Here you have the reds and yellows of autumn, the greens of spring, the coolness of summer, and the sparkling white of winter～

Yangchan Tulou Travel Guide｜Produced by a seasoned travel blogger｜The last "Loess Fairy Tale Village" in Southern Anhui, a millennia-old rammed earth miracle hidden deep in Huangshan 📍 Destination: Yangchan Village, Shendu Town, She County, Huangshan City, Anhui Province (one of the best-preserved tulou clusters in China) ⏱️ Suggested itinerary: 1-day highlights tour + 2 days 1 night deep slow living experience 💰 Per capita budget: ¥600–1500 (including transportation, accommodation, meals, photography) 📌 Keywords: Huizhou-style tulou｜Cliffside village｜Autumn drying spectacle｜Loess rammed walls｜Pristine ancient village｜Hidden gem｜Photography paradise｜The last pure land in Southern Anhui After exploring the tulou in Yongding and Nanjing, Fujian, I once thought tulou only belonged to Western Fujian. Until I stood on the mountain peak of Yangchan Village and saw that cluster of loess houses built along the mountain, staggered like piano keys, waking up in the morning light— At that moment I understood: The Huizhou people also wrote a poem with earth. It’s not the round Fujian tulou, but it amazes the world in another way: No carved beams or painted rafters, only the pure beauty of rammed earth; Not on flat fertile plains, but hanging on a steep slope hundreds of meters high; Here there is no commercial hustle, only the agricultural symphony of drying chili peppers, corn, and chrysanthemums in autumn. On this journey, I take you into this “Loess Potala Palace” forgotten in the Southern Anhui mountains, Listen to the wind passing through the eaves, watch the light and shadow spill over the slanting walls, and be a mountain dweller “living in the scenery.” 🏞️ Core highlights at a glance｜Why recommend Yangchan Tulou? ✅ Rare Huizhou-style tulou cluster in China: not round enclosures, but rammed earth residences with horse-head walls built tiered along the mountain slope ✅ Pristine cliffside village: over 400 loess houses cling to the steep slope, like natural earth sculptures ✅ Nationally famous “autumn drying” spectacle: every October to November, every household dries colorful crops, forming a moving oil painting ✅ Zero commercialization and pristine ecology: no entrance fee, no shops, no noise, villagers still live by farming ✅ Photography holy land light and shadow: morning mist and golden sunset intertwine, every shot is a masterpiece ✅ Treasure for hiking lovers: can connect with Shitan and Xin’anjiang Landscape Gallery to form a loop 🗓️ Classic 1-day tour & deep 2-day tour itinerary ✅ Route logic: ascend for panoramic view → explore alleys → wait for light and shadow → overnight in the mountains Day 1｜First exploration of Yangchan · summit panoramic view + alley wandering 🚗 Transportation tips (important!) Self-driving navigation to [Yangchan Tulou Parking Lot], about 1.5 hours from Huangshan city center Public transport: From She County Bus Station take a bus to [Shendu Town] → taxi or book a villager shuttle up the mountain (mountain roads are rugged, car rental recommended) Or start from [Xiakeng Town], detour via Shitan Village (suitable for photography loop) ⚠️ Note: No public bus to the village, last section requires 30-minute walk or villager-operated electric cart (¥10/person) up the mountain 📍 9:00 AM｜Arrive at mountaintop viewing platform, first breathtaking sight 📸 Must-shoot spot ①: Sun Commune Viewing Platform (free) Overlooks the entire Yangchan tulou cluster Loess walls, black tile roofs, layered like a mille-feuille cake nestled among green mountains 📸 Blogger’s shot: use wide-angle lens + low angle to emphasize three-dimensionality 📍 10:00 AM｜Officially enter the village, start alley exploration 🚶‍♀️ Stroll through six highlights: Bluestone stair alleys｜Winding and twisting, connecting every household, footsteps echo in the valley Rammed earth exterior wall details｜Warm in winter, cool in summer, walls over 60cm thick, weathered textures left by time Horse-head wall silhouettes｜Huizhou elements integrated into tulou structure, fireproof and beautiful Courtyard wells｜Complete lighting and drainage functions, reflecting ancient wisdom Autumn drying corridor (October–November only)｜Red chili peppers, golden corn, white chrysanthemums, radish strips cover windowsills and bamboo racks, color explosion Century-old house interiors (partially open)｜Can request villagers’ permission to visit, experience real life scenes 🍽️ Lunch recommendation: village farmhouse “Tulou Family” → Must-order dishes: Yangchan cured meat stewed with dried bamboo shoots (local pork cured, smoky aroma) Wild vegetables scrambled eggs (picked fresh that day) Corn porridge (coarse grains cooked, warming) Stone ear mushroom chicken soup (high mountain specialty mushrooms) 📍 Afternoon: free creative time｜Golden hours for photographers 🌞 Shooting suggestions by time: 2:00–3:30 PM｜Side light highlights wall textures, good for close-ups After 4:00 PM｜Sunset slanting light dyes the whole village golden, entering “magic hour” Descend before 5:30 PM｜Avoid walking dangerous unlit paths at night 🌙 Accommodation recommendations (strongly suggest staying overnight!) ✅ “Yunli Tulou · Mountain Residence”｜Converted old house, terrace faces panoramic view, open window to starry sky ✅ “Yangchan Shiguang Homestay”｜Artistic design, offers photography guide services ✅ “Grandma’s Inn”｜Family-run, authentic food, cost-effective 💡 Tips: Village electricity is stable but network signal is weak, perfect for “digital detox” Day 2｜Dawn light · Capture the uninhabited scenes 🌅 5:30 AM｜Wake up to grab the best photo spots! This is a sacred moment for photographers— When the first ray of sunlight pierces the mist and shines on the loess walls, the whole village seems awakened. 📸 Must-shoot spot ②: East end high trail Shoot backlit silhouettes and swirling morning mist effects Use telephoto to compress space and highlight layers 📸 Must-shoot spot ③: Mid-mountain corner Shoot drying crops framed with distant mountains Add human elements (like early-rising elders) for storytelling ☕ Breakfast: Homestay offers farmhouse porridge, sweet potatoes, tea eggs, simple but warm 🎒 Morning: hike down or visit nearby attractions 🔸 Option A: Hike to Shitan Village (about 2 hours) Pass tea fields, bamboo groves, valleys, stunning scenery along the way In spring enjoy rapeseed flower seas, in autumn see terraced rice waves 🔸 Option B: Return to Shendu Town, visit [Xin’anjiang Landscape Gallery] Boat ride to admire Huizhou villages and green mountains on both banks Choose short route (Shendu → Miantan) 📅 Best travel seasons Season Recommendation Highlights ------ -------------- -------- 🍂 Autumn (mid-Oct to late Nov) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Autumn drying feast! Red chili, yellow corn, white chrysanthemum, peak photography season 🌸 Spring (Mar–Apr) ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ Mountain flowers bloom, tea fields green, fewer tourists ☀️ Summer (Jun–Aug) ⭐⭐⭐ Hot but lush green, good for summer escape ❄️ Winter (Dec–Feb) ⭐⭐⭐☆ Cool and quiet, occasional snow scenes, unique atmosphere ⚠️ Avoid National Day Golden Week! Beautiful but crowded, affects experience 🚗 Transportation tips (reiterated) Departure Method Suggestion --------- ------ ---------- Huangshan City Self-drive 1.5h / round-trip car rental ¥400–600 Most recommended Hangzhou High-speed train to [She County North Station] → taxi or carpool to Yangchan About 3h total Shanghai High-speed train to [She County North] → transfer About 4.5h total 🚌 Tip: Combine with [Hongcun], [Xidi], [Tachuan] for a Southern Anhui cultural loop 🍽️ Must-try local foods Name Specialty ------ -------- Yangchan cured meat Local pork smoked with firewood aroma Huizhou fermented tofu Fried after fermentation, crispy outside tender inside Dried bamboo shoots with pork Spring bamboo shoots dried, soaked with fat Corn cake Made from cornmeal, soft and sweet Hickory Nuts Local specialty, thin shell full kernel 📍 Recommendation: Try to dine at villagers’ homes to support local economy 🎁 Souvenir recommendations Hand-dried chili peppers, dried bamboo shoots, preserved vegetables Hickory nut gift boxes (vacuum packed, easy to carry) Wild honey (villagers’ own beekeeping) Hand-painted “Yangchan Autumn Drying” postcards Huimo ink red calligraphy experience set (linked to Huizhou culture) ✍️ Blogger’s thoughts｜What’s the charm of Yangchan? It’s not as exquisite and perfect as Hongcun, Nor as famous as Xidi, What it has is a kind of rough authenticity— The rustling sound of wind through loess walls, The smile of an old lady peeling corn at the door, The taste of life soaked by sunlight on rows of bamboo racks. Here, you will redefine “beauty”: No need for carving or embellishment, Just living sincerely, Is the most beautiful scenery. When you stand on the mountaintop, watching the sunset dye the whole village amber, You suddenly understand: Some places are destined to exist only for those who know silence.