One of the rare literary ancient towns in China, 【Bishan Village】

After visiting so many ancient villages, I recently discovered Bishan Village in Anhui, which can be described as a slice of heaven on earth. The village is surrounded by a sea of rapeseed flowers, free from tourists and commercialization. Inside the Huizhou-style architecture, there are households with cooking smoke rising from their chimneys, as well as various artistic and literary shops. Bishan Village, a niche and interesting place, is very much like the Anhui version of 'going where the wind blows'! Six must-visit places in Bishan Village During the off-season, Bishan Village is less crowded and more enjoyable, worth spending half a day leisurely exploring: 1️⃣ Bishan Bookstore The Bishan branch of the avant-garde bookstore, called 'the most beautiful rural bookstore in China' by CCTV documentaries, is converted from a century-old ancestral hall in the village. From the second floor, you can overlook the entire Bishan Village and the distant Yunmen Pagoda. 2️⃣ Pigsty Bar & Hostel I knew about the Pigsty Bar & Hostel even before Bishan Village. It is a hostel opened by a couple of poets, and celebrities like Joe Hisaishi and Kenya Hara have stayed here. Originally the old Bishan oil factory, the transformed hostel combines pastoral and retro designs from the sixties and seventies, allowing you to instantly feel the artistic beauty of rural life. 3️⃣ Bishan Industrial and Commercial Cooperative The original supply and marketing cooperative of Bishan Village, later transformed by architect Shen Run over two years, cooperates with the Japanese d&department design store to sell various creative products. In the backyard, there's also a store by the band Wu Tiao Ren, which is very interesting. 4️⃣ Village Entrance Grocery Store As soon as you enter the village, you can see the grocery store. Sitting under a small tree and having a bowl of rice wine dumplings cooked by the lady boss is very relaxing. 5️⃣ Yunmen Pagoda If you're talking about the iconic building of Bishan Village, it has to be the Yunmen Pagoda in the fields, a solitary and dazzling Song-style five-story tower with more than two hundred years of history. 6️⃣ Dog Kennel Bar It is said to be opened by the son of the Pigsty Bar's owner. It's not a hostel, but a real tea and bar in the afternoon, also very artistic. If you haven't had enough, these five shops are also worth a visit: Cowshed Coffee, Freedom Coffee & Tea, Han Gongzi Grocery Store, One Store, One Seat. 🚗 About Transportation Bishan Village is located in Huizhou County, Huangshan City, Anhui. Take the high-speed train to 'Huizhou East Station'. From the county town, there is a direct bus to Bishan Village, but the frequency is quite low, so it is recommended to take a taxi back and forth during the off-season. Compared to Hongcun and Xidi in the same county, Bishan Village is really off the beaten path, yet it magically attracts so many people with ideals and stories to take root here. I hope Bishan Village will always remain less crowded and beautiful, and I will visit many more times.