The Ancient Huizhou Cultural Tourism Area is located in Huangshan City, Anhui Province, and is a national 5A-level tourist attraction covering a total area of 9.5 square kilometers. The tourism area consists of five major scenic spots: Huizhou Ancient City, Tangyue Memorial Archways·Bao's Family Garden, Tangmo, Qianshou Folk Houses, and Chengkan. It completely preserves the Hui-style architectural complexes and ancient village features from the Ming and Qing dynasties, serving as a concentrated display area of Huizhou culture.
History and Culture
Since the Song Dynasty, the Huizhou region has been one of China's important cultural centers. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the rise of Huizhou merchants created a splendid Huizhou culture. The Ancient Huizhou Cultural Tourism Area preserves a large number of ancient buildings and villages from the Ming and Qing periods, witnessing the prosperous development of Huizhou culture.
Huizhou culture, with Confucianism at its core, integrates commercial culture and local culture, forming unique cultural phenomena such as Hui-style architecture, the spirit of Huizhou merchants, and Xin'an Neo-Confucianism. The ancient dwellings, ancestral halls, and memorial archways in the tourism area are all material carriers of Huizhou culture.
As the birthplace and core area of Huizhou culture, the Ancient Huizhou Cultural Tourism Area completely preserves the layout and architectural characteristics of traditional Huizhou villages, serving as important physical materials for studying ancient Chinese folk architecture and rural society.
Main Attractions
Huizhou Ancient City
Huizhou Ancient City was first built in the Qin Dynasty, with a history of over 2,200 years, making it one of the four best-preserved ancient cities in China. The ancient city has crisscrossing streets and lanes, preserving a large number of Hui-style buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties, including historical relics such as Xu Guo Stone Archway, Huizhou Government Office, and Nanqiao Tower.
Tangyue Memorial Archways·Bao's Family Garden
The Tangyue Memorial Archways consist of seven stone archways from the Ming and Qing dynasties, arranged in an arc shape with magnificent momentum, making it one of the largest existing archway complexes in China. The adjacent Bao's Family Garden is a typical Hui-style garden, with exquisitely arranged rockeries, pavilions, and waterside pavilions.
Tangmo
Tangmo Ancient Village was first built in the Tang Dynasty, famous for its Jiangnan water town style of "small bridges, flowing water, and households". The village preserves over a hundred ancient dwellings from the Ming and Qing dynasties, with attractions such as Tanganyuan and Tongbao Hanlin Archway showcasing the unique charm of Huizhou ancient villages.
Qianshou Folk Houses
Qianshou Folk Houses are a concentrated protected display of Ming Dynasty Hui-style residential buildings, including more than ten typical buildings such as the Fang Clan Ancestral Hall and Caomen Hall. Known as the "Ming Dynasty Folk House Museum", it completely displays the architectural characteristics of traditional Huizhou dwellings.
Chengkan
Chengkan Ancient Village is laid out according to the Eight Trigrams theory of the "Book of Changes" and is known as "China's No.1 Feng Shui Village". The village preserves over 150 Ming and Qing buildings, with structures like Luo Dongshu Ancestral Hall and Changchun Society showcasing exquisite craftsmanship, representing the highest level of Huizhou architecture.
Cuisine
Huizhou Hairy Tofu
Huizhou Hairy Tofu is a specialty fermented soybean product with white mycelium on the surface. After frying, it becomes crispy outside and tender inside, with a unique aroma, often served with chili sauce. It is one of the representatives of Huizhou cuisine.
Stinky Mandarin Fish
Stinky Mandarin Fish is a traditional Huizhou delicacy made from fresh mandarin fish through special pickling and fermentation processes. The fish meat is tender, smelling stinky but tasting delicious, with a unique flavor loved by diners.
Huizhou Stone Cake
Huizhou Stone Cake is a local traditional snack made with dough wrapped around preserved vegetables, pork and other fillings, baked on hot stone slabs. It is crispy outside and tender inside with an enticing aroma.
Ticket Information
The Ancient Huizhou Cultural Tourism Area implements separate ticketing for different attractions: Huizhou Ancient City ticket is 80 yuan, Tangyue Memorial Archways·Bao's Family Garden is 100 yuan, Tangmo is 80 yuan, Qianshou Folk Houses is 50 yuan, and Chengkan is 107 yuan. A combo ticket costs 220 yuan (including all five scenic spots). Opening hours are 8:00-17:00, with a recommended visiting time of 2 days.
Recommended Tour Route
Recommended two-day tour route: Day 1: Huizhou Ancient City → Tangyue Memorial Archways·Bao's Family Garden → Qianshou Folk Houses; Day 2: Chengkan → Tangmo. This route provides a systematic understanding of Huizhou ancient architecture and village culture. It is recommended to hire a guide to gain deeper insights into Huizhou culture.
Transportation
- Self-driving: From Huangshan city center, take National Highway G205 or Provincial Highway S215 directly to each scenic area
- Public bus: Huangshan Tourist Transport Center has direct tourist shuttles to each scenic area
- High-speed rail: Take high-speed rail to Huangshan North Station, then transfer to tourist shuttle or taxi (about 30 minutes)
Must-See Attractions
- Huizhou Ancient City - One of the four best-preserved ancient cities in China
- Tangyue Memorial Archways - One of the largest existing archway complexes in China
- Chengkan - "China's No.1 Feng Shui Village", ancient village with Eight Trigrams layout
Travel Tips
- The best seasons to visit are spring and autumn, avoiding the rainy season
- Consider hiring a professional guide to better understand Huizhou culture
- Wear comfortable shoes as the ancient village stone paths are uneven
- Bring a camera as Hui-style architecture is very photogenic
- Allow sufficient time to savor Huizhou culture in depth
Precautions
- Protect ancient buildings - do not touch carvings and murals
- Smoking and open flames are prohibited in the scenic area
- Maintain environmental hygiene and dispose of waste properly
- Respect local customs and avoid loud noises
- Ancient village roads are complex - pay attention to signs to avoid getting lost