Southern Anhui Autumn Chasing Guide

Autumn here is not only in the scenic spots but also in every village where smoke rises from cooking fires. At 6 a.m., the Shitan Village viewing platform is already filled with cameras, but the real enthusiasts head down to the back mountain of Taicun Village. When the morning fog drifts up from the valley and the horse-head walls appear faintly in the sea of clouds, the scene is so beautiful it makes you forget to press the shutter. A photographer uncle we met shared his secret spot—a wild hillside overlooking the entire village. At noon in Yangchan Tulou, Auntie Zheng, who was drying autumn crops, invited us to help spread corn. In return, she served freshly cooked sesame glutinous rice cakes. Standing on a 300-year-old tulou, eating warm cakes with the mountain breeze—that’s the most authentic "taste of autumn." On the way down, we bought wild chrysanthemum tea made by villagers, five yuan for a big bag, and just add hot water for a room filled with fragrance. Autumn Action Guide: · 🚗 Recommended route: Shitan to Yangchan, the mountain road is thrilling but the scenery is stunning · 📸 Best times: 6:30-8:30 for morning fog, 16:00-17:30 for autumn drying light and shadows · 🍁 Hidden activity: Help villagers with autumn drying, often rewarded with unexpected gains · 💰 Cost: Farmhouse meals about 50 yuan per person for a full meal, wild scenic spots are free When the sunset dyes the tulou warm yellow, sitting on the doorstep of an old house watching villagers collect drying racks, you suddenly understand—the most beautiful autumn colors in Southern Anhui are hidden in this smoke curling over everyday life.