Ancient Village Nearby

In the morning, take the bus from Tunxi Bus Station to Taiping direction and get off at Emerald Valley (Fei Cui Gui) on the way. The bus leaves every 30 to 40 minutes and reaches the site in about 2 hours. The fare is CNY25 (Buses runs on expressway do not stop at the valley, so remember to take the buses that do not travel on the expressway). Alternatively, you can take a bus  (available every 25 minutes from 6:30 to 17:30 daily) from Huangshan Railway Station to Tangkou in 70 minutes at CNY20, and then catch a local bus or hire a private minivan (CNY20 one way) to the valley. (Note: Tangkou Town is also the place where the South Gate of Mt. Huangshan was located.) If you prefer to charter a taxi, the average cost from Tunxi to Emerald Valley is CNY220 - 300.

Emerald Valley is located at the east part of Mt. Huangshan and it is also known as Lovers' Valley. Water in the valley originates from the Liandan Peak and Shixin Peak of Mt. Huangshan. In the 6,000-meter-long scenic area, there are hundreds of colorful pools of all sizes from 100 square meters to 1,000 square meters. The most famous pools are the Dragon and Phoenix Pool, the Jade Pearl Pool, the Flower Mirror Pool, the White Deer Pool and the Swan Pool. Even the famous film director Ang Lee has taken the beautiful scenery of the valley into his Oscar Foreign-language Film Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon. The best seasons to visit the valley are spring and summer. Recommended visiting time is 3 hours. The entrance fee is CNY50 (CNY65 from February, 2014).

After lunch, continue your visit to Taiping Lake. You can catch the bus to Taiping and take a local bus or taxi to Taiping Lake. The lake is a reservoir upstream of Qingyi River, to the south of Mt. Huangshan. As a man-made lake, Taiping play an importation role in flood control, irrigation, and energy generation. It attracts visitors with the crystal clear water, green rolling hills, beautiful isles and fields. The entrance fee is CNY55 per person (CNY71 from February 2014). If you prefer to take a cruise, you can charter a boat at CNY200 – 300.

Stay overnight near the scenic area.

Today you are going to visit Zhaji Old Village. Since there is no direct bus between from Taiping Lake to the village, you're advised to charter a private car at CNY200 – 300 to get to the village. The old houses of the Ming (1368 - 1644) and Qing (1644 - 1911) Dynasties stretches over five kilometers, which is said to be the largest ancient dwelling group in China. However, as Zhaji is far from cities and hot destinations, it, unlike other old villages being filled with shops, hotels and noisy tourists, still remains its original quietness and peacefulness. The village is surrounded by mountains and has rivers traversing through it. There are also many well-preserved relics, including two pagodas, four gates, four temples, 30 ancestral temples and 40 bridges. All the buildings are decorated with delicate wood and stone carvings. Walking on the stone paved path, with old houses of white wall and grey roof at both sides, distant green mountains and clear rivers, you will feel as if you are running into a traditional Chinese painting. The picturesque scenery also brings you inner peace. The entrance fee of Zhaji Village is CNY58.

You are advised to stay overnight at the village to sample the local food and make close contact with the lifestyle.