Huangshan Villages Hiking & Walking Trails

Yuanyang Valley, the entrance of Xi Hong Ancient Pathway is about 4 kilometers (several minutes' driving) from Xidi Village Scenic Area. As your hiking begins, you will be attracted by the primitive beauty of the valley. In the summer, some families will visit Yuanyang Valley to get a shade from the hot weather. In the dry season, you can clearly see the fishes swimming in the water. When you trek ahead, you will see quite different landscape. The winding streams tree-capped peaks, deep pond, old flagstone walkway, wild plants and various insects like butterfly, dragonfly, etc. will overwhelm your eyes. You could also see some local houses but no people reside there now. Your hiking journey will ends at the picturesque Qishu Lake.

1) Transfer: People usually plan a Xi Hong Ancient Pathway hiking with visit to Hongcun Village and Xidi Village. You are suggested to rent a private car or call a taxi to transfer between Xidi and Yuanyang Valley as well as Qishu Lake and Hongcun Village. It takes about 10 minutes to drive from Xidi Village Scenic Area to Yuyang Valley and about 15 minutes to drive from Qishu Lake to Hongcun Village Scenic Area

2) Best Time: Usually, it is available to trek along Xi Hong Ancient Pathway all the time. But in rainy summer, the simple bridge made of stone stages might be drowned by the water. So trekkers need to wade across the river by bare feet.

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It is an easy and enjoyable Hiking. You will take a ferry to the other bank from Nanyuankou Village first and then start your hiking there. During the hiking, you will pass through several local villages to experience the farmers' life and admire the residential houses with traditional Huizhou Architectural style. In the planting season and harvest season, you can see many farmers doing their field production activities. Some plants like the tea bushes, mulberry trees, orchards (loquat and orange) can be seen during your hiking. It is also available to visit the local families' silkworm houses to see the baby silkworms in April. You could also visit the bean curd workshop to see the villagers making tofu.

1) Transfer: During 06:15~18:15, there are 4 shuttle bus lines transferring Shexian. It is available to take a shuttle bus from Shexian County downtown to Nanyuankou Village and from Xiongcun Village to the downtown. The buses depart in every 15 minutes usually. However, there are many stopover stations. If you want a quick transfer, you can choose a private car.

2) Best Time: Hiking along Xinan River in different months permits you to enjoy different views. The best time is in spring when you can admire a large sea of rape flowers (full blossom in March ~ April ). Autumn is also a good time to have a hiking along Xinan River Landscape because the rice in the paddy fields are ripe and you can see the farmers enjoy their harvest and reap their rice in the fields.

You are suggested to start your trekking from Shuyuan Village to Chengkan Village. On your hiking journey, you will take a wonderful view of idyllic scenery and get a better understanding of profound Huizhou culture and long history. There are over 40 old Huizhou-style buildings with white walls and gray tiles along the road. You can see many families still live there and retain their old life style. Moreover, it is available to enjoy the amazing nature by passing by hills, trickling streams, green woodland and bamboo forest. Visiting peaceful Lingshan Village and mysterious Chengkan Village will make you trip more interesting.

Lingshan Village: Surrounded by green hills and bamboo forest, Lingshan Village is a peaceful village featuring in outlet buildings. The pavilions, bridges, archways are all ancestral halls are well-proportioned. The villagers have a deep relationship with the bamboo and many of them can make bamboo wares. So you can appreciate their traditional folk arts and crafts made of bamboos.

Chengkan Village: Chengkan Village is the famous Eight Diagram Village built in accordance with traditional Chinese Fenghui theory. It enjoys a long history of about 2,000 years. Because of its outstanding architectures of both in quantity and quality, it is honored as the Museum of Chinese Ancient Architecture art. Here you can appreciate its exquisite layout and a large number of elaborately built Hui-style architectures, some of which are national treasures.

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On first day's trekking, the road always traverses the hillside of the valley. Both sides are dense mountains and breathtaking cliffs. After you walk the road made of narrow and steep stone steps, you will get to Huangmaopei (黄茅培) where you can have some simple meals and drinks. Crossing through the bamboo forest, there is the flat muddy road. There are some small pieces of fields grown with vegetables. Late in the afternoon, you will arrive in a village hidden in the high mountains. You can take a rest in the local gust house and enjoy a simple but healthy countryside meal. Accommodating there allows you to experience the tranquility of the valley and have a peaceful night with the primitive nature. The second's trekking is a little tough but you will be rewarded more splendid landscape. Climbing to Lantianao (蓝天凹) – the highest point of Hui Hang Caravan Trail delivers a fantastic view of extensive grassland, undulating mountains and azure sky. Then get down through a forest and walk to terminus of the trekking.

Transfer: The public transportation of Huangshan City to the entrance of Hui Hang Caravan Trail and exit to Huangshan City are rather complicated. Using a private car will make your journey much more convenient and comfortable.

For qualified trekkers, hiking among Huangshan Villages is not enough. If you need a more challenging trekking, Huangshan Mountain waits. Huangshan Mountain, also known as Yellow Mountain, is attractive with it four wonders - beautifully-shaped pines trees, fantastic rock peaks, sea of clouds and hot springs. Trekking is a physically demanding but eyes-rewarding way to travel Yellow Mountain. There are three most popular trekking routes in Yellow Mountain to enjoy different spectacular scenery in Front Mountain, Back Mountain and West Grand Canyon. Front Mountain features in magnificent peaks and far-reaching views while Back Mountain is famous for idyllic scenery of smaller peaks and shapely pine trees, and West Grand Canyon is known for the thrilling stone steps and interesting rock formations. The trekking routes on Yellow Mountain can be tailor-made according to your energy, interest and trekking time. Learn more about Yellow Mountain Trekking Routes.

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China Discovery has helped lot of overseas travelers finish their Huangshan tours with trekking experience. We offer customers private cars with skilled drivers, so there is no need to worry about transportation. Our local travel guides are knowledgeable of trekking routes and Huizhou culture. With their help, you won't miss the highlights on your trekking. With good relationship with the villagers in some local villages, we can take you to get a close sight of the local life.

Want to plan a worry-free trekking experience in Huangshan now? Don't hesitate to contact our professional travel guide. You are also warmly welcomed to contact us and customize your Huangshan tour in your own style.