Hongcun Ink-Painting Poetic Slow Life

5 days for 4960 RMB to explore Hefei + Huangshan + Hongcun! Stay in a century-old Huizhou-style house, kneel under the Guest-Greeting Pine on Huangshan at 3 a.m. and cry until losing your voice, a mountain porter hands you a hot steamed bun: "Miss, no matter how high the mountain is, it’s never higher than the will to live." 🔥 "That early morning, I climbed the 1680 steps of Huangshan’s ‘Stairway to Heaven’ alone, The wind was so strong it felt like it would blow me away, -5°C, tears froze as soon as they left my eyes. I had just been laid off and heartbroken, my life had hit rock bottom. Standing under the Guest-Greeting Pine, I suddenly crouched down and cried loudly— Suddenly, footsteps came from behind. A weather-beaten mountain porter stopped, took a hot steamed bun from his chest pocket, and handed it to me: ‘Eat, miss, no matter how high the mountain is, it’s never higher than the will to live.’ I took a bite, trembling from the heat, But that warm steam burned from my throat all the way to my heart." In 5 days and 4 nights, with 4960 RMB, I stayed in a century-old Huizhou-style house by Moon Pond in Hongcun, with ink-painting views right outside the window; Watched the sunrise over Huangshan, golden light flooding the strange pines and rocks, like stepping into the martial arts world of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon"; Tasted stinky mandarin fish, fermented tofu, Huangshan sesame cakes, Dao Ban Xiang sausage, stone ear mushroom soup, Huizhou rice cakes—every meal so delicious you’d lick the plate; Learned to make Huimo Su pastry, and the 70-year-old master said, “Black as ink but sweet at heart, life tastes just like this.”; Got lost in Xidi ancient village, accidentally entered an old house, and an old lady made me tea: “Little girl, don’t be afraid of getting lost, when your heart is calm, anywhere is home.” This trip to southern Anhui Was not just travel, It was a rebirth gently supported by mountains, waters, and strangers. ⛰️🏡🍵 💰 Budget Breakdown (per person | cheaper for two) | Item | Cost | |------|------| | Round-trip transport (high-speed train) | ¥800 (direct from Nanjing/Hangzhou/Wuhan to Hefei South Station) | | Accommodation (4 nights: Hongcun old house + Huangshan foot inn) | ¥1200 (¥300/night, breakfast included) | | Local transport (subway + bus + taxi) | ¥500 (Hefei → Huangshan scenic bus ¥60, Hongcun shuttle ¥30) | | Food (snacks + meals) | ¥800 (¥200/day, 10 meals!) | | Tickets + experiences (Huangshan + Hongcun + Xidi + Huimo Su class) | ¥1360 | | Shopping + emergency fund | ¥300 | | Total | ≈ ¥4960 | ✅ Tip: Traveling with a companion, sharing accommodation and taxi costs, can bring the per-person cost under **4500 RMB**. With a 5000 RMB budget, you can also add visits to Chengkan and Tangmo ancient towns! 🗓️ Detailed daily itinerary (recommended in spring and autumn | pleasant climate, best sea of clouds) Day 1: Arrive in Hefei | Explore old streets and taste Huizhou flavors 📍 Itinerary: Arrive at Hefei South Station → subway to city center → stroll Laijie Street → stay in Hefei Afternoon: Check in at [Hefei Qingmei Inn] (¥280/night, artsy style) Evening: Explore [Laijie Street]—Hefei’s hottest Huizhou cultural food street Eat at [Tongqinglou] or [Dao Ban Xiang Huizhou Restaurant] Must-try: stinky mandarin fish (smells bad, tastes great), fermented tofu (authentic when moldy), Huangshan sesame cake Cost per person ¥60, the owner says: “Not used to it? Come a few more times and you’ll be hooked!” Night: Walk to [Swan Lake] for night views and city lights photography Day 2: Hefei → Huangshan Scenic Area | Overnight at mountain foot 📍 Itinerary: Take bus up the mountain, prepare for next day’s summit Morning: Subway to [Hefei Tourist Bus Station] → bus to [Huangshan South Gate] (¥60, 2.5 hours) Noon: Arrive at Tangkou Town, check in at [Huangshan Yunhaiju] (¥320/night, mountain view from window) Afternoon: Light hike to [Emerald Valley] (ticket ¥50) Also called “Lover’s Valley,” bamboo forest and streams, like entering the Land of Oz Evening: Eat at [Mountain People’s Home] local dishes Stone ear mushroom stewed chicken, Dao Ban Xiang sausage, wild vegetable rice cakes, warming to the stomach 📌 Tip: Buy trekking poles, gloves, and thermos in advance, it’s windy in the mountains! Day 3: Huangshan full day | Summit to watch sea of clouds sunrise 📍 Itinerary: Challenge Huangshan, experience “After visiting the Five Great Mountains, no other mountain compares” 4 a.m.: Wake up, take scenic area bus to [Yungu Temple] → cable car up the mountain (¥80) Morning: Hike to [Shixin Peak] → [Beihai Scenic Area] → [Bright Summit] See strange pines, weird rocks, sea of clouds, as if riding the clouds Noon: Simple mountain top meal (steamed buns + hot water, ¥40 per person) Afternoon: Walk the [West Sea Grand Canyon] plank road → cable car down Evening: Return to Tangkou, exhausted but fulfilled 📌 Secret moment: Summit at dawn, watch the sun leap out of the sea of clouds, golden light flooding the peaks, at that moment, I cried—not from exhaustion, but because **I’m still alive and can see such a beautiful world.** Day 4: Hongcun full day | Live inside an ink painting 📍 Itinerary: Bus to Hongcun, immersive ancient village life Morning: Bus to [Hongcun] (¥30, 1 hour) → check in at [Yuezhao Homestay] (¥300/night, century-old house) Window faces Moon Pond, white walls and black tiles reflected like a painting All day: Stroll Hongcun Visit [South Lake Painting Bridge], [Chengzhi Hall], [Wang Clan Ancestral Hall] Learn to make [Huimo Su] (¥60/person), the master said: “Black as ink but sweet at heart, life tastes just like this.” Noon: Eat at [Desheng Restaurant] Must-try: stinky mandarin fish + preserved tofu, so fragrant neighbors ask for the recipe Evening: Take night photos by Moon Pond, lanterns lit, like traveling back to Ming and Qing dynasties Night: Drink tea and chat with the landlady, she said: “Little girl, when your heart is troubled, stay in the ancient village for a few days, the wind will blow your worries away.” Day 5: Xidi Ancient Village × Return to Hefei 📍 Itinerary: Say goodbye to southern Anhui, return trip Morning: Bus to [Xidi] (¥35, 40 minutes) More original than Hongcun, almost no commercialism, deep stone-paved alleys Accidentally entered an old house, an old lady invited me for tea: “Lost? Sit down, have some tea before you go.” Noon: Last meal of [Huizhou rice cakes] + [fermented tofu] Crispy outside, tender inside, paired with spicy sauce, soul-shaking fragrance Afternoon: Return to Hefei South Station, before checkout, the landlady gave me a pack of homemade Huimo Su: “Miss, take this home, eat one when life is bitter, Black as ink, but the heart is sweet.” One last thing to say: Huangshan is very high, Hongcun is very quiet, But the most touching thing, Is the mountain porter who handed me the hot steamed bun at dawn, Is the bowl of stone ear mushroom soup, hot to the mouth but warm to the stomach, Is the phrase “No matter how high the mountain is, it’s never higher than the will to live.” When you come here, It’s not just to see the scenery, It’s to let these mountains and waters Softly say: “Don’t be afraid, I’m here.” ⛰️🏡🔥 📩 Want a PDF guide + food map + Huangshan hiking route map? Comment “Hefei Huangshan Guide” below, I’ll send it to you privately!