Discover Anhui: Mountains, Villages and Cultural Heritage

Anhui can be explored through a wide range of travel interests: dramatic mountain scenery, historic village architecture, religious sites and diverse museum collections. Which of these aspects you focus on during your trip may also shape your choice of hotel base.

Mountain Scenery and Trails

Mount Huangshan is known for its granite peaks and rocks rising above a sea of clouds. The mountain is also home to locally or nationally endemic plant species, including several species that are endangered worldwide. Trails lead to ancient temples and viewpoints, and are intact and well maintained. Check trail conditions before your visit.

Another mountain landscape can be found at Tianzhu Mountain in Qianshan, Anqing, in Anhui Province. Its features include numerous peaks, caves, unusual rocks and lush vegetation. Outdoor activities include mountain climbing and sightseeing. The mountain also combines natural and cultural interests: its cultural heritage includes steles bearing calligraphy by ancient literati, including Li Bai, a major poet of the Tang dynasty (618–907).

Historic Villages and Religious Sites

Xidi has more than 300 residences, most of which were built during the Ming and Qing periods. The houses contain collections of valuable calligraphy and handicrafts. Hongcun offers a different architectural impression: the ancient village includes 138 original Ming- and Qing-style residences with white walls and black tiles. Its overall layout resembles the shape of an ox. Principal Street connects South Lake in the south with Moon Pond in the north. Moon Pond, South Lake and winding streams are part of Hongcun’s waterscape.

Religious traditions also shape various places in Anhui. Jiuhua Mountain is one of China’s four sacred Buddhist mountains and is located in Qingyang County, in the city of Chizhou. From Jiuhua Street, visitors can hike the scenic area’s tourist stairways and stone paths. Mount Qiyun is a sacred Taoist site in Anhui; in southern China, it has been a center of Taoism for more than a millennium.

Art and Collections in Hefei

The collection at the Anhui Museum in Hefei ranges from ancient bronzeware, pictorial bricks, ceramics and metalware to scholars’ utensils, traditional Chinese painting and calligraphy. It also includes historical documents, rare books, local handicrafts and modern art. The museum additionally houses around 4,000 works of art by Pan Yuliang (1895–1977). This makes it possible to focus a visit to Hefei especially on art, material culture and historical collections.

Planning Your Journey and Choosing a Hotel Base

The Chizhou–Huangshan high-speed railway line offers a point of reference for getting around southern Anhui: it runs for 125 kilometers through the region. Check timetables and service before your trip. Jiuhua Mountain Railway Station is six kilometers from the scenic area; check connection options in advance.

Travel interests vary considerably: Mount Huangshan is known for its granite peaks and trails, while Xidi and Hongcun are defined by their residences, calligraphy and village architecture. In Hefei, meanwhile, the museum offers a broad collection.

Explore more destinations: Chuzhou, Tongling, Chizhou, Hefei, Wuhu, Huangshan, Ma'anshan, Bengbu, Anqing, Juchao, Bozhou, Huaibei, Xuancheng, Fuyang, Huainan, Lu'an, Suzhou.

For the broader travel overview: China.