village captures fragments of the historical and cultural process of the Han ethnic group and 集中展示 presents vivid production and living scenes of the local Han ethnic group before the 1960s, which will surely surprise you. The 100-meter natural bathing beach on the north side of the lake in Hubei and south of the White Pagoda is a natural paradise for you to show off your swimming skills and bathe in the sun.
Bird Language Forest
In the “Bird Language Forest”, there are trees, rockeries, winding paths, and pools for birds to inhabit. There are nearly 100 species of birds here. Among them, national first-class protected birds include green peacocks, white storks, Chinese mergansers, white-tailed sea eagles, and red-crowned cranes. National second-class protected birds include swans, mandarin ducks, white-naped cranes, grey cranes, silver pheasants, white-fronted geese, vultures, etc. Entering the Bird Language Forest, parrots will greet you, thrushes sing melodiously, cranes dance gracefully, mandarin ducks play in the water. Black swans are polite. Peacocks and turkeys compete in beauty. Ostriches rush around. Here, you can also see the beauty and luxury of golden pheasants, the whiteness and flawlessness of swans, the ferocity of vultures, and the colorful feathers of small birds. The Balihe Bird Language Forest is a natural place where people and birds can enjoy together.
VII. Sanhe Ancient Town
Sanhe Town belongs to Feixi County, Hefei City, Anhui Province. It is located at the southern end of Feixi County, between 117°14′-117°16′ east longitude and 31°30′-31°32′ north latitude. It is located at the junction of Feixi County, Lujiang County, and Shucheng County. It is adjacent to Hangbu Town in Shucheng County in the southwest, Tongda Town in Lujiang County in the south, Fengle Town and Yandian Township in Feixi County. The town has an area of 72 square kilometers.
As of the end of 2016, Sanhe Town has 14 communities and 12 villages with a population of nearly 80,000. Sanhe Town has attractions such as the ruins of the great victory in Sanhe, the former residence of Zheng Shanfu, and the ancient folk street. In 2014, Sanhe Town achieved an industrial output value of 3.45 billion yuan above designated size. The per capita disposable income of urban residents was 23,672 yuan, and the per capita net income of farmers was 13,426 yuan.
Sanhe Town is a famous historical and cultural town in China, a national civilized village and town, an ancient town of Chinese food culture, one of the top 100 most beautiful villages (small towns) in China, one of the first batch of beautiful and livable towns in China, and a famous town of Chinese characteristic landscape tourism. In October 2015, it was awarded the national AAAAA-level tourist scenic area. On July 28, 2017, Sanhe Town was selected into the list of the second batch of Chinese characteristic towns.
Related Articles：Half-Day Travel Guide to Sanhe Ancient Town in Hefei, Anhui
Main attractions:
Ruins of the Great Victory in Sanhe
Ruins of the Great Victory in Sanhe
The ruins of the great victory in Sanhe are in the east street and middle street areas of Sanhe Town. Mainly there are the Taiping Army city wall and the Yingwang Mansion.
The city wall built by the Taiping Army in Sanhe still retains two sections: one section is about 10 meters to the right of the Great Victory Gate. It is the north city wall and is about 50 meters long. One section is in front of a small gate. It is the east city wall and is about 30 meters long. On August 11, 1858 of the Xianfeng period of the Qing Dynasty, Taiping Heavenly Kingdom generals Chen Yucheng, Li Xiucheng, Li Shixian, and Nian Army general Zhang Luoxing jointly fought against the Qing Dynasty. They completely annihilated more than 6,000 Hunan Army soldiers in Sanhe. The leaders of the Hunan Army, Li Xubin and Zeng Guohua, were buried here. This is known as the “Great Victory in Sanhe”.
The former Yingwang Mansion: that is, the main camp of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. It was the location of the Taiping Army’s headquarters before and after the great battle in Sanhe. There will be a memorial hall of the great victory in Sanhe of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom in the Yingwang Mansion.
Ancient Folk Street
The ancient folk street is located in the south street and west street areas of Sanhe Town.
The ancient folk street on the south street starts from the Sanxian Bridge and Quezhu Corridor in the north and ends at the former residence of Yang Zhenning in the south. It covers an area of about 11,000 square meters. The street is a bluestone pavement, 100 meters long and 3 meters wide. There are 52 units and residents in total, with a total of 389 houses. The main relics include the Sanxian Bridge, the former residence of Yang Zhenning, and One-Person Alley.
Liu Tongxinglongzhuang
Liu Tongxinglongzhuang has an area of about 700 square meters. The whole house is a five-entry and eight-compartment building with 32 rooms. Facing the street is a two-story building. The second entry is a 走马转心楼 (a kind of building structure). The third entry is an open hall for receiving guests. The fourth entry is compartments for worshipping ancestors. The fifth entry is living quarters. The last three entries are all bungalows.
Former Residence of Zheng Shanfu
In the 1930s, Chiang Kai-shek placed Feng Yuxiang under house arrest in Mount Tai, Shandong. Zheng Shanfu was forced to move his family to Sanhe. The house is a brick-wood structure building with an area of about 400 square meters and a total of five entries. Zheng Shanfu is erudite. He was once the teacher of Han Fuju, the governor of Shandong Province of the Republic of China. He liked to collect celebrity calligraphy and paintings and books all his life. The celebrity calligraphy and paintings and books he collected from the Tang and Song dynasties were destroyed during the Cultural Revolution.
Sanxian Bridge
The Sanxian Bridge is an ancient bridge in Sanhe, also known as the Stone Bridge. The bridge is 38 meters long and 7 meters wide. It is a three-arch bridge. This bridge was built in 1926.
Quezhu Corridor Bridge
The Quezhu Bridge was rebuilt into the Quezhu Corridor Bridge. This corridor bridge is 22 meters long and 2.7 meters wide. There are 12 columns erected on the bridge, supporting a two-story long pavilion with upturned eaves. There are beauty benches on both sides of the bridge, and there are four square bluestone lamp posts at both ends of the bridge.
Mosquito-Free Bridge
The Mosquito-Free Bridge is also known as the Xiaonan Bridge and the Dai’s Bridge. It was built by a widow surnamed Dai.
Guogong Bridge
The Guogong Bridge is an ancient bridge. It is said to have been built by an ancient duke.
Peach Blossom Island
Peach Blossom Island is at the confluence of the Hangbu River and the Fengle River. Peach Blossom Island is triangular in shape and covers an area of 300 mu, of which 70 mu is water surface. Peach orchards and grape orchards are built on the embankment around the pool. Peach Blossom Island is planted with 9,999 peach trees. On Peach Blossom Island, there are two stone pavilions, Huang Rong Pavilion and White Fox Pavilion.
Wangyue Pavilion
Wangyue Pavilion, also known as Guocui Tower. Wangyue Bridge is an arched stepping stone bridge. The whole bridge is paved with thick bluestone slabs. The railings are bluestone relief railings. It is 37 meters high and is a seven-story ancient tower. It displays the handed-down masterpieces of the ancient town and nearly a thousand folk-collected ancient art treasures.
Dafu Residence
The private residence of civil officials during the Ming and Qing dynasties. It displays Ming and Qing furniture and building components. Mainly there is the plaque of “Dafu Residence” written by Zhu Fengbiao, the minister of five ministries (Ministry of Works, Ministry of Punishments, Ministry of Revenue, Ministry of War, and Ministry of Personnel) in the sixth year of Tongzhi. There are also a full-faced square table made of cherry wood in the Ming Dynasty, rosewood and rosewood armchairs, nanmu cabinets, golden nanmu canopy beds, early Qing Dynasty ancestral portraits, etc.
Exhibition Hall of Dong Yinchu’s Life Story
It presents the extraordinary life of Mr. Dong Yinchu. It is mainly divided into six exhibition halls: Hall One is a land of outstanding people. Hall Two is family origins. Hall Three is a line of scholars. Hall Four is resistance against Japanese aggression and national salvation. Hall Five is saving the nation through industry. Hall Six is deep affection among generations of leaders.
Former Residence of Sun Liren
The Sun Liren family has lived in Sanhe for generations. Sun Liren was born on December 8, 1900, in Bashanxiang, Sanhe. From birth until he went out to study at the age of eight, he had been living here. The newly restored former residence of Sun Liren is a typical Huizhou-style residence in central Anhui. It is divided into two entrances.
VIII. Longchuan Scenic Area in Jixi, Xuancheng City
The Longchuan Scenic Area in Jixi, Xuancheng City, Anhui Province is a national AAAAA-level tourist scenic area officially approved by the National Tourism Administration. It is located in Longchuan Village, Jixi County in southern Anhui. It is an ancient village where the Hu family has lived together for thousands of years.
The Longchuan tourist scenic area combines cultural and natural landscapes. The Hu Family Ancestral Hall is the first ancestral hall in the south of the Yangtze River. It is known as the “museum of wood carving art” and “hall of national art”. The Yishi Shangshu Archway is an authentic stone archway of the Ming Dynasty and is the best of Huizhou-style stone carvings.
In 1988, it was rated as a national key cultural relics protection unit; in 1986, it was rated as a key cultural relics protection unit in Anhui Province. In March 2017, it was rated as a national-level scenic area.
Related Articles：One-Day Trip to Longchuan Scenic Area in Jixi, Xuancheng, Anhui
Main attractions:
Yishi Shangshu Archway
Yishi Shangshu Archway
The Yishi Shangshu Archway is located in Dakengkou Village, Jixi County. It was built in 1562, the 41st year of Jiajing in the Ming Dynasty. The main structure is composed of four columns, four fixed trays and seven lintel beams. It is 10 meters high and 9 meters wide. It is made by matching and chiseling granite and tea garden stones. The overall structure of the archway adopts the side-foot method and converges inward. The four big columns erase the edges and corners. There are drum-shaped stones on both the north and south sides of the columns for protection. The top of the archway is a hip-roof style, which is made of tea garden stone slabs and supported by dougong and with overhanging eaves. At both ends of each main ridge, a pair of mythical turtles confront each other. In the middle of the main ridge of the central bay, there is a flame bead. The eight upturned corners soar into the air. In the middle of the main building, there is a vertical “Enrong” plaque, surrounded by embossed double dragons playing with pearls. On the north and south sides of the lower flower board are engraved “Yishi Shangshu” and “Yishi Gongbao” respectively, which are written by Wen Zhengming, a great calligrapher.
Hu Family Ancestral Hall
The Hu Family Ancestral Hall in Longchuan is located in Kengkou (Longchuan) Village, Yingzhou Town, Jixi County. Jixi ancient times belonged to Huizhou. The culture was prosperous and ancestral halls were everywhere. The Hu Family Ancestral Hall in Longchuan was built in 1547, the 25th year of Jiajing in the Ming Dynasty and was renovated in 1878, the 4th year of Guangxu in the Qing Dynasty. The ancestral hall faces south and has three entrances. It covers a total area of 1,729 square meters. Surrounded by mountains and with water flowing by, it is full of momentum. The interior of the ancestral hall is beautifully decorated. Especially the various well-preserved wood carvings are the most outstanding. It is known as the “treasure trove of Huizhou wood carving art”. Longchuan produced two ministers of six ministries in the Ming Dynasty. It is also the hometown of Hu Jintao. In 1988, it was listed as a national key cultural relics protection unit. Relevant experts praise it as a unique ancient ancestral hall in China. It is the ancestral hall of Hu Fu, the minister of the Ministry of Revenue in the Ming Dynasty, Hu Zongxian, the minister of the Ministry of War, and Hu Guangyong, a red-topped merchant in the Qing Dynasty.
Hu Zongxian Shaobao Mansion
The Hu Zongxian Shaobao Mansion shows his life story to tourists in the new form of an Anti-Japanese Pirates Memorial Hall. It is divided into four exhibition halls: The first exhibition hall is about Hu Zongxian’s life; the second exhibition hall is about the rampant Japanese pirates and being entrusted with a mission in a critical moment; the third exhibition hall is about being resourceful and courageous and making contributions in the southeast; the fourth exhibition hall is about being unjustly imprisoned and the soul lingering around Baiyun Mountain. The exhibition hall highlights the role of pictures and multimedia with innovative forms and atmosphere creation; it highlights Hu Zongxian’s heroic achievements in fighting against Japanese pirates and pacifying the coastal areas by applying modern sound, light, and electric high-tech technologies. The Hu Zongxian Shaobao Mansion will officially open to the public in March 2010.
Local Worthies Shrine
Local worthies refer to people with noble virtues in a place. In the Ming and Qing dynasties, those whose moral character and political achievements were highly respected by the local people would be reported by local officials to be enshrined in the county’s local worthies shrine after their death and be sacrificed in spring and autumn. According to the “Jixi County Annals” (published in 1810), a total of 15 local worthies were sacrificed in the Jixi County Local Worthies Shrine, among which three were from Longchuan. Longchuan used to have “Sijing Hall”, which was a sacred place for the clansmen to remember their ancestors and respect their ancestors. The names of the clansmen who were highly respected and had benefited the township throughout the generations in Longchuan were recorded here. According to the life stories of eight of them, eight pictures were drawn and used as a local education base in Longchuan.
Rice Paper Workshop
Among the “Ten Scenic Spots of Dragon Beard” in Longchuan, there is a scenic spot named “Dragon Grass Calming the Heart”. The so-called “dragon grass calming the heart”, dragon grass refers to dragon’s beard grass. There is dragon’s beard grass everywhere on Dragon Beard Mountain. This grass is like dragon’s beard, slender, flexible, and extremely elastic. It cannot be pulled apart. Some are only a foot long, and some are more than one meter long. It is an excellent raw material for papermaking. Dragon Beard Mountain is named after its abundant dragon’s beard grass. It is the main raw material for making Chengxintang paper. “Calming the heart” refers to Chengxintang where dragon’s beard paper is stored. The Longchuan scenic area successfully excavated and displayed this intangible cultural heritage, restored the ancient papermaking process site of Chengxintang, and took “Dragon Grass Calming the Heart” as an ancient visit tourism project. The Chengxintang paper experience workshop was opened to tourists on May Day in 2011.
Longchuan Water Street
Longchuan Water Street is located in Longchuan Village, Yingzhou Township, Jixi County, an Anhui provincial historical and cultural famous village. It has a long history and is well preserved. It is an important tourist area in the east tourist line that Jixi County focuses on developing. There are many cultural relics and historical buildings along the water street and on both sides of the street, which have extremely strong local characteristics and extremely high cultural value.
Longchuan Water Street is about 500 meters long. The water of the water street originates from the foothills of Shijin Mountain. It flows south through Lingli to the outside of Lingli, then turns east. It enters the village under Phoenix Mountain in Longchuan Village and flows into Dengyuan River through the village. The gradient of the riverbed is 500:1. Therefore, in the dry season, the water flows murmuringly. In the flood season, the river rushes, washing away all the sludge and dirty water in the village. The riverbank is made of bluestone and granite. The riverbank is steep and straight. There are stone steps along the riverbank for people to go down to the river for washing and fetching water. There is also a place to go down to the river, which is like a small dock. It is made of bluestone and granite and was built in the early Qing Dynasty.
Lingshan Nunnery
The entire nunnery is divided into three bays and two entrances. Looking up, you can see a plaque hanging above it, “Realizing Mahayana”, which means “realizing Mahayana Buddhism”.
The main hall enshrines Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva. The back hall enshrines Sakyamuni Buddha, that is, Tathagata Buddha.
IX. Ancient Huizhou Cultural Tourism Area in Huangshan City
The Ancient Huizhou Cultural Tourism Area in Huangshan City is located in Huangshan City, Anhui Province. It is adjacent to Mount Huangshan in the north and Qiandao Lake in the south. With an area of 9.5 square kilometers, it is an ancient Huizhou cultural tourism area that gathers ancient city life, ancestral hall culture, archway culture, Huizhou merchant culture, village culture, and residential culture.
The main tourist attractions of the Ancient Huizhou Cultural Tourism Area in Huangshan City are the five major scenic areas: Huizhou Ancient City, Archways · Baojia Garden, Qiankou Folk Houses, Chengkan, and Tangmo. In December 2014, the Ancient Huizhou Cultural Tourism Area in Huangshan City was awarded the honorary title of “national AAAAA-level tourist scenic area”.
Related Articles：I Prefer This Ancient Huizhou City Over Hongcun
Main attractions:
Huizhou Ancient City
Huizhou Ancient City
The Huizhou Ancient City scenic area is located in Shexian County, a national historical and cultural city. It is the political, economic and cultural center of ancient Huizhou. It is the location of the ancient Huizhou government. It is one of the four ancient cities in China and one of the three major regional cultures in China – the birthplace of Huizhou culture. It is a national AAAAA-level tourist scenic area. The scenic area currently includes tourist attractions such as the Huizhou government office, Xu Guo’s Memorial Archway, the ancient city wall, Huizhou Garden, Huizhou Story Hall, Huizhou Opera Hall, Doushan Street, Tao Xingzhi Memorial Hall, Huang Binhong Memorial Hall, etc. It is known as “the capital of Chinese Hui ink”, “the hometown of Chinese She inkstone”, “the hometown of Huizhou opera (Huiban)”, “the hometown of Chinese Huizhou culture”, and “the hometown of Chinese archways”.
Archways · Baojia Garden
The Baojia Garden scenic area of the archways in Shexian County, Huangshan City is located in Tangyue Village, Shexian County, which is surrounded by beautiful mountains and clear waters. It is composed of ancient archways, ancient ancestral halls, ancient dwellings, and Baojia Garden. This place is 10 kilometers away from Shexian ancient city and 27 kilometers away from Tunxi, the location of the municipal government.
Tangyue is the settlement of the Bao family. This family has lived here since they moved here in the Jianyan period of the Southern Song Dynasty and has continued for more than 800 years. The stone archways with the core of “loyalty, filial piety, chastity, and righteousness” are arranged in sequence from both ends to the middle and unfold in a semicircular arc. From west to east are the Baocan Filial Piety Archway, Cixiaoli Archway, Wang’s Chastity Archway for the wife of Bao Wenling, the Archway for Charity and Good Deeds, the Chastity Archway for the wife of Bao Wenyuan, the Filial Piety Archway for Bao Fengchang, and the Shangshu Archway for Bao Xiangxian. The scenic area is a national key cultural relics protection unit, a world cultural heritage application site, a national AAAAA-level tourist scenic area, a famous historical and cultural village in China, a famous brand in Anhui Province, a famous trademark in Anhui Province, the fifth batch of cultural industry demonstration bases in Anhui Province, the second batch of intangible cultural heritage inheritance bases in Anhui Province, and also one of the “top ten” tourist attractions in Huangshan City.
Tangmo
Tangmo originally belonged to Shexian County and now belongs to Huizhou District. Tangmo was founded by Shu Ju, the great-great-grandfather of Wang Hua, the Duke of Yue in the Tang Dynasty. It has the reputation of being the first village of Chinese waterscape gardens. Now Tangmo Village is supported by Lion Mountain. In the southwest of the village, there is a hilly area with Elephant-Shaped Mountain. In the east, north, and west are small plains. Here there are also scenic spots such as the “Fellow Hanlin” memorial archway, octagonal pavilion, centipede bridge, Fengle River, bluestone pavement, Gaoyang Bridge built in the Qing Dynasty, ancient ginkgo forest, Prince’s Pond, Prince’s Temple, ancient Huizhou architecture “Number One Scholar’s Mansion”, the old residence of Xu Cunyu, nunnery, Xu’s grand ancestral hall, and Tangmo Small West Lake. Tangmo Village can be called a museum of garden-style ancient buildings.
Qiankou Folk Houses
Qiankou Folk Houses is a special museum of ancient architecture. Invested and built by the State Administration of Cultural Heritage, it is located at the foot of Zixia Mountain in Qiankou Town, Huizhou District, Huangshan City, Anhui Province. It is located on the main road for entering Mount Huangshan from Nanjing, Jiangxi, Shanghai, and Hangzhou. It is composed of the Ming Garden and the Qing Garden. They were completed and opened to the public in 1990 and 2007 respectively. According to the principle of “dismantling and rebuilding in original places and centralized protection”, 24 ancient buildings that are most typical in the Ming and Qing dynasties, such as ancient dwellings, ancient ancestral halls, ancient archways, ancient pavilions, ancient bridges, and ancient stages, are centrally protected. They have extremely important historical, artistic, and scientific research value. They are precious examples for studying ancient Chinese architecture and are known as “the living monograph of Chinese folk art in the Ming Dynasty” and “a model of the high degree of harmony and unity between human landscapes and natural landscapes”. Shan Shiyuan, a famous ancient architecture expert and former vice president of the Palace Museum, once sighed and said: “To see the imperial palace, go to Beijing. To see folk houses, go to Qiankou.” In 1988, Qiankou Folk Houses were announced as national key cultural relics protection units by the State Council. In 2007, it was rated as a national 4A-level tourist scenic area. In 2008, according to the unified arrangement of four ministries and commissions including the Central Propaganda Department, the Qiankou Folk Houses Museum was opened to the public free of charge as a public cultural service venue. In 2009, it was awarded the title of “Intangible Cultural Heritage Inheritance Base in Huizhou Cultural Ecological Protection Experimental Area” by the Anhui Provincial Department of Culture. In 2009, it was listed as a district-level patriotism education base. In 2014, as an important part of the Ancient Huizhou Cultural Tourism Area, it was rated as a national 5A-level tourist scenic area.
X. Qiyun Mountain Scenic Area
The Qiyun Mountain is majestic and beautiful with tall and straight strange peaks. It is named because “a stone pierces straight into the clouds and is on a par with the blue clouds”. The scenic area covers an area of 110 square kilometers and is divided into four tourist areas: Yuehua Street, Upstairs Area, Yunyan Lake, and Hengjiang River. It is a national key scenic area that integrates Danxia landform, Taoist culture, and cliff carvings, and combines mountain scenery and water colors.
Qiyun Mountain was formerly known as “Baiyue”. It faces Mount Huangshan in the north and south. The scenery is beautiful and has its own characteristics. In history, it was known as “Mount Huangshan and Baiyue are the best in Jiangnan”. Literati and refined scholars of all dynasties such as Li Bai, Zhu Xi, Tang Bohu, Xu Xiake, and Yu Dafu have all climbed Qiyun Mountain and left thousands of cliff carvings. Emperor Qianlong praised it as “the unparalleled scenic spot in the world and the number one mountain in Jiangnan” when he toured the south of the Yangtze River. Folk houses and Taoist temples are dotted among them. Pavilions, terraces, towers, and pavilions are all over the mountain. The incense of Taoism flourished in the Ming Dynasty. The Northern Zhenwu Emperor is enshrined. With prosperous incense, it has become a Taoist holy place. Qiyun Mountain has 36 strange peaks, each of which is picturesque. There are 72 strange rocks, and each rock is a scenic spot. The mountains are strange, the rocks are strange, the water is beautiful, and the caves are secluded, constituting the “blessed land with caves” of Qiyun Mountain. Qiyun Mountain has a pleasant climate. The scenery in spring, summer, autumn, and winter has its own characteristics. The inscriptions and stone carvings on Qiyun Mountain are scattered everywhere and it is known as “the number one mountain in Jiangnan”.
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Main attractions:
Blessed Land with Caves
Blessed Land with Caves
This scenery is quite spectacular. There are three cliff carvings at Qizhen Rock, Zhonglie Rock, and Shouzi Cliff. It is said that Qizhen Rock is where Qixia Zhenren, the earliest Taoist priest on Qiyun Mountain and a Taoist in the Tang Dynasty, practiced. Zhonglie Rock is a place to worship Guan Gong. The “Shou” character on Shouzi Cliff was written by Empress Dowager Cixi of the Qing Dynasty. There are many cliff carvings and inscriptions, which are dazzling and are known as the “Baiyue Forest of Steles”.
Cave of True Immortals
The Cave of True Immortals is composed of many caves such as the Eight Immortals Cave, Yuantong Cave, Luohan Cave, Yujun Cave, and Wenchang Cave under the cliff wall. Statues of various immortals are enshrined. There are many cliff carvings on the cliff wall of the cave. The most striking one is the four characters “Heaven Opens and the Divine Is Magnificent” on the cliff wall. It is of extraordinary momentum and is a prominent symbol of the Cave of True Immortals.
Yuehua Street
There are currently eight ancient Taoist houses on Yuehua Street. There are also many Huizhou-style folk houses. Together with palaces, temples, and courtyards, they form a dense architectural complex. It is a place where Taoists and mountain residents live together. It is also the market street on the mountain and a place for pilgrims and tourists to stay.
Taisu Palace
Taisu Palace is the largest Taoist temple on Qiyun Mountain. Taoist rituals and ceremonies are all held here. The Taoist rituals on Qiyun Mountain are different in content and form depending on the requirements of the sponsors. There are two types: civil rituals and martial rituals.
Yuxu Palace
Yuxu Palace is located under Zixiao Cliff on Qiyun Mountain. It was founded by Taoist Wang Taiyuan in the Zhengde period of the Ming Dynasty. It mainly enshrines the Zhenwu Emperor. In front of the palace, there is a three-story pavilion-style stone memorial archway with four columns. The archway is 17 meters high and is carved from red sandstone. It is simple, elegant, and unique. On the left side of the palace, there is an inscription of “Stele Inscription of the Mysterious Emperor of Zixiao Palace” written by Tang Yin, a famous painter of the Ming Dynasty.
Incense Burner Peak
Incense Burner Peak is in front of Taisu Palace on Yuehua Street. The peak stands independently and is tall and straight. It is shaped like an incense burner, hence the name. The base of this peak is small and stable. The body of the furnace is thick. The top is almost the same size as the base. It is said that the iron pavilion and incense burner on the top were originally given by Zhu Yuanzhang. Whenever it is clear after the rain and the clouds are misty, Incense Burner Peak appears and disappears. There is a poem praising it: “The mountain is like an incense burner and the clouds are like smoke. The lofty jade temple has been hidden for thousands of years.”