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.
Historical timeline
Key moments that shaped Anhui.
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1
Chu moves capital to Shouchun
The Chu state relocates its capital to Shouchun (present-day Shouxian) near the Huai River.
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2
Cao Cao builds military tunnels near Bozhou
Historic accounts link the Bozhou brick tunnels to Cao Cao's wars during the Three Kingdoms period.
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3
Huacheng Temple founded on Jiuhua Shan
Korean monk Jin Qiaojue begins Buddhist teaching on Jiuhua Shan.
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4
Huizhou centre established at She County
She County remains the prefectural seat of Huizhou for centuries.
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5
Zuiweng Pavilion built
Monk Zhixian builds the pavilion near Chuzhou; Ouyang Xiu's essay later makes it famous.
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6
Ming Zhongdu construction begins in Fengyang
Zhu Yuanzhang starts building a capital at his hometown.
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7
Earliest Tangyue archway erected
The first archway of the Tangyue group is raised in the Ming dynasty.
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8
Zhenfeng Pagoda completed at Anqing
Brick pagoda completed on the Yangtze shore for feng shui and navigation.
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9
Chengzhi Hall completed in Hongcun
A salt merchant builds the ornate mansion in Hongcun.
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10
Battle of Sanhe
Taiping forces defeat Qing troops at Sanhe near Hefei.
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11
Huangshan inscribed on UNESCO World Heritage
Huangshan becomes a UNESCO mixed heritage site.
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12
Hongcun and Xidi inscribed on UNESCO World Heritage
The two Huizhou villages are added to the UNESCO list.
Historical sites
Places where Anhui's past comes alive.
Tangyue Memorial Archways (棠樾牌坊群)
Seven-arch stone archway group in Tangyue Village, the largest surviving in Anhui.
Where: She County, Huangshan
Admission: CNY 58-100 (~$9-15) by package
Huizhou Ancient City (徽州古城)
Well preserved walled prefectural capital of the Huizhou region.
Where: She County, Huangshan
Admission: CNY 80-100 (~$12-15) combined
Xidi Heritage Village (西递)
Ancient Huizhou clan village with well over 100 preserved residences.
Where: Yi County, Huangshan
Admission: CNY 104 (~$15)
Chengzhi Hall, Hongcun (承志堂)
Salt-merchant mansion with dozens of rooms and richly carved beams.
Where: Yi County, Huangshan
Admission: Included in Hongcun ticket CNY 104 (~$15)
Cao Cao Underground Tunnels (曹操运兵道)
Underground brick corridors under Bozhou city.
Where: Bozhou
Admission: Roughly CNY 30-60 (~$4-9)
Huaxi Hall (Huamanlou) (花戏楼)
Ornate Qing guild hall known as Huaxi Building.
Where: Bozhou
Admission: Roughly CNY 30-50 (~$4-7)
Shouxian Ancient City (寿县古城)
Complete Song walled city near the Huai River.
Where: Huainan
Admission: Roughly CNY 60 (~$9) combined; some areas free
Ming Zhongdu, Fengyang (中都)
Ming dynasty middle capital site of Zhu Yuanzhang.
Where: Chuzhou
Admission: Roughly CNY 30-60 (~$4-9)
Zhenfeng Pagoda, Anqing (振风塔)
Ming brick pagoda overlooking the Yangtze at Anqing.
Where: Anqing
Admission: Roughly CNY 20 (~$3)
Huacheng Temple, Jiuhua Shan (化城寺)
Founding temple of Jiuhua Shan Buddhist mountain.
Where: Chizhou
Admission: Included in Jiuhua Shan ticket CNY 190 (~$28)
Zuiweng Pavilion, Chuzhou (醉翁亭)
Song dynasty literary pavilion below Langya Mountain.
Where: Chuzhou
Admission: CNY 40 (~$6) or included in Langya combined ticket CNY 120 (~$18)
Sanhe Ancient Town (三河古镇)
Historic river trading town near Hefei.
Where: Hefei
Admission: Roughly CNY 30-50 (~$4-7)
Baogong Ancestral Hall (包公祠)
Shrine of Lord Bao in Hefei.
Where: Hefei
Admission: Free (park now free)
Yingjiang Temple, Anqing (迎江寺)
Long-standing Buddhist temple on the Yangtze shore in Anqing.
Where: Anqing
Admission: Roughly CNY 10-20 (~$1.5-3)