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.
Top day trips
Handpicked excursions within easy reach.
Sanhe Ancient Town (三河古镇)
A water town of Ming and Qing lanes, stone bridges and merchant houses about 9 km from the shore of Chaohu Lake, on the Fengle River. Compared with Jiangnan water towns it is less commercial and well suited to a relaxed half-day out of Hefei, with Hui-style gabled houses and local snacks such as Sanhe rice dumplings.
Chaohu Lake and Zhongmiao Temple (巢湖中庙)
Chaohu is one of China's five great freshwater lakes and lies wholly in Anhui. Zhongmiao Temple, said to date back to the Han Dynasty, stands on a rock that projects into the lake, and boat trips run to Guishan Island. In summer blooms of algae can affect views; in cooler months the lake is clear and pleasant for a stroll.
Wuhu Yangtze Riverfront (芜湖)
Wuhu is a Yangtze port city with a walkable riverfront, the Song-era Zhongjiang Pagoda and the traditional Wuhu iron-picture (tiehua) craft. Local food includes Wuhu shrimp-roe noodles and Hui-Wuhu snacks. It works as a lively contrast to Hefei with a busy river culture.
Langya Mountain (琅琊山), Chuzhou
Langya Mountain is the site of the Zuiweng Pavilion, built for the Song poet and official Ouyang Xiu, who wrote the famous 'Zuiweng Ting Ji' (Account of the Old Drunkard's Pavilion). The hills have temples, springs and shaded trails and are among Anhui's best-known literary sites.
Hongcun Ancient Village (宏村)
Hongcun is a UNESCO World Heritage village (listed with Xidi in 2000) laid out in an ox-shaped plan around the Moon Pond and South Lake, with about 150 Ming and Qing houses. It featured as a location in the film 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon'. Early morning is quiet and the water reflects the white walls best.
Xidi Ancient Village (西递)
Xidi is Hui-merchant village heritage: stone paved lanes, ornate archways such as the Hu Wenguang Archway, and houses with fine brick, wood and stone carving. It is larger and quieter than Hongcun in the early morning and forms a pair with it as UNESCO World Heritage.
Shexian Huizhou Ancient City (徽州古城)
Huizhou Ancient City in She County is a walled Ming-era town with the Xu Guo stone archway, the Prefecture Yamen and old lanes; it is the historic seat of the Huizhou prefecture. A good half-day pairing with Tangyue Archway Group nearby.
Taiping Lake (太平湖)
A large mountain reservoir formerly called Chen Village Reservoir, set in a canyon on the route between Huangshan and Jiuhua Shan, popular for boat rides, lakeside walks and photography of the hills and mist.
Jiuhua Shan (九华山)
One of China's Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains, dedicated to Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha (Dizang). Temples such as Huacheng Temple, and the Baisui Palace with its mummified monk, make it a pilgrimage site; the hills are wooded and cooler than the plain in summer.
Tianzhu Shan (天柱山), Qianshan
A granite peak on the UNESCO-tentative list and a national geopark, with cliffs and a cable car; popular with Chinese day-trippers and hikers, and rarely visited by foreigners.
Shou County Ancient City (寿县古城)
Shou County was the ancient Shouchun, capital of the Chu state, with a well-preserved Song-era city wall, tofu-making culture (Bagongshan tofu is nearby) and the Anfeng Tang irrigation works, a UNESCO Heritage Irrigation Structure.
Trips by distance
How far you can go in a day.
Getting there
Transport options for day trips.
- Tours
- Organized day tours from Hefei or Tunxi to Hongcun and Xidi, Sanhe or Chaohu run from about CNY 150-350 (~$22-52) per person with transfers and sometimes a guide
- Private
- A chartered car with driver costs about CNY 400-700 (~$60-104) per day, booked through hotels, Trip.com or DiDi Premier; it is the easiest way to combine Hongcun, Xidi and Taiping Lake
- Public
- High-speed rail from Hefei South covers Wuhu, Chuzhou North, Chaohu East and Huangshan North; intercity coaches from Tunxi reach Hongcun, Xidi, She County and Tangkou
- Rental
- Self-drive needs a Chinese licence; chartered cars with drivers cost CNY 400-700/day (~$60-104)
Multi-day tours from Anhui
If you have longer than a day, these are organised multi-day trips that start here.
Browse multi-day tours from AnhuiWe may earn a commission from bookings made through this link.
Day trip tips
Make the most of your excursions.
Book high-speed rail tickets on 12306 or Trip.com in advance for Wuhu, Chuzhou and Huangshan trips - popular departure times sell out on weekends and holidays
Hongcun and Xidi charge village entry fees; buy tickets online or at the gate and bring the passport for ticket checks
Weekend and public-holiday crowds at Hongcun, Xidi and Langya are heavy - weekdays and early mornings are more comfortable
Taiping Lake and Tianzhu Shan work best with a chartered car because public bus frequency is low
Bring the passport for train ticket purchase and any hotel check-in on overnight extensions