Xidi Ancient Village in Huangshan: A Hidden Gem Worth Revisiting

Just returned from Xidi and my social media is blowing up! This thousand-year-old village, recommended by National Geographic, truly has stories etched in every brick! Here's your fresh guide to capturing magazine-worthy ink-painting shots and avoiding tourist traps👇 1️⃣ Basic Information 🎫Admission: CNY 104 (free for guests staying at hotels within the scenic area) ⏰Opening Hours: 8:00-21:30 (light show extends until 22:00) 🚗Transportation: 1-hour direct tourist bus from Huangshan North Station (last bus at 17:00) 📸Outfit Rental: Traditional qipao/hanfu + oil paper umbrella (CNY 20/hour at village entrance) 2️⃣ Touring Route 🕗Morning: Hu Wenguang Memorial Arch → Jing'ai Hall → Qingyun Pavilion → Dafu Mansion (2.5h) 🍜Lunch: Guyue Restaurant (Signature stinky mandarin fish + hairy tofu combo) 🕑Afternoon: Ruiyu Court → East Garden → West Garden → Stone Paved Street (2h) 🌙Evening: Mingjing Lake light show → night tour of ancient lanes (1.5h) 3️⃣ Attractions ① Hu Wenguang Memorial Arch 📍Village entrance landmark | Built in 1578 ✨Highlights: Three-bay, four-pillar, five-story bluestone arch, a masterpiece of Huizhou stone carving. The inscription "Prime Minister of Jing" showcases the Hu family's prestigious status 📸Photo tip: Shoot against the light at 7am, framing the arch with canola fields ② Dafu Mansion 📍Core area | Official residence from Kangxi period ✨Highlights: ▫️"Home in Peach Blossom Spring" plaque, immersive embroidered ball-throwing custom ▫️Door inscription "Think Before Retreating" reflects Hui merchants' wisdom 💡Experience: Huiju opera performances every Saturday night, participate in ball-throwing in hanfu ③ Jing'ai Hall 📍Ancestral hall culture | 1,800㎡ ✨Highlights: ▫️Rare "Filial Piety" brick carving (Zhu Xi's calligraphy) ▫️"Four Waters Return to Hall" feng shui courtyard layout 🎧Must-hear: Free guided tours at 10:00/15:00 daily, revealing Hu family's history ④ Qingyun Pavilion 📍Classic Hui-style garden ✨Features: ▫️Natural "air-conditioning well" (warm in winter, cool in summer) ▫️Treasured stone window carvings: "Pine and Rock," "Bamboo and Plum" 💡Hidden experience: Enjoy Huangshan Maofeng tea by century-old peony window (free tea set provided) ⑤ Mingjing Lake Night Tour 📍Village entrance | 19:30-21:30 ✨Highlights: ▫️"Legend of Xidi" light show: 3D mapping showcasing merchant stories ▫️Hundred lantern parade: stroll in hanfu with lanterns 📸Photo tip: Long exposure for light reflections (Settings: ISO100, 2s shutter) 4️⃣ Experiences ✅ Stone Street Wandering 🔸Enjoy 99 high-walled lanes alone at 6am, watch morning smoke rise above stone paths 🔸Must-buy: Bamboo tube "Xidi Coffee," heritage Hui ink pastries ✅ Ancient House Treasure Hunt ▪️Ruiyu Court: Find upside-down bat woodcarving (meaning "fortune arrives") ▪️Peach and Plum Garden: See double-layer carved door screens, hear Hu family teachings ✅ Cultural Immersion 🎎Woodblock printing/Hui ink making (CNY 50/person, keep your work) 🎭Wednesday/Saturday exclusive: Huizhou ancestral ceremony heritage show [Continued in next part due to length...] 5️⃣ Best Photo Spots ① Canola Fields Meet Horse-head Walls 📍Village entrance canola fields + Mingjing Lake reflections 📸Low-angle shots framing flowers and horse-head walls 💡Outfit: Solid-color qipao/hanfu + oil paper umbrella (rentable at entrance) ② Stone Lane Light and Shadow 📍Dafu Mansion lane/Qingyun Pavilion corner 📸Capture Tyndall effect at 8am 💡Poses: Looking back with umbrella/lifting dress while climbing stairs ③ Night Photography Paradise 📍Mingjing Lake light show (19:30-21:30) 📸Long exposure for lantern trails, Settings: ISO100, 2s shutter 6️⃣ Local Delicacies ✅ Stinky Mandarin Fish + Hairy Tofu Combo 👉🏻Recommended: Guyue Restaurant (30-year establishment) 💡Hidden tip: Dip hairy tofu in chili sauce with yellow wine ✅ Spring Bamboo Shoots with Cured Meat Pot 👉🏻Must-order: Hanmo Residence private kitchen 💡April seasonal special, house-smoked meat by villagers ✅ Hui Ink Pastries Souvenirs 👉🏻Purchase at: Ruiyu Court cultural shop 💡Traditional handmade, perfect with Huangshan Maofeng tea 7️⃣ Accommodation ✨ Hanmo Residence (CNY 200+ per person) ✔️Horse-head wall view ✔️Butler service ✔️Free hanfu experience ✨ Boxin Cloud Lodge (Luxury option) ✔️Stargazing terrace ✔️Huiju opera shows ✔️Custom breakfast 8️⃣ Photo Editing Tips ▫️Filter A8+6.0 ▫️Exposure -1.5 ▫️Contrast -2.0 ▫️Tone highlights +9 ▫️White balance temperature -1.5 ▫️HSL blue saturation +3 (enhance water reflections) ⚠️ Tips to Avoid Tourist Traps ❌Avoid tour group peak hours (10:00-15:00) ⭕️Save CNY 104 by staying in scenic area hotels ❌Avoid paid photographers at village entrance ⭕️Fewer tourists on Wednesday/Thursday