Visiting Yongquan Town, Tongling, Anhui

The drive from Nanjing to Yongning Town, Tongling, Anhui takes about two hours, and the town is another half an hour's drive from Tongling City. Nestled at the foot of Yeshan Mountain, the town is a tourist destination integrating travel, vacation, and health. Originally Yejia Village, it is said that Yeshan Mountain was where Ye Fashan, a Taoist master of the Tang Dynasty, cultivated himself. He advocated "Tao follows nature" and strongly advised against the use of elixirs, which earned him the appreciation of Emperor Gaozong of Tang, thus making Yeshan somewhat famous. The villagers of Yejia Village mainly made bamboo products. One of the villagers, Boss Ye, was a flexible and large-scale operator who made his first fortune and then invested in real estate, earning a considerable amount. He returned to Yejia Village and began to plan and build Yongning Town. After more than ten years of effort and considerable investment, the town has reached a certain scale and gained some popularity. Boss Ye built twelve scenic spots along the mountain stream, including the Ye Fashan Memorial Hall. These buildings were all constructed using bricks and tiles from demolished old houses in the surrounding area, using the architectural style of Huizhou, giving them an antique feel. It takes more than an hour to hike from the bottom of the mountain to the top, or you can take two sections of the "Cloud Ladder" up the mountain. When you get to the "Cloud Ladder," you'll find that it's actually a conveyor belt used in factories and mines. It's safe to go up and experience it. Going down the mountain is even more unique - you take a "slide." This slide is over 300 meters long, and you have to wear special pants and gloves before riding. The speed is controllable, and it's much more exciting than the slides in kindergarten. Lunch is at the "Country Banquet," where you can enjoy authentic Anhui farmhouse cuisine. It's delicious, but a bit strong in flavor. In the afternoon, we visited and shopped on the old street, but missed a performance due to rain. This place has real mountains and real water, a beautiful environment, and pleasant air. It must be a great place to escape the summer heat.