Top Things to Do in Anhui: Insider Tips for First-Timers

Wrong gate. 12,000 steps. No snacks. That's what happens when you follow the wrong advice in Anhui. I've been guiding here for a decade, and I've seen tourists burned by bad translations and outdated blogs.

Let me fix that: the top things to do in Anhui are incredible, but they require careful logistics. You'll need to order tickets via Trip.com, carry your passport everywhere, and ignore the touts near the entrance. This guide is my personal cheat sheet — use it and you'll skip the chaos entirely.

The 10 Best Things to Do in Anhui

Anhui packs a lifetime of experiences into one province. These are my personal picks, ranked by wow factor and logistics ease. I've ordered them to help you build a route — but any one is worth a trip alone.

1. Hike the Yellow Mountain (Huangshan)

The jagged granite peaks of Huangshan have inspired poets for centuries. This UNESCO World Heritage Site — check the UNESCO World Heritage listing — is the crown jewel of Anhui. I've climbed it 30+ times, and it never gets old. My top tip: take the Yungu cable car up, walk the West Sea Grand Canyon, and sleep overnight at a mountain hotel. The sunrise from Beihai is worth the overpriced instant noodles. But please — book those hotels months in advance.

The town at the base, Tangkou, is the gateway. From there, you'll take a shuttle bus to the cable car stations. Know your entrance gates: the Yungu Temple entrance is less crowded than the Hot Spring entrance, but both connect to the main trails. Arrive by 7 AM to catch the famous Sea of Clouds before the fog lifts.

2. Step Into the Ink-Painting Village of Hongcun

Hongcun is a UNESCO-listed ancient village that looks like a Chinese watercolor painting. Reflecting pools, stone alleys, and rice fields straight out of a period drama. I always tell clients: wander north first, then loop back to the Moon Pond for photos around 4 PM, when the light turns golden.

Entry costs around 104 RMB (check current price on Trip.com). You'll need your passport to buy a ticket at the gate — no exceptions. It gets busy post-10 AM, so get there early. Locals rent out rooms in the village; if you stay overnight, you'll have the whole place to yourself at sunrise.

3. Admire the Carved Houses of Xidi

Just a 20-minute drive from Hongcun, Xidi offers a quieter version of ancient Huizhou architecture. The intricate wood and stone carvings on the old merchant homes are better preserved here than in Hongcun. I'd say hire a local guide — they'll show you hidden courtyards you'd miss on your own. You can find licensed guides near the entrance for about 40 RMB per group.

Xidi's charm is in the details: the vertical horse-head walls, the dragon arches, the back alleys where laundry hangs like flags. It's less commercial, so bring your own snacks — food options are limited.

4. Stroll Along Tunxi Old Street

Tunxi Old Street is the beating heart of Huangshan city — a pedestrian street lined with shops selling everything from calligraphy brushes to bamboo flutes. It's touristy, sure, but I love it for the evening lanterns and street food. Come around 5 PM, grab a bowl of Huishan bing (a sweet stuffed pancake), and watch the crowds roll in.

The street is free to enter. Many shops close by 9:30 PM, so don't expect late-night action. Also, bargaining is expected — start at 30% of the asking price if you're buying souvenirs. Just remember: if you pay with mobile payment, your foreign card works via Alipay.

5. Cruise the Xin'an River Through Shexian

The Xin'an River east of Shexian is a serene stretch of water framed by limestone hills and rice terraces. I recommend the 3-hour little boat cruise — it takes you past villages where time seems to have stopped. Just board at the Deep Ferry Town (Shensha) pier. Tickets are around 120 RMB, but you can often get them through your hotel. The river is busiest during spring when the rapeseed fields are in bloom.

Wear sun protection — there's no shade on the boat. And keep your passport handy; the dock requires card check before boarding.

6. Explore the Ancient City Walls of Shexian

Shexian — now part of Huangshan city — was the center of Huizhou merchants, and its ancient city is a living history museum. Walk the 1.5-kilometer Ming-dynasty wall, climb the Taibai Pavilion, and visit the State Council–listed Huizhou Ancient City area. The entrance fee is about 80 RMB. I usually tell visitors to come at 3 PM, when the tour groups leave and the light hits the old brick perfectly.

Don't skip the sealseal workshop next to Xu Guo Archway — you can watch craftsmen carve rice-grain-sized characters. It's a skill that's disappeared from most of China.

7. Find Serenity at Mount Jiuhua

Mount Jiuhua is one of Chinese Buddhism's four sacred mountains, dedicated to Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva. It's less crowded than Huangshan, but just as beautiful — think misty cliffs and ancient temples. The cable car up is worth it, and the temple dormitory stays are an experience in themselves. Room rates are cheap (around 100 RMB), but book via Chinese apps — Trip.com has them.

Keep your voice low in the temples — locals take incense offerings very seriously. And taste the vegetarian feast at Huacheng Temple; the nuns cook dishes that taste surprisingly like pork, but they're made entirely from tofu.

8. Catch the Golden Light at Taiping Lake

Many people skip Taiping Lake because it's just a reservoir. That's a mistake. The lake is the crystal-clear basin of the Qingyi River, ringed by pine-covered cliffs. Past the town of Taiping, the northern shore has near-zero development. I rent a small electric boat from the pier and find a beach exactly 1 hour south of the Huangshan North Station. There isn't much in the way of facilities, so bring your own drinks.

The best time is sunset — the reflection on the water is pure gold. You can also combine it with the Dragon Mountain bamboo raft ride nearby, which is a hit with kids.

9. Discover the Oddly Shaped Peaks of Mount Tianzhu

Mount Tianzhu near Anqing is a hidden gem for hikers. It's not as iconic as Huangshan, but it has more adventure and fewer crowds. The West Pass trail is a series of steel ladders bolted into cliff walls — not for the faint-hearted, but unforgettable for adrenaline junkies. Getting here: take the bullet train to Anqing North, then a 40-minute taxi to the park entrance. Entrance is around 90 RMB.

Note: there's no cable car to the summit, so be prepared for a 4-hour slog. Don't rush — the view from the top, where pine trees grow out of cracks in the rock, is heaven.

10. Visit the Unpainted Villages of Chaji

Chaji (and nearby Huangtian) are the anti-Hongcun. These villages in the hills north of Jing County have lived without renovation for decades — peeling walls, mossy tiles, and no gift shops. It's a rare experience in a country that rapidly modernizes. The best part? It's almost empty. I bring my groups here after the big temples, as a reward for off-the-beaten-path tastes.

Getting here takes effort (1.5-hour drive from Hongcun), but the road is worth it. Entrance is free; support the local economy by buying a jar of fern jelly from the grannies at the village gate.

How to Plan Your Anhui Trip Without Overpaying

Anhui's attractions are spread out, but with a little strategy, you can see the highlights without breaking the bank. Here's the planning framework I use for every client.

Getting to and Around Anhui

The quickest way into Anhui is to fly to Huangshan Tunxi International Airport (TXN) or take the high-speed rail. For rail, book via the official China Railway site (12306.cn) or an English-friendly agent like Trip.com. The train from Shanghai to Huangshan North takes just over 3 hours — seats sell out fast on weekends, so book at least a week ahead.

Once you're in the province, your best bet is a mix of high-speed rail and private car. I usually recommend renting a car with a driver for 2-3 days if you're going deep into places like Chaji or Shexian. Expect to pay around 500-800 RMB per day (including fuel). For shorter hops, the local bus network is reliable — but schedules are in Chinese, so use a translation app.

Buying Tickets the Smart Way

Foreign visitors cannot buy tickets at many major Anhui attractions using International credit cards. The system requires a Chinese ID for WeChat mini-program bookings, and that's where it gets tricky.

My go-to solution? Use the English version of Trip.com (formerly Ctrip) to book entry tickets for Huangshan, Hongcun, and Jiuhua Mountain. You'll need your passport number and at least 24 hours' notice for some venues. If a ticket isn't listed, ask your hotel receptionist to buy it in advance — bribing them with a smile works every time.

Here's a quick reference (prices may change):

*Prices from my last visit; always confirm on Trip.com before you go.

Where to Stay for Easy Access

To avoid the crowds, stay in Tunxi (the old town) rather than hotels near the Yellow Mountain base. Tunxi gives you walkable access to the old street, a range of local restaurants, and a quick bus to the Huangshan North station. I'm a fan of the Huangshan Boyuan Boutique Hotel — it's a restored courtyard house with stable Wi-Fi and staff who speak English. It's not luxury, but it's charming.

In Hongcun, you can sleep in a traditional guesthouse inside the village. Expect shared showers, creaky floors, and triple-lock doors — save this experience for your last night. Rooms run 150-300 RMB, but book early during spring cherry blossom season.

What Are the Top Things to Do in Anhui in 24 Hours?

Only have one day? Focus on the essentials: one mountain, one village. Here's the plan that works, even with jetlag.

Start at 6:30 AM with a pre-booked Yungu Cable Car ticket for Yellow Mountain. Hike the Cloud Dispersing Pavilion and the West Sea Grand Canyon viewpoint by 10 AM. Lunch at the mountain's Yuping restaurant, then catch a 2 PM shuttle back to Tangkou.

From Tangkou, hop in a pre-arranged taxi to Hongcun (about 45 minutes). Spend the late afternoon there, staying until the lanterns come on — that's when the village empties of day-trippers. Have dinner in the village, then head back to Tunxi for a late-night tea house visit. If you're beat, skip the hike and simply spend your day in Hongcun and Xidi together; you'll get the same cultural immersion without the altitude.

When Is the Best Time to Experience Anhui's Highlights?

The best times to visit Anhui are early April (before the May Day crowds) and late October (after the summer heat). Spring brings bloom, especially the yellow flowers around Shexian; autumn delivers crisp air and clear skies. Summer monsoon season (June-July) can shut down mountain roads — avoid if you can.

For Yellow Mountain specifically, winter is magical if you can handle the cold — snow-capped peaks and fewer people. Just make sure the cable car is running; they do maintenance from late November through early December. Always check the official notice on Trip.com or through the Huangshan Tourism website.

What Should You Eat in Anhui?

Anhui cuisine (Hui Cai) is bold — salty, earthy, and built for sharing. Don't leave without trying these three dishes:

• Stinky Mandarin Fish (Guìyú) — fermented fish that smells like a locker room but tastes amazing. Try it at the classic Laojie First Restaurant on Tunxi Old Street.
• Bamboo Shoots Cooked with Ham — the spring shoots give it a sweet crunch; simmered for 3 hours.
• Huishan Crispy Pancakes — a street-side snack, stuffed with either pork or red bean. Perfect for snack attacks between sights.

For a hearty meal, head to the Caiyuan restaurant in Tunxi — it's a bit touristy, but the dishes are authentic and they have a picture menu to point at. Bills run 50-80 RMB per person, and they accept Alipay and WeChat.

FAQ: Insider Answers for Your Anhui Trip

This content has been fact-checked to ensure informational precision.