Anhui
Huangshan, UNESCO villages, Huizhou culture, photography, and ideal extension from Shanghai
Understanding the territory
Anhui is a province in Eastern China, easily combinable with Shanghai, Hangzhou, Nanjing, or Jiangnan. It is particularly known for Mount Huangshan, the ancient villages of Hongcun and Xidi, Huizhou architecture, misty mountain landscapes, scholarly traditions, ancient alleys, and scenes highly sought after by photography enthusiasts.
For an agency, Anhui is an excellent extension destination: it allows adding a more rural, heritage, and scenic dimension to a classic Shanghai / Suzhou / Hangzhou itinerary.
Area and population
Area : 140,100 km²
Population : 60.82 million residents, estimated by the end of 2025
Climatee and recommended period
Anhui expériences a humid climate, with hot summers and cool to cold winters depending on altitude. The mountains, particularly around Huangshan, can be cooler, misty, and changeable. Generally, the most pleasant periods are April to June and September to November.
For photography, spring, autumn, and some misty periods around Huangshan can offer beautiful atmospheres, although mountain weather should always be anticipated.
Generally favourable period: April to June, September to November.
Useful cities and areas
- Hefei: Provincial capital and administrative gateway, useful for some rail or air accèsses.
- Huangshan / Tunxi: Main base for exploring Mount Huangshan, old quarters, Huizhou villages, and southern Anhui.
- Hongcun and Xidi: UNESCO-listed ancient villages, famous for Huizhou architecture, alleys, ponds, traditional houses, and postcard landscapes.
- Shexian and Chengkan: Interesting areas to deepen Huizhou culture, commemorative arches, ancient houses, and more discreet villages.
- Wuhu / Ma'anshan / Anqing: Cities that may be useful depending on the routes, but to be integrated only if the itinerary logic justifies it.
Known landmarks
- Mount Huangshan
- Hongcun
- Xidi
- Tunxi Old Street
- Shexian
- Chengkan
- Tachuan
- Mukeng Bamboo Forest
- Tangyue Memorial Archways
- Xin’an River depending on the season and program
- Huizhou culture
- Photography of landscapes and ancient villages
Why include Anhui in a journey?
To complement Shanghai or Jiangnan with a more rural and heritage stop
To discover Mount Huangshan, one of China's most iconic landscapes
To offer highly photogenic ancient villages
To highlight Huizhou architecture and scholarly traditions
To create a slower, more visual, and cultural itinerary
To provide an interesting alternative or extension to Suzhou / Hangzhou
What to see
- Mount Huangshan - Iconic landscape of China, famous for its granite peaks, wind-sculpted pines, sea of clouds, mountain stairs, and spectacular panoramas. It is one of Anhui's great visual symbols.
- Hongcun - UNESCO-listed ancient village, known for its ox-shaped layout, crescent moon pond, alleys, traditional Huizhou houses, and highly photogenic atmosphere.
- Xidi - Another major UNESCO village in southern Anhui, remarkable for its ancient homes, sculpted doors, inner courtyards, white walls, and typical black roofs of Huizhou architecture.
- Tunxi Old Street - Old commercial street of Huangshan, ideal for an initial approach to local culture: shops, teas, brushes, inks, regional specialties, and traditional architecture.
- Shexian - Ancient cultural center of Huizhou, interesting for its commemorative arches, ancient houses, scholarly traditions, and its historical role in regional commerce and culture.
- Chengkan - A more discreet ancient village, appreciated for its Huizhou architecture, alleys, ponds, ancestral temples, and a calmer atmosphere than the more famous villages.
- Tachuan - Village and scenic area particularly renowned in autumn, when the colors of the trees create beautiful photographic scenes around traditional houses.
- Tangyue Memorial Archways - A group of commemorative arches related to the history of prominent Huizhou families, interesting to understand the family, social, and scholarly values of the region.
- Mukeng Bamboo Forest - Bamboo forest near Hongcun, interesting to add a gentle nature and visual step to a cultural program in southern Anhui.
- Xin’an River - Depending on the season and itinerary, the Xin’an River adds a more peaceful dimension: water landscapes, villages, crops, hills, and rural scenes.
What to do
- Hike Mount Huangshan - Prepare a hike suitable for the traveler's level, with cable cars, stairs, viewpoints, and possible overnight stays at altitude depending on the itinerary. The weather should always be anticipated.
- Photograph Huizhou villages - Hongcun, Xidi, Chengkan, Tachuan, and the surrounding villages offer beautiful scenes: white walls, black roofs, alleys, ponds, bridges, reflections, morning mists, and local life.
- Discover Huizhou architecture - Observe ancient houses, sculpted doors, inner courtyards, ancestral temples, commemorative arches, and alley systems that give Anhui its heritage identity.
- Explore Tunxi Old Street - Stroll through old shops, discover local products, taste regional specialties, and introduce travelers to the commercial history of Huizhou.
- Deepen Chinese scholarly culture - Anhui is linked to the tradition of scholars, inks, brushes, ink stones, study houses, and Huizhou merchant families. This dimension can be highlighted in a cultural program.
- Plan an extension from Shanghai or Hangzhou - Anhui works very well as a 3 to 5 days extension from Shanghai, Hangzhou, Suzhou, or Nanjing, thanks to the fast train connections to Huangshan.
- Build a photography itinerary - Anhui is particularly suitable for photography enthusiasts: Huangshan at sunrise, ancient villages, rural scenes, reflections, mists, bamboos, and autumn colors.
- Add an expérience around tea or local craftsmanship - Depending on availability, it is possible to integrate a tea tasting, a visit related to inks or brushes, or a meeting around regional crafts.
- Plan a slow pace in the villages - The interest of Anhui lies not only in quick visits. Time should be allowed for walking, observing, photographing, entering alleys, and feeling the atmosphere of the villages.
The main air accèss points useful for Anhui are Hefei Xinqiao International Airport, Huangshan Tunxi International Airport, Chizhou Jiuhuashan Airport, Anqing Tianzhushan Airport, Fuyang Xiguan Airport, and Wuhu Xuanzhou Airport.
For a tourist trip centered on Huangshan, Hongcun, Xidi, and Huizhou villages, Huangshan Tunxi Airport is generally the most relevant. For broader accèss to the province or for certain combined circuits, Hefei can serve as the main gateway.
Before finalizing the itinerary, check available flights, seasonal frequencies, arrival times, and transfer times to Huangshan, Tunxi, Hongcun, Xidi, or Hefei.
The fast train is often the most convenient accèss for integrating Anhui into an Eastern China circuit.
For tourist trips, Huangshan North Station is one of the most important: it allows accèss to Mount Huangshan, Tunxi, Hongcun, Xidi, Shexian, Chengkan, and Huizhou villages.
Hefei South can serve as a major regional rail gateway, especially for connections with Shanghai, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Wuhan, or Beijing depending on available schedules.
For an extension from Shanghai, Hangzhou, Suzhou, or Nanjing, plan for a fast train accèss to Huangshan North or Hefei South, followed by a private transfer to the villages and tourist sites.
Allow sufficient time for transfers between train stations, hotels, old villages, and mountain sites.
From Huangshan North Railway Station, transfers to Tunxi, Hongcun, Xidi, Shexian, Chengkan, or Mount Huangshan should be organized with private vehicles for greater comfort and fluidity.
For Mount Huangshan, anticipate internal shuttles, cable cars, queues, mountain weather, and the hiking level of travelers.
In high season, during weekends, Chinese holidays, or autumn foliage periods, allow for larger margins and book hotels, tickets, and transportation in advance.
Useful information
Anhui integrates well as a cultural and scenic extension from Shanghai, Hangzhou, Suzhou, or Nanjing.
The destination is particularly suitable for photography, heritage, ancient villages, Huizhou architecture, and slow travel circuits. It allows adding a more rural, more visual, and more contemplative step to an Eastern China program.
For a first program, prioritize a base around Huangshan / Tunxi, with Mount Huangshan, Hongcun, Xidi, Chengkan, Shexian, Tachuan, or Mukeng Bamboo Forest depending on the season and the group's pace.
Anhui is particularly suited for travelers who enjoy mountain landscapes, ancient villages, alleys, traditional houses, misty atmospheres, and less urban circuits.
Points to watch
- Changing weather in the mountains, especially at Huangshan
- High attendance during weekends, Chinese holidays, and autumn foliage periods
- Need to book hotels in advance around Huangshan and the villages
- Internal shuttles and cable cars should be considered in the timing calculation
- Some villages can be crowded: plan for early hours or calmer alternatives
- Comfortable shoes are essential for Huangshan and ancient villages
- Program to be adapted according to the clients' walking levels