The Ancient Huizhou Cultural Tourism Area is located in Huangshan City, Anhui Province, bordering Huangshan Mountain to the north and Qiandao Lake to the south, covering an area of 9.5 square kilometers. It is a national 5A-level tourist attraction. By integrating ancient city life, ancestral hall culture, archway culture, Huishang (Huizhou merchant) culture, village culture, and residential culture, it vividly presents "Huizhou Culture," one of the three major regional cultures in China. The scenic area features various ancient buildings, including 4 categories and 116 sites of spatial forms, 12 categories and 3,358 individual buildings, among which 1,325 ancient residences have been protected through adoption, occupancy, and subscription.
History and Culture
The Ancient Huizhou Cultural Tourism Area has a long history. In the fifth year of Dali in the Tang Dynasty (770 AD), the pattern of "one prefecture and six counties" in Huizhou began to take shape. In the sixth year of Wude in the Tang Dynasty (623 AD), buildings such as Zhongwang Street, Liujia Garden, and Taizi Pond were successively constructed within the area, gradually forming villages where clans lived together. From the Song and Yuan dynasties to the Ming and Qing dynasties, a large number of ancient buildings were built, such as the Huanxiu Bridge, a five-arch stone bridge in Chengkan from the Yuan Dynasty, and the Qiankou Jinzi Temple completed in the tenth year of Zhengde during the Mingwuzong period. The Ming and Qing dynasties were the prime time for the construction of most Huizhou ancient buildings in Huangshan, Anhui. In 1984, Qiankou Folk Residences began to centrally protect Ming Dynasty buildings; in the same year, the former site of Chongyi School was converted into the Tao Xingzhi Memorial Hall. Since then, the scenic area has continued to develop and improve, and in 2014, it was awarded the honorary title of "National AAAAA-level Tourist Attraction."
Main Attractions
Huizhou Ancient City
Huizhou Ancient City was the seat of Huizhou Prefecture and is one of the best-preserved four ancient cities in China. The scenic area is laid out with ancient residential clusters, ancient bridges, ancient pagodas, ancient streets, ancient alleys, ancient dams, and ancient archways. It consists of six attractions: the Oriental Triumphal Arch—Xuguo Stone Arch, the symbol of Huizhou Ancient City—Huizhou Prefectural Government Office, the First Street in Jiangnan—Doushan Street, the Origin of Huishang—Yuliang Ancient Port, the Huizhou Grand View Garden—Huiyuan, and the National Patriotic Education Base—Tao Xingzhi Memorial Hall.
Archway Group · Baojia Garden
The scenic area is located in Tangyue Village, She County, 10 kilometers away from the ancient city and 27 kilometers away from Tunxi, the seat of the municipal government. It features the ancient Tangyue Village, seven archways, male and female ancestral halls, the Shixiao Ancestral Hall inscribed with the names and filial deeds of the Baos through the ages, and numerous commemorative buildings such as clan halls, public welfare halls, literary societies, academies, and charity granaries. Baojia Garden, in harmony with the Archway Group, takes the private garden of Huishang as the background and Huizhou-style bonsai as the theme, gathering the essence of Huizhou bonsai art and representing works of various domestic bonsai schools, known as the "Mother of Oriental Gardens."
Tangmo
Tangmo is known as the "First Village of Chinese Shuikou (water inlet) Gardens," founded in the Tang Dynasty, nurtured in the Song and Yuan dynasties, and flourished in the Ming and Qing dynasties. Historically, it was praised as the "Model Village of the Tang Dynasty" for its active economy and simple folk customs. It is home to the renowned Tangan Garden, which imitates the scenery of the West Lake, with pavilions, terraces, towers, waterside pavilions, and long bridges. The lake embankment is planted with sandalwood and Chinese redbuds, and the garden features scenic spots such as Three Pools Mirroring the Moon, Huxin Pavilion, White Dyke, and Yudai Bridge, resembling a miniature West Lake. The Mirror Pavilion is the center of Small West Lake, with its four walls made of marble inlaid with steles of calligraphy masters like Su Shi, Zhu Xi, and Dong Qichang.
Qiankou Folk Residences
Also known as Zixia Villa, Qiankou Folk Residences are located at the southern foot of Zixia Peak in Qiankou Town, Huizhou District, Huangshan City, Anhui Province. They are a group of Huizhou-style buildings of Ming Dynasty Han residences, ingeniously displaying various ancient residential styles on a small mountain. In terms of architectural types, they include cave societies, residences, small bridges, road pavilions, and archways, spanning from the eighth year of Hongzhi in the Ming Dynasty to the middle and late Ming Dynasty.
Chengkan
Chengkan is a miracle in the history of Chinese ancient architecture. Integrating natural landscapes and waters, it was sited and laid out according to the feng shui theory of the Eight Diagrams in the I Ching, interpreting the ancient philosophical theory of the interaction between heaven and earth. Known as the "First Village of Chinese Feng Shui," the village's long streets and short alleys form a labyrinth. Walking through the streets, the scenery changes with each step, making visitors feel like they are traveling in a painting. Chengkan currently has 49 national key protected cultural relics and is listed as a "Chinese Historical and Cultural Town," "Hometown of Chinese Ancient Architecture," "Hometown of Chinese National Treasures," and "China's Best Tourist Ancient Town."
Food
Wucheng Dried Tofu
Wucheng Dried Tofu is a traditional specialty of Huizhou, first created during the late Southern Song Dynasty (Emperor Lizong period), matured in the Yuan Dynasty, and prosperous in the Qing Dynasty. Known for its exquisite ingredients, fine craftsmanship, and excellent taste, it is made by filtering soybean milk, pressing it with traditional methods, and boiling it with ingredients. It contains various nutrients such as plant protein and reducing sugar.
Maodoufu (Hairy Tofu)
With a unique fermented flavor, it is fried until golden on both sides and served with sauce, offering a delicious taste.
Stinky Mandarin Fish
It smells stinky but tastes delicious, with firm, flaky meat, and is a classic dish in Huizhou cuisine.
Stone Guo (Stone-shaped Pastry)
A must-try snack with a crispy outer skin and a variety of rich fillings.
Tickets
The joint ticket for five spots (Huizhou Ancient City, Archway Group, Tangmo, Chengkan, Qiankou Folk Residences) is 220 yuan per person. Individual tickets for each attraction are also available.
You can search for the official WeChat public account "古徽州文旅" to get the latest updates or purchase tickets online.
Opening Hours
Huizhou Ancient City: 8:00 - 16:30 (night tour: 19:00 - 21:30)
Archway Group: 7:00 - 18:00
Chengkan: 8:00 - 17:00
Tangmo: 8:00 - 17:30
Qiankou Folk Residences: 8:00 - 16:30
Tour Route
She County, Huizhou—Jixi—Yuliang Dam—Yuliang Ancient Town Old Street—Taibai Wenjin Place—Yanshi Wenfeng Tower—Qiankou Tower—Qiankou Folk Residences—Chengkan Eight Diagrams Village—Baolun Pavilion—Tangmo—Tangyue Archway Group—Xin'an Stele Garden · Taibai Tower—Xuguo Stone Arch.
Transportation
- By Air: Take a flight to Tunxi International Airport, then take a taxi to Huangshan Bus Station, transfer to the bus line to She County, and after arriving at She County Bus Station, take Bus No. 4 directly to the scenic area.
- By High-speed Rail: Take the Beijing-Fuzhou High-speed Rail to She County North Station, then take a bus to Huizhou Ancient City Scenic Area.
- By Car: Navigate directly to each attraction of the Ancient Huizhou Cultural Tourism Area, with parking lots available around the scenic area.
Must-visit Attractions
- Huizhou Ancient City: One of the four best-preserved ancient cities in China, with numerous ancient buildings and cultural attractions such as Huizhou Prefectural Government Office and Xuguo Stone Arch, allowing visitors to experience the legacy of ancient Huizhou Prefecture.
- Chengkan: The oldest and most mysterious Eight Diagrams village of the Eastern Han Dynasty preserved in the world, laid out according to the Eight Diagrams feng shui theory, known as the "First Village of Chinese Feng Shui," with numerous ancient buildings and national key protected cultural relics.
- Tangmo: The "First Village of Chinese Shuikou Gardens," featuring Shuikou gardens, Huizhou-style architecture, and pastoral scenery, known as the "Elegant Landscape Pastoral, Huizhou Ancient Architecture Corridor."
Tour Tips
- It is recommended to arrange 2-3 days for the tour to fully appreciate the charm of Huizhou culture.
- Consider staying in Huizhou-style homestays to experience the local living atmosphere.
- Wear comfortable shoes as there are many stone paths in the scenic area.
- If interested in Huizhou culture, hire a tour guide to gain a deeper understanding of the historical and cultural connotations of the scenic area.
Notes
- Pay attention to safety along the water route of Tangmo Water Street to prevent falling into the water.
- Avoid touching or damaging cultural relics when visiting ancient building areas.
- Take sun protection and anti-mosquito measures during summer tours.
- Keep an eye on personal belongings as some attractions may have large crowds.