I prefer the free ancient villages of Huizhou to Hongcun

Shexian County in Huangshan is a seriously underrated ancient city with a rich history and culture. It sits quietly on the upper reaches of the Xin'an River and was once the political, economic, and cultural center of ancient Huizhou. It is a place where natural scenery and human history complement each other. The colorful autumn harvests of southern Anhui are especially beautiful, like paintings of a bountiful harvest. Here is a 2-day, 1-night self-driving itinerary: Day 1 - Route: Enter Huizhou Ancient City through the Wengcheng (Huiyuan) entrance, and visit Nanqiao Tower, Huizhou Prefecture, Xuguo Stone Archway, Taibai Tower, Xin'an Stele Garden, Cao's Two Houses, Tao Xingzhi Memorial Hall, and Doushan Street, before finally arriving at Yuliang Ancient Dam. Day 2 - Route: Head to Xin'an River Landscape Gallery, then visit Yangchan Tulou, Zhangtan, Zhanqi Village, and Nanping Village. Attractions - Huizhou Ancient City: As one of China's four ancient cities, Huizhou Ancient City has a rich history and culture. Huiyuan, Xuguo Stone Archway, Huizhou Prefecture, Nanqiao Tower, and Yuliang Ancient Dam are all unique attractions. Strolling through the city is like traveling through time, and you can feel the prosperity and charm of ancient Huizhou. - Yangchan Tulou: This is a small village full of simple charm, and its unique charm is no less than that of Wuyuan Huangling. The village is open to the public for free, and you only need to pay about CNY 30 for the shuttle bus up and down the mountain. When the autumn harvest season comes, this place becomes a paradise for photographers. From the best photography spot, the whole village looks like a colorful painting. - Xin'an River Landscape Gallery: Known as the "Danube of the East," the gallery features continuous green mountains and scattered Huizhou-style villages, like a flowing landscape painting. It is recommended to navigate to Shendu Port and take a cruise to enjoy the scenery. Tickets are CNY 138 per person, and the trip takes about 3 hours. You can also enjoy the wonderful Jiuxing fishing performance along the way. - Huizhou Prefecture: Located in the core area of Huizhou Ancient City, Huizhou Prefecture is a landmark building that perfectly embodies the essence of ancient Chinese government buildings, giving people a more intuitive understanding of ancient political culture. - Zhanqi Village: The village has more than 100 ancient buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties, including Tianxin Hall, Fang Jinrong's House, Ningyuan Hall, Jiushitong Hall, Lanfen Hall, and Zizheng Hall. It is a masterpiece of Huizhou-style architecture, and walking through it is like hearing the echoes of history. - Nanping Village: Known as the filming location of "Ju Dou," "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," and other films, the village has a large number of ancient buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties. The ancient ancestral halls and residences are scattered, creating a strong historical and cultural atmosphere. In addition, Shexian County also holds Hanfu shows during certain periods, so Hanfu enthusiasts should not miss this great opportunity.