After visiting Zhangshan Grand Canyon four times, I finally figured it all out!

A hidden cool paradise in southern Anhui! Canyon waterfalls, bizarre rocks, dense forests, and starlit drifting—packing up a 20°C summer experience! Zhangshan Grand Canyon is a national nature reserve renowned for its "unique rocks, crystal-clear waters, and oxygen-rich air." It features natural wonders like the Great Man Stone Statue and Hundred Zhang Rock, with an average summer temperature of 23°C, making it the ultimate water-play destination in southern Anhui! 📍 Address Shuicun Village, Fuling Town, Jixi County, Xuancheng City, Anhui Province 🚗 Transportation 1. **Self-drive**: Navigate to "Zhangshan Grand Canyon Scenic Area." It takes about 2-3.5 hours from Hangzhou/Shanghai. Free parking is available. 2. **High-speed rail**: Arrive at Jixi North Station, then take a 30-minute taxi (≈¥50) or the scenic area shuttle (¥10/person). 3. **Bus**: Take a direct bus from Jixi Bus Station (≈40 minutes). 🚶 Travel Guide 📸 Must-Visit Spots 1. **Hundred Zhang Rock**: The world's largest single granite rock at 460m tall, often glowing with "Buddha's Light" after rain! Head to the southern shallows for a natural "Chairman Mao Stone Statue" (uncanny resemblance to his profile). 2. **Gourd Pool**: An emerald-green pool shaped like a gourd, said to be the source of Guanyin’s holy water. Play in the shallow area with colorful pebbles. 3. **Dragon Gate Spring**: Twin waterfalls plunge into a jade-green pool. Before 10 AM, sunlight creates Tyndall beams through the mist—perfect for low-angle wide shots. 4. **Heaven’s Gate Cave**: A natural stone bridge spanning the canyon. Fly a drone through for epic "dragon’s back" footage. 🎢 Unique Experiences - **Stream trekking**: Barefoot walks on colorful stone shoals, crawling through the Turtle Stone Gate. Free shrimp-catching in shallows (bring your own net). - **Starlit Night Drifting** (July-August only): Raft through firefly tunnels (¥128, includes waterproof bag + firefly lamp). - **Easy hike route**: Ticket office → shuttle to Hundred Zhang Rock (¥10 one-way) → downhill walk (2-3 hours, 5-6 km, zero elevation gain). ⚠️ Tips 1. **Gear**: Non-slip water shoes (rocks are mossy!), sun hat, bug spray (midges abound), spare clothes. 2. **Safety**: Avoid after heavy rain (flash floods possible); stay out of rapids. 🍲 Food Recs 1. **Jixi Taguo** 🌮: Crispy flatbread with fillings like preserved veggie or yellow bean paste (¥5 at stalls). 2. **Hu Shi Stew Pot**: Meat-veggie hotpot (free-range chicken, bamboo shoots, tofu), ~¥40/person. Try at "China Huizhou Cuisine Museum" in town. 3. **Water-Filled Buns**: Thin-skinned buns with wild herb-tofu filling (¥1 each). 4. **Stone Frog & Rock Ear Soup**: Canyon frog + cliff fungus stew (¥128)—divinely fresh! ⚠️ Avoid roadside "wild honey" (often sugar-water) and cold Huangshan sesame cakes (greasy). 🏡 Stay Options 1. **Canyon Lodges**: - *Ink Zhangshan*: Bamboo-sea views, stargazing balcony (~¥80/person). - *Squirrel Forest Cabins*: Treehouse with squirrel feeding (¥350+/night, kid-friendly). 2. **Nearby Budget Picks**: - *Tuyuan Xichuan Oxygen Lodge*: Serene mountain nights with cricket songs. - *Sky Road Star Tents*: At the start of Anhui-Zhejiang Sky Road, wake to sea of clouds. 🌿 Nearby Attractions 1. **Huizhou-Hangzhou Ancient Trail** (40-min drive): Hike Ming-Qing trade routes, cliffside "Jiangnan First Pass" (¥62). 2. **Longchuan Village** (1-hour drive): Millennia-old town + Hu Clan Ancestral Hall’s wood carvings (former leader Hu Jintao’s ancestral home, ¥75). 3. **Anhui-Zhejiang Sky Road** (1.5-hour drive): 351-curve mountain drive—thrilling selfie stops at Bijia Peak & Lovers’ Falls. 4. **Jiaping Terraces**: Summer rice fields wave green; free photo ops at Meiganling Viewpoint. 💡 Verdict: Zhangshan Grand Canyon blends geological marvels, wild water fun, and cultural depth—a hidden gem with insane value! Skip weekend crowds, grab this guide, and unlock southern Anhui’s 20°C wonderland. 🎒💦