Zero-complaint slow-paced city, recommended for May Day travel
1️⃣ Tongling Yongquan ✅
📣 Key attractions
❣️ Dishui Cliff: Natural waterfall with emerald pools, abundant water during rainy season, perfect for photography and water play.
❣️ Ancient Village: Ming and Qing Dynasty Hui-style architecture, preserved bluestone paths and ancestral halls, experience southern Anhui rural culture.
❣️ Yongquan Bamboo Sea: Surrounded by thousands of acres of bamboo forest, dig for bamboo shoots in spring, stroll to escape the heat in summer.
🚗 Self-driving: From Tongling city, drive about 30 kilometers along Provincial Road S320 toward Zhongming Town, navigate to "Yongquan Village".
🚗 Public transportation: Take a bus from Tongling Station to Zhongming Town, then transfer to a local tricycle or taxi (self-driving is more convenient).
🫕 Food recommendations
✅ Local farm dishes: Earthen pot chicken, preserved meat with bamboo shoots, spring water fish.
✅ Tongling white ginger: Crisp and tender without residue, buy pickled ginger slices as souvenirs.
✅ Accommodation suggestions
Yongquan Village farmhouses: Budget-friendly (about 80-150 yuan/night), experience the tranquility of rural evenings.
2️⃣ Huangshan Chengkan ✅
Key attractions ✅
❣️ Yongxing Lake: The lake reflects white walls and dark tiles, like an ink painting in the morning mist.
❣️ Luo Dongshu Ancestral Hall: Known as "The First Ancestral Hall in Southern China," Ming Dynasty architectural essence with exquisite ceiling carvings.
❣️ Autumn Drying Square: In autumn (October-November), corn and chili peppers are dried here, creating colorful scenes perfect for photography.
❣️ Yanyi Hall ~ Huanxiu Bridge: Typical Huizhou ancient residence and representative of water entrance culture.
🚗 Self-driving: From Huangshan North Station, take G3 Beijing-Taipei Highway to the "Chengkan" exit, about 20 minutes.
✅ Public transportation: Take Huizhou Bus No. 13 directly from Huangshan North Station, or taxi for about 40💰
🫕 Food recommendations
✅ Huizhou stinky tofu: Crispy outside and tender inside, recommended at time-honored stalls in the scenic area.
✅ Mandarin fish: Must-order at Chengkan farmhouses, firm flesh with a distinctive aroma.
✅ Stone cake: Local snack, preserved vegetable filling is the most classic.
Accommodation suggestions
Shude Hall: High-end Hui-style homestay with lotus pond views, 800-1500 yuan/night.
Ancient town inns: Value options (200-400 yuan/night), such as "Chengkan Residence"
3️⃣ Yuexi Niuma Mountain ⛰️✅
Key attractions ✅
Best viewpoint for sea of clouds and sunrise near Guanyin Temple, highest probability after summer rain in early morning
Wind farm: Giant windmills standing on meadows, stunning light and shadow at sunset.
Alpine meadows: Lush green grass from May to October, suitable for camping and stargazing photography.
🚗 Self-driving from Yuexi County, take County Road X084 to Qingtian Township, then drive along the mountain road for 1 hour to the summit (SUV recommended).
Public transportation: No direct bus, chartered car recommended (about 200 yuan/car from county to summit).
🫕 Food recommendations ✅
✅ Yuexi local dishes: Hanging pot dishes, small river fish, Guanyin tofu (green jelly made from tree leaves).
✅ Bring your own food: No restaurants on the mountain, prepare enough drinking water and food.
Accommodation suggestions
Camping: Pitch tents on mountaintop grassland (bring your own equipment, night temperature below 10°C).
Qingtian Township farmhouses: Simple but clean (about 60-100 yuan/night), recommend "Niucao Mountain House"
4️⃣ Anqing Linghu Park ✅
Key attractions
❣️ Lotus Lake boating: Lotus flowers bloom in summer (June-August), rent small boats to enjoy the flowers.
❣️ Huangmei Pavilion: Exhibition hall commemorating Yan Fengying, learn about Huangmei Opera culture.
❣️ Stele Forest Corridor: Collection of inscriptions by scholars throughout history, must-visit for calligraphy enthusiasts.
❣️ children's play area: Choose facilities like Ferris wheel and bumper cars for family trips.
🚗 Public transportation: Accessible by multiple bus routes (get off at "Linghu Park" station on routes 8, 11).
Walking/cycling: Adjacent to Anqing Normal University, suitable for slow tours on shared bikes.
🫕 Food recommendations**
✅ Jiang Mao dumplings: Century-old shop "Jiang Wanchun," tender filling with thin skin.
✅ Dananmen beef buns: Local breakfast favorite, paired with mung bean soup.
✅ Yingjiang Temple vegetarian food: 2 kilometers from the park, well-reviewed vegetarian ham and three-shredded dish.
Accommodation suggestions
✅ Anqing Hotel: Four-star, 10-minute walk, about 300 yuan/night.
✅ Home Inn: Budget option, lake-view rooms overlooking the park, about 150 yuan/night.
📣📣 Spring and autumn are best, avoid rainy season!