Hiking Huangshan Mountains (the Yellow Mountains Scenic Area) was my big dream. It is one of the most surreal mountain scenery, which was an inspiration for James Cameron for the movie Avatar. Along with hiking the Huangshan Mountains and admiring a yellow sunset embedding steep rocky peaks, visiting Hongcun or Xidi Village is one of the most interesting and unforgettable trips in the region. Huangshan (also known as Yellow Mountain) is a very popular getaway to explore ancient villages. Here is everything to know about how to get to Hongcun Ancient Village, situated in the eastern province of Anhui in China, easily reachable from Huangshan City.
How to get to Hongcun Ancient Village?
Anhui Hongcun (宏村, Hóngcūn) is a village in Yixian County. If you want to find out more about the ancient Chinese civilization, there are several remarkable villages near Huangshan:
- Hongcun Ancient Village
- Xidi Ancient Village
- Lucun Ancient Village
- Tunxi Ancient Street in Huangshan City.
One of the must-visit ancient villages near Huangshan is Hongcun Ancient Village, offering a unique opportunity to explore well-preserved architecture, traditional customs, amazing freshly-cooked street food and a serene rural atmosphere.
The nearest major transportation hub to Hongcun Ancient Village is Huangshan City Bus Station (photo below). From Huangshan, the most convenient way to reach Hongcun Ancient Village is by first traveling to the town of Yixian, followed by a shorter local transfer to Hongcun.
The best online service in China for booking train and flight tickets is TRIP.COM – handy, easy purchase and cancellations.
How to get to Hongcun Ancient Village by public bus?
DIRECT CONNECTIONS FROM HUANGSHAN TO HONGCUN VILLAGE:
NO direct public buses are going from Huangshan to Hongcun.
Private VANS are driving directly from Huangshan Bus Station to Hongcun Village. These are located in front of the Huangshan Bus Station entrance (NOt on the back!).
PUBLIC BUSES FROM HUANGSHAN BUS STATION TO HONGCUN ANCIENT VILLAGE.
Many public buses are going to Hongcun Ancient Village from Huangshan, but you will need to change a bus in Yixian. Buses depart regularly and offer a cost-effective and efficient travel.
From Huangshan Bus Station there are a few buses daily going to Hongcun Village (you would need to switch buses in Yixian). In January, the bus ran every 2 hours, but it changes depending on the season.
These public buses depart from the back of the Huangshan Station, where all public buses are stationed.
After long travel in China, I can say one thing—if you are traveling during holidays or busy periods, book your bus or train tickets in advance! On free days (or weekends) in summer months, hundreds of thousands of people (mostly locals) travel by local transportation. Hongcun and Xidi are very popular travel destinations, and getting there might be tricky.
Huangshan Bus Station.
Tell the local staff at the station you want to go to Hongcun Ancient Village. The fastest way to get there was getting to a small Yixian town and transferring to another bus going directly to Hongcun. The local bus was a really basic transportation – it was a 15-seater van. January is a low season, perhaps in summer months buses run more frequently but I cannot complain, the journey was safe, comfortable and extremely cheap.
I love admiring landscapes on the way and most memorable experiences come from using public transport along with local travelers.
My route: Huangshan Bus Station – local bus to Yixian – another local bus to Hongcun Ancient Village.
The bus ticket was 20 yuan to Hongcun.
Getting to Hongcun from Yixian.
Once you reach Yixian it is very easy to get to Hongcun Ancient Village – it is accessible via local bus or taxi if you want to save some time.
The distance between Yixian and Hongcun is only 12 kilometers. I took a local bus.
Entry to Hongcun Ancient Village.
After arriving at Hongcun Bus Station it takes about 3 minutes to reach the main gate to the village. The entrance gate is huge – you cannot miss it!
You need to purchase a ticket at the office. I can’t say how much it is, as in January they let me for free due to the low season.
Hongcun Village lies by the river, you get a strong impression it is frozen in time. The village’s reflection in the green river sheet is unreal, even though the river was frozen in January. First, you walk along the river bridge, which sometimes gets busy as everyone is taking selfies 😉
The courtyard homes are well preserved. You can wander through narrow lanes and interact with friendly locals, you will likely be asked for a photo. And once people notice someone asked you, they will be queuing as well. They are adorable.
You’ll find many lovely restaurants and cafes hidden in tiny village streets. I recommend walking the village first to get an insight into what’s really there. I think I tried almost every street food that was served there and I have to say it was delicious.
Can you imagine Hongcun Village is a place where I ate the best ever baked conkers (Horse Chestnuts). Hongcun Ancient Village is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this picturesque village dates back to the Ming and Qing dynasties. Hongcun white-washed buildings with elegant courtyards are the flagship of ancient Chinese craftsman workshops.
Guesthouses in Hongcun Village.
If you want to stay overnight amongst the locals and gain insight into their traditional ways of life, there are several guesthouses offering traditional accommodations. You will be well treated in the village, there are many lovely cafes, restaurants and street food stalls.
If you are looking for accommodation options in Huangshan browse on Agoda.com.
Hongcun Village is pedestrian-friendly and easy to explore on foot. It will take you a maximum of 20 minutes to walk the whole length of the village but there’s so much to explore within:
- the iconic crescent-shaped village layout,
- its ancient residences,
- serene streams,
- stunning views of the surrounding mountains.
The greatest sites are the beautifully preserved Hu Wenguang Study and the picturesque Moon Pond, which mirror the traditional architecture.
Xidi Ancient Village.
Not far from Hongcun lies the village of Xidi, another UNESCO World Heritage Site of ancient China. Hongcun and Xidi are the most famous and most stunning ancient villages in the area. Each structure in Xidi reflects the distinctive Hui-style architecture, characterized by traditional wooden houses and intricate wooden lattice windows.
Lucun Ancent Village.
In addition to Hongcun and Xidi, the village of Lucun unveils the beauty of ancient Chinese villages. Lucun, just like the other two villages, strikes with the aura of timelessness, encircled by verdant bamboo groves and serene waterways.
Going back from Hongcun Ancient Village.
On the way back – MAKE SURE you are NOT buying a ticket to Huangshan Scenic Area (Yellow Mountains) but to Huangshan City. I almost traveled to the Yellow Mountains by mistake! If you say Huangshan – they will think you want to go to the Huangshan Yellow Mountains. These are two different routes and two different buses.
Google image translator was a lifesaver!
Best time to visit Hongcun Village.
The best times to visit Hongcun Village are during spring and autumn when the weather is mild and the scenery is exceptionally beautiful.
Avoiding the summer months can help you dodge the crowds. Holidays and weekends might be extremely crowded. A camera is a must for capturing the stunning scenery!
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