Anhui | Zhanqi Fish Lantern Festival in Shexian County

When I booked a tour to Zhanqi Village in Shexian County, Anhui, I didn't know it was suddenly so popular... There are both recommendations and warnings online, so here are my thoughts. The handmade fish lanterns are really beautiful. If it weren't for the inconvenience of bringing them back, I would definitely buy one. In other words, the packaging is not good enough. The villagers are generally very simple and honest. They didn't raise prices randomly because of the huge number of tourists. I had a bowl of noodles with vegetables and dried bamboo shoots for CNY 15. The best place to take photos is Dunmu Hall, where fish lanterns for performances are displayed. Standing on the highest platform, two people dance with fish lanterns, which is the best photo opportunity. Or you can take a side shot with the big fish lantern on the platform as the background, which is also a good angle to avoid the crowds. As for whether to climb up to watch the performance, if you want to get close to the fish lanterns, you don't need to go to the second or third floor of the villagers' houses. Going upstairs usually costs CNY 20–30 per person. I had a bowl of noodles at the Mingdeng Workshop and went to the third floor for CNY 45. I don't think this is the best angle, but I really like the owner, an old man, who has principles. The village is small, and the old street is not long. At the end is Zhanqi Primary School.