Anhui is an inland province in eastern China, best known for the granite peaks of Huangshan (Yellow Mountain), the UNESCO-listed Huizhou villages of Hongcun and Xidi, and the Buddhist mountain of Jiuhua Shan. Its capital and largest city is Hefei. Anhui is the home of Hui cuisine, Xuan paper and Hui ink, and some of China's most famous teas. It has no sea coast, but the Yangtze River, Chaohu Lake and Taiping Lake give it plenty of waterfront.
Cultural orientation
Essential context for travellers.
Anhui blends three distinct cultures: Huizhou culture in the south (Huangshan, Hongcun, Xidi), Wanjiang river culture along the Yangtze (Wuhu, Anqing), and Huai River culture in the north (Bozhou, Fuyang), so customs, dialect and food change noticeably from region to region
Huizhou merchants (Huishang, 徽商) were among China's great trading dynasties from the Ming period, and their wealth funded the carved-wood halls, stone archways, ancestral halls and academies still seen in Hongcun, Xidi and Tunxi; the values of scholarship, thrift and family honour remain a point of local pride
The Four Treasures of the Study (文房四宝) are a source of Anhui's identity: Xuan paper (Jingxian, Xuancheng), Hui ink (Huizhou/Shexian), She inkstone (Shexian) and Xuan brushes; buying or watching these crafts is one of the most cultural things a visitor can do
Tea is a daily habit: Huangshan Maofeng, Taiping Houkui (Taiping, Huangshan District), Keemun black tea (Qimen, 祁门红茶) and Lu'an Guapian (六安瓜片) are all nationally famous; tea shops usually offer a free tasting before purchase
Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a cultural symbol as much as a hiking destination, having inspired centuries of Chinese landscape painting and the Huangshan School of painters
Jiuhua Shan (九华山) in Chizhou is one of China's four sacred Buddhist mountains, dedicated to the Bodhisattva Dizang (Ksitigarbha); monks and pilgrims fill its temples year-round and the atmosphere is more devotional than at most tourist sites
Huangmei opera (黄梅戏) is Anhui's signature opera form, originating around Anqing; its gentle, folk-song style is widely loved across China
Hefei is the modern face of Anhui: a fast-growing science-and-technology capital (home to the University of Science and Technology of China), while sites such as Bao Gong Park (Lord Bao, the upright Song magistrate) and Xiaoyaojin Park recall its older past
Cuisine is a cultural marker: Hui cuisine (徽菜) is known for mountain ingredients, braising and stewing, and fermented specialties such as stinky mandarin fish (臭鳜鱼) and Mao tofu (毛豆腐)
Do's and don'ts
Quick guide to local norms.
Do
- Visit Hongcun and Xidi early in the morning or late afternoon, when tour groups have left and the villages are most atmospheric
- Taste tea at a shop before buying and ask for the grade and harvest date; Taiping Houkui and Maofeng are best from around Guyu (mid-to-late April), and pre-Qingming leaves cost the most
- Learn a few Mandarin phrases; Huizhou dialect is very different but Mandarin is understood everywhere
- Buy Four Treasures products from established makers or workshops with fixed prices and a receipt, rather than from unmarked street stalls
- Dress modestly and keep quiet inside temples at Jiuhua Shan, and follow the direction of walking around halls
- Link a foreign Visa or Mastercard to Alipay or WeChat Pay; cash is still accepted at most places but mobile payment is the norm
- Download offline maps and a translation app (Baidu Translate, Pleco or Google Translate with an offline pack) before heading to mountains and villages
- Try local specialties such as stinky mandarin fish and Mao tofu at least once
Don't
- Do not photograph monks or worshippers at close range without permission, especially at Jiuhua Shan
- Do not burn incense in Buddhist temples unless following what devotees do; buying a bundle from the temple counter is the norm
- Do not touch or lean on carved wooden beams and doors in historic Huizhou houses; the wood is centuries old
- Do not assume stall prices are fixed on Huangshan's summit or Old Street; negotiate politely at stalls, but not in malls or fixed-price tea shops
- Do not discuss politically sensitive topics in public settings; keep conversation to food, travel, family and scenery
- Do not litter on Huangshan's trails; scenic areas fine littering and carry-out is expected
- Do not expect tipping; it is not customary in restaurants, taxis or hotels
- Do not feel offended by personal questions about age, salary or marriage, which are normal small talk in China
Local customs
Traditions and practices you'll encounter.
Etiquette by setting
How to navigate everyday situations.
- Greetings
- A nod and a light handshake is standard; "Ni hao" works everywhere. Elders and hosts are greeted first, and surnames with titles (Wang Xiansheng, Li Nüshi) are used in formal settings.
- Dining
- Dishes are shared from the centre of the table; the host usually orders. Anhui hosts often keep refilling a guest's bowl or cup, so leave a little food to signal fullness. Rice or soup often comes last.
- Dress
- Casual clothing is fine almost everywhere. Cover shoulders and knees at Jiuhua Shan temples; bring waterproof layers for Huangshan, where the summit is often 10-15 degrees Celsius colder than the base, even in summer.
- Gifts
- When visiting a home, bring fruit, tea or a local specialty such as Huangshan Maofeng or Keemun. Offer and accept with both hands; the recipient may decline once or twice before accepting.
- Business
- Meetings open with tea and small talk. Exchange cards with both hands; Hefei's tech and manufacturing sector is increasingly informal, but hierarchy is still respected.
- Tipping
- Tipping is not customary in mainland China, including Anhui; mountain porters and private guides may accept a small tip of CNY 20-50 (~$3-7), but it is never expected.
Useful phrases
A few words go a long way.
Ni hao
Hello
nee-how
Xie xie
Thank you
shyeh-shyeh
Bu keqi
You're welcome
boo kuh-chee
Duo shao qian?
How much does it cost?
dwoh-shao chyen
Tai gui le
Too expensive
tie gway luh
Cesuo zai nali?
Where is the toilet?
tsuh-swaw zye nah-lee
Huangshan Bei zhan zai nali?
Where is Huangshan North railway station?
hwahng-shahn bay jahn zye nah-lee
Mai dan
The bill, please
my-dahn
Wo bu chi rou
I do not eat meat
waw boo chur roh
Ni hui shuo yingyu ma?
Do you speak English?
nee hway shwaw ying-yew ma
Hao chi
Delicious
how chur
Gan bei
Cheers
gahn bay
Religion & spirituality
Understanding faith in Anhui.
Main: Buddhism and Taoism are the most widely practiced organized religions, alongside folk religion, ancestor veneration and Confucian ethics; Anhui has small Muslim communities (notably in Hefei and Bozhou) and small Christian communities
Sites: Jiuhua Shan (Chizhou) - Dizang Bodhisattva, one of China's four sacred Buddhist mountains, with Huacheng Temple and the Flesh Body Hall; Qiyun Shan (Xiuning) - a Taoist mountain; Bao Gong Temple in Hefei; Huizhou ancestral halls in Hongcun and Xidi
Holy Days: Dizang's birthday (lunar 7th month, 30th day) draws the largest pilgrim crowds to Jiuhua Shan; Qingming (early April), Mid-Autumn Festival and Spring Festival bring the busiest temple periods; the Lantern Festival is celebrated in Huizhou villages and Tunxi with lamp displays
Conversations: Religion is treated respectfully and privately. Visitors may observe temple rituals quietly, but should ask before photographing worshippers and avoid stepping on thresholds.