Southern Anhui Scenic Route - 3-Day Self-Driving Tour

Duration: 3 days Time: March Cost per person: 400 yuan With whom: Family How to play: Food, photography, self-driving, culture, budget travel, weekend getaway, gourmet food The author visited these places: Shanghai Hanting Hotel Xuan Paper Cultural Park Hanting Hotel Hanting Hotel Jingting Mountain China Alligator Lake Home Inn Published on 2021-05-20 15:38 Time: 2021 March 20th – 2021 March 22nd Characters: A family of three Mode of transport: Baojun 310W travel car Travel itinerary: Day 1: Shanghai – Jingxian, overnight at Hanting Hotel (Jingxian branch). Day 2: Jingxian – Full journey of Southern Anhui Scenic Route – Guangde, overnight at Home Inn (Guangde branch). Day 3: Guangde – Shanghai This was truly a spontaneous journey. On the 19th, I mentioned to my husband that we had three days free, so why not take a trip somewhere. After he agreed, we immediately prepared our travel gear and set off on the early spring tour of Southern Anhui on the early morning of the 20th. The starting point of our journey was Jingxian in Xuancheng, Anhui. Like probably most people, I originally thought that the Xuan paper, one of the four treasures of the study, was produced in Xuancheng. However, the real production place of Xuan paper is Jingxian. It was truly fortunate to visit the ancient method of making Xuan paper that has been passed down for over a thousand years, to understand the craftsmanship of paper, ink, brush, inkstone, fans, paper screens, and also to personally experience the making of paper, ink, brush, inkstone, fans, and paper screens. This trip was also educational and entertaining, allowing the children to appreciate the charm of traditional culture. The ticket price for the Xuan Paper Cultural Park is 50 yuan, and it was half price for women when I went in March. Children: Free for under 1.2 meters (not including); half price for 1.2 meters (including) to 1.4 meters (not including). Elderly: Free for 65 years old and above; half price for 60 years old (including) to 65 years old (not including). Military: Free with military officer ID. Disabled: Free with disability ID. The Xuan Paper Cultural Park consists of seven parts: the ancient Xuan paper workshop, the Four Treasures of the Study experience park, the Xuan paper and world paper exhibition hall, the calligraphy and painting gallery (including the studios of calligraphers and painters), the Four Treasures of the Study and calligraphy and painting market, and the ancient book printing and Jiangnan folk customs park. This is the well-preserved old workshop. The factory displays an eight-meter-long Xuan paper Chinese painting, which is truly shocking! It was only when I came to the Xuan Paper Museum in Jingxian that I truly understood our country’s Xuan paper. Many people like to hang several of their own calligraphy or famous paintings in a Chinese-style study room to show their temperament. However, most people do not know that the Xuan paper, which is wrinkle-resistant, durable, and ink-friendly, is not easy to make.
[Material Selection] As a unique presence among artificial papers, the production of Xuan paper actually includes two materials. One is the phloem of Pteroceltis tatarinowii, and the other is Shatian straw. Both need to go through strict processes such as daily soaking, cleaning, boiling, and sun drying before they can be used to make Xuan paper. [Sun Drying Beach] The dried straw and Pteroceltis tatarinowii bark are called Liao grass and Liao bark. [Selection] After multiple processes, the formed leather materials and fur still need to be manually inspected, and unqualified and soiled fur is removed. [Pounding Leather] The so-called pounding leather is when the masters put the fur in a stone mortar and use a large wooden hammer for repeated pounding and pressing. This process is extremely long, until the fur is sufficiently sticky to form a rough leather paper. [Slicing] The pounded leather paper will be stacked up and carefully cut with an old knife to cut pieces of leather paper into small squares. [Treading Materials] The leather materials cut into squares need to be transferred to a special small vat and continuously trampled. The raw materials are trampled by people and mixed into a ball. The trampling process is extremely difficult and pays attention to rhythm, speed, and strength, all three being even. [Bagging Materials] The trampled materials still need to be placed in gauze bags and stirred back and forth in the pool. This step can allow the ‘pulp’ in the raw materials to flow into the water through the filtration of gauze. [Paper Lifting] Different from other processes, paper lifting must require the cooperation of two masters. An old master is responsible for holding the curtain, and another old master is responsible for lifting the curtain. Under such repeated cooperation, sheets of initially formed Xuan paper are presented in front of everyone. [Paper Drying] The moist Xuan paper still needs to be artificially dried and placed in a drying room. Use a pine bristle brush to evenly brush the paper on the drying wall. After drying, it is peeled off, and in this way, a perfect sheet of Xuan paper is formed. During this trip, we were very fortunate to see Zhou Donghong. This national model worker is very simple and approachable. When we went, he was ‘lifting paper’. He inherits the traditional handicrafts of the Chinese nation and works meticulously. We are really in awe. After visiting the entire production process of Xuan paper, we are really impressed by the diligence and wisdom of the Chinese nation. The road leading to the exhibition hall is paved with black and white pebbles. Black symbolizes ink, and white symbolizes Xuan paper. The exhibition hall is not large, but it is arranged in an orderly manner and is very clean. The exhibition hall displays some production steps of Xuan paper and some old production tools. The second floor is the display of calligraphy and painting works, and there are many famous works, which is really a feast for the eyes. (However, photography is not allowed on the second floor). Beside the first floor, there is also an experience center where you can pick up a brush and try the charm of calligraphy! The short plant behind me is Pteroceltis tatarinowii.

Having completed the entire visit, I was truly astounded, and little Jiajia also learned a great deal, being deeply impressed by the diligence and wisdom of the Chinese nation. I highly recommend this place for families with children to experience the profound and extensive culture of Chinese civilization! In 2006, the craftsmanship of Xuan paper making was listed as one of the first batch of national intangible cultural heritages. On September 30, 2009, the traditional craftsmanship of Xuan paper making was recognized by UNESCO and included in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. It is hoped that this heritage can be fully inherited and promoted. Setting off early in the morning from Shanghai, we drove to Jingxian and visited the Xuan Paper Cultural Park, and by then night had already fallen. We were all hungry and tired, and we chose the Hanting Hotel in Jingxian. It is about a 14-kilometer, roughly 20-minute drive from the Chinese Xuan Paper Cultural Park to the Hanting Hotel. The hotel is located inside the Red Star Macalline on the east side of Tongxin Road in Jingchuan Town. We chose a family room, which was very spacious. It had a double bed and a single bed, equipped with a sofa, coffee table, and small desk, quite comfortable. The key is that it was inexpensive, only 164 yuan! The next morning, after freshening up and having breakfast, we set off on the ‘Wannan Sichuan-Tibet Line’. The reputation of the Wannan Sichuan-Tibet Line has been growing in recent years, and I have been looking forward to it for a long time, and finally, my wish came true. It is about 324 kilometers from Shanghai to the Wannan Sichuan-Tibet Line, which takes about 5 hours. The mysterious Wannan ‘Sichuan-Tibet Line’ starts from Qinglong Township in Ningguo City in the east, ends at Qinxi County in Jingxian in the west, reaches Caijiabao Town in the south, and Xuancheng City in the north. The most essential section of this route is about 120 kilometers long. This route crosses the Jiangnan Poetry Mountain favored by the poet Li Bai – Jingting Mountain; the Chinese Alligator Lake, which has been included in the World Natural Heritage Tentative List; the last piece of original ecological ‘Heaven and Earth Pure Land’ in Wannan – Water Ink Tingxi; and the winding and twisting Taoling seven-star mountain road with cliffs thousands of feet high and 180-degree turns layer upon layer. Along the route, there is the beauty of the landscape in Guilin, Guangxi, the peculiarity of the stone forests in Yunnan, and the danger of the 218 Sichuan-Tibet Line, with the unique essence of Wannan landscapes, twists and turns, and beautiful scenery. The green mountains and bamboo forests stretch continuously, the clear green waters and lakes are transparent, and the ancient towns and villages are distant, making it the best choice for cycling and self-driving. We chose the route from the Jingxian entrance this time: Jingxian – Langqiao Town in Jingxian – Caijiabao Town in Jingxian – Tingxi Township in Jingxian (passing through the seven-star bends of the Anhui Sichuan-Tibet Line) – Fangtang Township in Ningguo – Guangde. Along the way, there are green mountains and clear waters, the roads are relatively dangerous, but the road surface is quite smooth, and the journey is refreshing. When we drove to a certain section of the road, the cars in front slowed down one after another, and it turned out that there was a large group of monkeys.
We rolled down the car windows and tossed bananas and other snacks to the monkeys. The close interaction with the monkeys delighted Jiajia, the young child. We arrived during the season when rapeseed flowers were in full bloom. It’s no exaggeration to say that the rapeseed flowers of Southern Anhui are stunningly beautiful. Along the way, we saw vast fields of these flowers and couldn’t wait to get out of the car to admire them. The aroma of the rapeseed flowers filled the air, bringing with it the essence of spring. We had initially planned to visit Moon Bay and Shui Mo Ting Xi, but the scenery along the way was so captivating that we stopped and started as we pleased. Whenever we found an attractive spot, we would park and spend some time exploring. This leisurely exploration was truly delightful. For us city dwellers, it was liberating to strike poses without the crowds typically found at tourist spots. The tranquility of these mountain villages was enchanting, with no noise pollution, only the delightful chirping of insects and birds and the gentle sound of flowing streams. The air was incredibly fresh, and the scent of flowers was faintly perceptible in every breath. This was the true essence of spring. Clear streams were visible everywhere, and it was a pity that the weather was too cool when we arrived. If it were summer, this place would be perfect for water activities, undoubtedly a haven for summer retreats and a paradise for children. The steep cliffs along the way somewhat resembled the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau. There were also many pavilions and small scenes along the route that integrated the characteristics of Huizhou, which were worth stopping by to stroll around. Generally, people travel the ‘Southern Anhui Sichuan-Tibet Line’ and return directly to Shanghai from Ningguo. However, since we have passed through Ningguo many times during our visits to Anhui, we chose to return to Shanghai from Guangde, Anhui, this time. On the second night, we opted for the Home Inn Business Hotel Guangde. The hotel is located on Aimin Road in the government district, right in the heart of Guangde City, with convenient transportation and parking. Upon opening the window of the room, one could see the Guangde City Wuliangxi Binhe Park and Guangde City Experimental Middle School, offering an expansive view. We still chose a family room, which was clean and tidy. The price was also affordable, at 188 yuan. After checking in at the hotel and resting for a while, the three of us walked to the second floor of the Jin Xin Shangmao Plaza on Tiangongshan Road to have dinner at the Xiao Tingyuan Huizhou Cuisine Restaurant. Xiao Tingyuan is highly recommended by many, and since we were eager to try Huizhou cuisine, we decided to visit. It was not far from the hotel, and it took us about fifteen minutes to stroll there. The restaurant was easy to find, with a large sign visible from the outside. The interior decoration also featured the characteristics of Huizhou architecture. With white walls, black tiles, pavilions, and elegant environment, it was refreshing to the eye. The slogans on the walls had a sense of history, giving a feeling of time travel. The Huangshan Stinky Mandarin Fish is indeed a signature dish of the region, with firm fish meat and a delicious taste. The price was also reasonable, and the three of us had a meal for 380 yuan.
The cost of this trip was quite low, with a total expenditure of 1200 yuan for three days, including fuel costs. We only visited one paid attraction, the Xuan Paper Cultural Park. We plan to return during the summer as the water here is shallow and clear, and the current is not too strong, making it perfect for children to play in the water. Through this exploration, I realized that it’s not necessary to go inside the scenic spots; one can simply stop the car at a suitable location and enjoy the scenery, which is very relaxing. This is truly a great place to unwind, cleanse your lungs, and get close to nature.

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