Longchuan Scenic Area｜National Geographic · Huizhou Ancient Village

If you are tired of the monotonous commercialized ancient towns and want to find a place with genuine heritage and tranquility, then Longchuan in Jixi County, southern Anhui, might be the answer. Here, there are no noisy bars or copy-paste shops, only winding streams, silent archways, ancestral halls carved by time, and a slowly unfolding Huizhou ink painting scroll. 📌 Core Trip Information · Destination: Longchuan Scenic Area, Jixi County, Xuancheng City, Anhui Province · Navigation: For self-driving, search directly for "Longchuan Scenic Area Visitor Center"; parking is ample. · High-speed Rail Arrival: Take the train to "Jixi North Station," then take a taxi (about 20 minutes) or a bus heading to Longchuan. · Ticket Reference: Adult ticket 75 RMB (it is recommended to compare prices on online platforms in advance, as there are often unexpected "ticket + dining" combo deals). · Opening Hours: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM (please confirm; afternoon visits are recommended for softer light and better photos). · Suggested Duration: At least 3-4 hours to fully enjoy the experience. 🚶‍♀️ Blogger’s Tested Best Tour Route Visitor Center → Yishi Shangshu Archway → Hu Family Ancestral Hall → Stroll along Water Street to Guan Bridge → Freely explore the alleys This route flows downstream, moving from iconic buildings into the fabric of daily life, avoiding backtracking, and allowing the smoothest experience of Longchuan’s layers. 📸 Must-Visit Photo Spots 1. Hu Family Ancestral Hall - Wooden Carving Hall The moment you step inside, you will be amazed by the exquisite Huizhou wood carvings. Beams, lintels, doors, and windows all tell stories. Photo tip: Use a wide-angle lens to capture the grandeur of the overall structure, and don’t forget close-ups to record the carving details. The wood carvings here are praised as "art frozen in time." 2. Yishi Shangshu Archway - Ming Dynasty Stone Carving History Book A nationally protected cultural heritage site. Standing under the archway, you can capture a sense of historical depth, and the stone carving craftsmanship itself is worth savoring. Photo tip: People can wear plain or modern Chinese-style clothing, standing to one side of the archway to create a composition that dialogues between past and present. 3. Guan Bridge - Panoramic Vantage Point This is the "cover shot" location for classic Longchuan scenes. Standing on the bridge, you can take in the winding water street, white walls with black tiles, and horse-head walls, with distant green mountains as a backdrop—an excellent composition. It is recommended to visit at dusk when the light is softest. 4. Water Street - Flowing Life Scroll This is not a set; it is a living space still used by local residents. Washing villagers, chatting elders, and playing children are the most vivid scenery. Photo tip: A telephoto lens is suitable for capturing human moments, or sit on a stone bench by the water and take a leisurely side profile with the flowing water as the foreground. 💡 Tips to Make Your Trip Perfect · Transportation: Self-driving in southern Anhui offers an excellent experience, with scenic mountains and waters along the way. If not driving, hiring a car for a day tour after arriving in Jixi is a flexible option. · Dress Suggestions: Hanfu or modern Chinese-style clothing is a perfect match. For everyday wear, choose simple colors like off-white, ink black, or indigo to easily blend into this ink painting. · Food Exploration: Outside the scenic area, be sure to try authentic Huizhou cuisine in Jixi. Stinky mandarin fish, Hu Shi hot pot, and Jixi fried vermicelli are local specialties, and many farmhouse restaurants in town offer very authentic flavors. · Mindset Preparation: Please slow down. The charm of Longchuan lies in "immersion," not "checking in." Try to imagine family meetings in the Hu Family Ancestral Hall and feel the glory under the Shangshu Archway—this is the deeper reward of travel. ✨ Blogger’s Reflection Longchuan is not just a "scenic area"; it is more like a living "specimen of Huizhou culture." Here, you can touch the veins of clan culture, see the practical application of water management wisdom, and experience a tranquility that has not been overly disturbed. It may not be "lively," but it is definitely "profound." Find a weekend and come here to be a part of the painting for half a day.