Anhui

Anhui is where Huizhou culture and the scenery of Mount Huangshan share the same roots: southern Anhui is home to ancient villages of white walls and dark tiles and to the Four Treasures of the Study, while northern and central Anhui offer the open landscapes of the Huai River, the Yangtze and the Dabie Mountains.

History: Mount Huangshan was inscribed in 1990 as a UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage site; the ancient villages of Xidi and Hongcun in southern Anhui were inscribed in 2000 as World Cultural Heritage. Hongcun was founded in the Shaoxing era of the Southern Song dynasty (1131), originally named Hongcun, settled by the Wang clan, and retains many Ming and Qing buildings and its water system. Huizhou was historically known for Huizhou merchants, Huizhou-style architecture, Hui ink, She inkstones and Hui opera; the "Three Carvings of Huizhou" are wood carving, brick carving and stone carving. Hefei is the provincial capital; Huainan, Bengbu and the surrounding Huai River cultural area differ in character from Huizhou culture in southern Anhui and should not be conflated. Legend: Folk tales about the Welcoming Pine and the Flying Stone on Mount Huangshan, involving immortals and enchanted stones, are Legend and must not be treated as geological or historical fact; the description of Hongcun as laid out in the shape of an ox is a later figurative interpretation, a Legend-type reading, while the village water system itself is a historical hydraulic arrangement.

• Mount Huangshan (Huángshān): sea of clouds, odd pines, strange rocks and hot springs; Lotus Peak is one of the highest peaks, about 1,864 metres, subject to official figures.
• Hongcun (Hóngcūn): Moon Pond, South Lake, South Lake Academy and Chengzhi Hall; see how water channels and lanes organise village life.
• Xidi (Xīdì): the Hu Wenguang memorial archway, Jing'ai Hall and other Ming and Qing residences.
• Tunxi Old Street (Túnxī Lǎojiē): a Huizhou-style shopping street, good for the three carvings and Huizhou snacks, but compare prices in scenic-area shops.
• Mount Jiuhua (Jiǔhuá Shān): one of China's famous Buddhist mountains; respect the rules of religious sites when climbing and visiting temples.

Intercity: high-speed rail links Hefei, Wuhu, Huangshan North, Jixi North and other stations with the Yangtze Delta; from Huangshan North station to Tunxi town, take a bus or taxi, on the order of ten-odd minutes to half an hour, subject to that day's services. In town: Hefei and Wuhu have metro/buses; Alipay and WeChat transit codes and physical transit cards are mostly accepted, subject to the local transport authority. Scenic areas: Mount Huangshan operates a transfer system — visitors go to a transfer centre, then take scenic-area transport up the mountain, with cable cars charged separately; Hongcun and Xidi are linked by county and township buses and chartered cars, with infrequent rural services, so confirm return times in advance. Tickets and payment: buy high-speed rail tickets on 12306; most scenic areas require advance booking; ticket and cable-car prices are given only as an order of magnitude (scenic transport mostly in the tens of yuan range), subject to official announcement.

• Red Line: Do not climb unopened cliffs or the roofs of historic buildings, and do not carve on cultural relics or ancient trees; fire-prevention and no-smoking rules on summits and in ancient villages must be obeyed, and fines for violations are subject to official announcement.
• Taboo: ① In ancestral halls, academies and similar places, do not talk loudly or touch furnishings casually; clan halls may close to visitors during sacrificial ceremonies. ② Stinky mandarin fish and hairy tofu in Huizhou cuisine have strong smells — check whether companions accept them before ordering, and do not mock local food for its smell.
• Good Manners: Village lanes are narrow — give way when taking photos and avoid porters and villagers' daily passage at peak times; mountains are often foggy and rainy, so wear non-slip shoes, bring rain gear, and follow scenic-area notices closing trails in strong wind, thunder or rain.

Spring and autumn are the more comfortable seasons for Mount Huangshan and the ancient villages of southern Anhui; summers are rainy and winters cold on summits. Climb Mount Huangshan within your ability; older visitors and children should prefer cable-car routes. Carry ID; most scenic areas require real-name booking. The Huizhou mountains have large day-night temperature differences, so bring a light jacket.