Situated inland astride the Yangzi (Yangtse or Changjiang) River, Anhui is a rich agricultural land on the fringes of the North China plain. At the Southern border are the famous Yellow Mountains (Huang Shan) a great attraction for the Chinese since the Tang dynasty and now is popular with foreign tourists. Slightly further north is the sacred Buddhist mountain of Jiuhua Shan (Nine Flower Mountain) named by the Tang poet Li Bai in the poem. The province is well known for the production of paper, ink and ink-stones. As these are the treasures of the calligrapher, it has a fine literary connection. Famous people from Anhui include: Bao Zheng, the model for selfless dedication to public office; Cao Cao the villain of the Three Kingdoms period; Zhu Yuanzhang founder of the Ming dynasty and reputably both Lao Zi and Zhuang Zi founders of the Daoist tradition.
Popular Cities: Hefei, Huainan, Bengbu, Wuhu, Tongling, Anqing, Ma’anshan, Huaibei, Tunxi
Average temperature: -1ºC to 3ºC (6.8ºF to 37.4ºF) in January, 27ºC to 30ºC (80.6ºF to 86ºF) in July.
Places to visit
1. A notable attraction of Anhui is scenic Huangshan (Yellow Mountains) in the mountainous south, a very popular mountain range to climb for Chinese as well as foreign tourists. It has rocky peaks and pine trees growing right up to the summit. A famous view is of Ying Ke Song ‘Welcoming Guest Pine’ at the base of the trail, reputed to be 1,000 years old. Many people gather at sunrise to see the sun shine through iridescent mists at the summit. The walk to the top can be spread over several days, and there are ancient temples and sights along the way. Tang poet Li Bai labeled the mountain a ‘Golden Hibiscus’.
2. Hefei, the provincial capital, not only serves as the province’s political, economic and cultural centre, but also many places of historical interest and scenic beauties, one of which is the Temple of Lord Baogong that was built in memory of Bao Zheng of the Song Dynasty, a noble man of high integrity
3. Located in the Fengyang County, the mausoleum is the tomb of the parents of Zhu Yuanzhang, the first Emperor of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Construction of the mausoleum began in 1369 and was completed 14 years later. The mausoleum is surrounded by three walls known as King, Brick and Earth. Along the walls there are many sites such as the main hall, the golden gate, Huangtang Bridge, and many stone sculptures. The tombstone of the mausoleum is about seven meters high and two meters wide, ranking first among all the emperors’ mausoleums in China and a key cultural relic.
4. Xidi Ancient Village was originally built during the reign of Emperor Huangyou (1049-1054) of the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127). Xidi Village contains about 300 buildings in the Hui Style of the Ming and Qing dynasties (1644-1911). Brick and wood dominate, with exquisite stone archways, stone carvings, and stone-paved streets and courtyards.
5. Hongcun Village was added to UNESCO’s World Cultural Heritage List in 2000. With morning mist, stone bridges, white walls, water lily ponds and hills, it has been described as a village in the Chinese painting. photo gallery. Besides halls, pavilions and temples, Hongcun Village consists of 160 ancient residences. These architectures, with fantastic stone carvings, are all from the Ming and Qing dynasties and widely regarded as the best historic sites throughout China.
6. Chaohu Lake is located in the middle of Anhui Province. Shaped like a bird’s nest, “Chaohu” means the nest lake. It is reputed as the “Oriental Geneva” for its location on the Golden Triangle of Anhui. Chaohu Lake is famous for its landscape. The Gushan Island and the Laoshan Island, like two jewels, are embedded into the middle of the lake. Three hot springs surround the lake, and there are four national forestry parks and five water-eroded caves along the lakeside.
7. Jiuhua Mountain borders on the Yangtze River in the north and faces the Huangshan Mountain toward the south. It is considered as one of the greatest Buddhist mountains in China. With its marvelous landscape and pleasant climate, Jiuhua Mountain is considered one of the best summer resorts in China. It boasts 99 peaks, 18 scenic spots and more than 90 temples, most of which were restored from the Ming and Qing dynasties.
