Wuyuan Scenic Area – China’s Most Beautiful Countryside

Huangling, located in Wuyuan, is a picturesque tourist area that encapsulates the essence of rural beauty with its ancient villages, ancient trees, terraced fields, and traditional sun-drying customs. The area offers breathtaking views throughout the year: spring showcases the sea of rapeseed flowers, summer invites exploration of the valley streams, autumn features the traditional sun-drying of harvests, and winter provides a chance to experience local customs. Sun-drying is a typical rural custom with regional characteristics. In mountainous areas of Hunan, Anhui, and Jiangxi, villagers utilize any available space like rooftops and windowsills to dry crops due to the lack of flat land. Over time, this has evolved into a traditional agricultural practice.

In Huangling, the stunning terraced fields are equally captivating. The terraced fields of Huangling have been ranked among the “Top Ten Most Beautiful Terraced Fields in the World” by online reviewers. In March, the rapeseed flowers on the terraced fields create a picturesque scene, with golden waves, pear blossoms resembling snow, peach blossoms in vibrant hues, and the fragrant rapeseed flowers all harmoniously blending together. The charming rural setting, with its white walls and gray tiles shrouded in mist, resembles a beautiful countryside fairy tale.

Shimen Gorge, another highlight of the Huangling Tourist Resort in Wuyuan, features pristine natural beauty with its flowing waterfalls, rugged rocks, deep canyons, and towering cliffs. It offers a genuine, unspoiled gorge experience. In addition to enjoying the cool waters and scenic surroundings, Shimen Gorge provides various adventure activities, making it a great spot for team-building and outdoor challenges. Activities include obstacle courses and outdoor expansion projects, integrating the gorge’s natural landscape with interactive and enjoyable experiences.

Jiangling Scenic Area, located in the northeast of Wuyuan County and 45 kilometers from the county seat, is one of China’s four major flower seas. Spanning 38 square kilometers, it becomes a vibrant canvas of nature each spring when the vast fields of rapeseed flowers bloom. Here, the bright yellow flowers contrast beautifully with the distant mountains, nearby waters, and traditional pink-walled and gray-tiled houses, creating a harmonious scene that feels like a painting of unity between humanity and nature. This picturesque landscape offers a place where you can fully immerse yourself and let your spirit soar freely.

As a representative of China’s most beautiful rural scenery, Jiangling’s landscapes are not only a world-class photography destination but also exemplify the harmonious relationship between humans and nature. The traditional layout of ancient trees, rivers, terraced fields, cottages, and crops reflects this close connection. Particularly striking are the mountain-top residences that form the grand backdrop, with pink walls and gray tiles nestled among yellow flowers and green trees, often shrouded in drifting mists. This idyllic setting is celebrated as one of China’s four major flower seas.

Likeng is renowned for its unique architectural style, characteristic of traditional Huizhou architecture, creating a serene and harmonious atmosphere. Surrounded by mountains, the village features clear waters and picturesque landscapes. Ancient Ming and Qing buildings are scattered throughout, with homes along the streams and nestled against the hills. The traditional white walls and gray tiles are interspersed in a charming, irregular pattern.

The village’s narrow, winding streets are crisscrossed by streams, and a network of cobblestone paths connects dozens of stone, wood, and brick bridges. Scenic spots such as the two clear streams, willow trees, double bridges, Jiaoquan Spring, Daoist temple bells, and the fairy bridge enhance the picturesque beauty of Likeng, crafting a lovely scene of small bridges, flowing water, and quaint homes.

Jiangwan, located 28 kilometers east of Wuyuan County, has a history dating back to the late Sui and early Tang Dynasties. Initially known as “Yunwan,” named for the families living in the riverbend, including the Teng, Ye, Bao, and Dai clans, it was renamed Jiangwan when the eighth-generation ancestor Jiang Di settled there during the Northern Song Dynasty in 1079. Over time, the Jiang family grew into a large clan, and the area became known as Jiangwan. Today, Jiangwan is a National 5A Scenic Area and a nationally recognized cultural and ecological tourism zone.

Wolong Valley, located in the northern part of Wuyuan and serving as a natural barrier between Anhui and Jiangxi provinces, is part of the Huangshan Mountain range. This National 4A Scenic Area boasts high forest coverage of 90.7% and features a main peak at 1,629.8 meters above sea level. Surrounded by towering peaks, the valley offers a breathtaking landscape often described as a paradise akin to those found in Jin Yong’s novels.

The valley showcases different colors with each season: blooming mountain flowers in spring, lush greenery in summer, vibrant red maples in autumn, and stunning ice formations in winter. The landscape is characterized by purplish granite mountains, numerous waterfalls cascading through the high mountain canyons, colorful pools, and scenic contrasts. The combination of purple mountains, green trees, white waterfalls, and colorful pools creates a picturesque, ink-wash painting of nature.

Yantian Ancient Camphor Tree Scenic Area is a prime attraction showcasing the traditional water mouth culture of ancient villages. This well-preserved site represents the water mouth, which functions as a village garden and symbolizes feng shui. The area features lush trees, clear streams, elevated bridges, and gentle waterwheels, alongside stone pavilions and winding paths. Cultural elements are present with traditional workshops like paper umbrella making, tofu production, and oil pressing. Notable sites include the “Tathagata Buddha Pillar,” “Four Spirits Monastery,” and fish pond residences. Among these, the giant camphor tree, revered by locals as the “Tree God,” stands out. Over 1,500 years old, this colossal tree has a girth of nearly 15 meters and a crown spanning 3 acres, earning it the title of “World’s Largest Camphor Tree.”

Rainbow Bridge, located on the old street of Qinghua Town, is 22 kilometers from Wuyuan County. Built during the Song Dynasty, it is the longest covered bridge in ancient Huizhou and has a history of 800 years. Covered bridges, characterized by their roofed structure, offer protection and rest for pedestrians during rainy weather. Rainbow Bridge spans 140 meters with a width of over 3 meters. It consists of four piers, five arches, and eleven covered pavilions. The bridge piers are boat-shaped, with a pointed front and flat back, designed to reduce the impact of floodwaters on the structure.

Yan Village, while sharing architectural similarities with Sixi Village, is distinguished by its unique layout. Unlike Sixi Village, which is nestled around a small river with surrounding green hills and a picturesque Jiangnan water town charm, Yan Village is situated on flat terrain, built along the creek. The village features cobblestone-paved paths and a well-planned layout where houses are connected in a network. This design allows residents to move around even on rainy days without needing umbrellas. The village’s intricate network of paths and winding alleys creates a sense of exploration and tranquility, enhancing its serene and picturesque appeal.

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