Tongling Yongquan Town 2 Days 1 Night Guide|A Zen Secret Hidden in the Mountains and Wilderness
Tongling Yongquan Town 2 Days 1 Night Guide|A Zen Secret Hidden in the Mountains and Wilderness, Unlock Slow Living with 800 RMB per Person
Tired of crowded commercialized ancient towns? Looking for a hidden corner where you can retreat into nature and slow down time? Yongquan Town in Tongling, Anhui is the answer. Here you’ll find the elegance of Huizhou-style gardens, a natural hot spring 1800 meters deep, misty tea mountains, and old hen soup slow-cooked over firewood for 8 hours. This personally tested 2-day 1-night guide helps you avoid the crowds and enjoy a day of “morning tea picking and evening hot spring soaking” mountain slow life on a budget of 800 RMB per person.
🌟 Key Highlights: Why you must visit Yongquan Town?
• Ultra-niche: 90% of people have never heard of it, no crowds of tourists, only morning mist, ancient houses, and mountain tranquility, offering exclusive relaxation.
• Rich experiences: Combines Huizhou architecture, hot spring wellness, tea mountain hiking, and intangible cultural heritage crafts, allowing you to fully enjoy Zen life without rushing.
• Convenient transportation: 1.5 hours by high-speed train from Hefei/Nanjing, 3 hours from Hangzhou, more freedom by self-driving, perfect for a weekend short trip.
• High cost-performance: Stay in garden-style homestays for 800 RMB per person including hot springs, specialty meals, and multiple experiences, far better value than popular scenic spots.
🚗 Transportation Guide: How to get there hassle-free?
1. Self-driving (top choice for flexible travel)
• Route reference: From Hefei via Jingtai Expressway (about 2 hours); from Nanjing via Ningwu Expressway then Huyu Expressway (about 2.5 hours); from Hangzhou via Hangrui Expressway then Jingtai Expressway (about 3 hours).
• Parking perks: The town and homestays offer free parking, no worries about parking.
2. Public transport (cost-effective option)
• High-speed train: Take the high-speed train to Tongling Station, second-class seat from Hefei about 60 RMB (1.5 hours), from Nanjing about 90 RMB (2 hours).
• Transfer: After arrival, take a taxi (30 minutes to the town, about 50 RMB), or contact the homestay in advance to book a free shuttle (requires at least 1 day notice).
🌿 2 Days 1 Night Itinerary: Make your days poetic
✅ Day 1: Head to the mountains → Garden stay → Hot spring healing
Morning: Arrive at the town, check into a Huizhou garden-style homestay
• Recommended accommodation: Yongquan Yijiangnan Resort Hotel (core lodging area, full experience)
◦ 💰 Price: Off-season 400-600 RMB/night, peak season 600-800 RMB/night (includes double breakfast + free hot spring + Hanfu rental)
◦ ✅ Highlights: Huizhou architecture built on the mountain, white walls and black tiles hidden among bamboo groves; rooms with private hot springs or scenic terraces, windows open to mountain greenery; free Hanfu rental for strolling the courtyard and taking stunning photos.
Noon: Taste authentic Huizhou flavors, drink firewood old hen soup
• Must-try food: Yongquan Twelve-course Private Banquet (dine inside the hotel, no need to go far)
◦ 🌟 Must order: Firewood slow-cooked old hen soup (8 hours slow stew, rich broth and tender meat, incredibly fresh), stir-fried black pork, stone ear mushroom steamed egg, wild bamboo shoots with cured meat, all ingredients sourced locally from the mountains and wilderness, savor the pure natural taste.
Afternoon: Stroll the mountains and unlock niche activities
1. Visit the millennium-old well: The Song Dynasty ancient well in the town center, with clear water; borrow a wooden bucket to shoot “drawing water” Zen-style photos and feel the warmth of time.
2. Wander the Eight Scenic Spots of the Mountain Residence: Listening Pine Pavilion, River Viewing Terrace, Bamboo Shadow Corridor, Returning Cloud Bridge… every step reveals a scene where Huizhou gardens blend with mountain scenery, perfect for ancient-style photos.
3. Daydream at Yongquan Book House: A niche spot hidden by the bamboo grove, free books, wild tea brewed with mountain spring water, sunlight filtering through bamboo shadows onto the pages, full of healing vibes.
Evening: Soak in the mountain hot springs, gaze at the starry sky
• Hot spring experience: The hotel’s hot spring area is built on the mountain with 8 pools, free for guests (open 15:00-22:00)
◦ 🌟 Recommended: Medicinal bath pool (health and relaxation), mountain view outdoor pool (soak at dusk, look up to the stars, look down to the mountain night view)
◦ ⚠️ Note: Book your soaking time slot 1 day in advance to avoid crowds; bring your own swimsuit, towels and slippers provided.
Night: Try hidden farmhouse dishes, feel the local life
• Recommended restaurant: “Mountain People’s Home” outside the town (local owner’s humble eatery, about 50 RMB per person)
◦ Must order: Braised native chicken, stir-fried river shrimp, fresh ingredients, authentic cooking, full farmhouse flavor.
✅ Day 2: Tea mountain morning mist → Zen tea ceremony → Handicraft experience
Early morning: Tea mountain hike, encounter the misty fairyland
• Time: 6:30-7:30 (peak mist, full atmosphere)
• Activity: Walk 10 minutes from the homestay to Yongquan Tea Mountain, wild tea gardens shrouded in morning mist, air sweet and fresh; from March to May and September to October, participate in tea picking, hand-pick fresh tea leaves and enjoy farming fun; even without picking, a half-hour hike to breathe fresh air is healing enough.
• 📸 Photo spot: The path between tea fields, shoot from a high point for a dreamy “walking in the mist” effect.
Morning: Mountain tea ceremony, slowly savor Huizhou tea aroma
• Time: 10:00 (book 1 day in advance)
• Location: Mid-mountain “Yunqi Tea House”
• Experience: Brew local wild mountain tea with spring water, tea master explains Huizhou tea culture; paired with mugwort cakes, rice cakes, osmanthus honey and other tea snacks, sit quietly to meditate or write a journal, enjoy undisturbed slow time.
Morning: Intangible cultural heritage handicraft, unlock local experience (choose one)
1. Tongling Copper Engraving Experience (about 80 RMB/person, 1 hour): Tongling is the “Hometown of Copper Engraving in China,” carve simple patterns on copper sheets with a master, take the finished product as a souvenir, niche and meaningful.
2. Traditional soy milk grinding + rice wine making (free, hotel organized): Use a stone mill to hand-grind soy milk, experience traditional farming fun, drink the freshly ground soy milk to taste the sweetness of labor.
Noon: Before departure, bring a mountain wilderness souvenir
• Recommended souvenirs: Wild tea, dried bamboo shoots, rice wine, mugwort sachets, all local specialties with great value, bringing the mountain wilderness vibe home.
• Lunch: Have a simple meal at the town entrance or head back directly to end the Zen journey.
🏨 Accommodation Recommendations: Choose by need, stay with atmosphere
1. Top choice: Yongquan Yijiangnan Resort Hotel
• 💰 Price: 400-800 RMB/night
• ✅ Highlights: Huizhou garden-style architecture near core attractions; includes hot springs, double breakfast, Hanfu rental, one-stop experience, perfect for those seeking convenience and ambiance.
2. Alternative: Unique homestays around the town
• Recommended: Niche mountain homestays (e.g., “Springside Cottage”)
• 💰 Price: 300-500 RMB/night
• ✅ Highlights: Closer to local life, some with courtyards, ideal for those who like quiet and want to deeply immerse in the mountains and wilderness.
💰 Budget Breakdown: 800 RMB per person, great value
Item Cost Details (from Hefei)
Round-trip transport High-speed train + taxi ≈ 300 RMB (self-driving saves taxi fare)
Accommodation 1 night garden homestay ≈ 400-600 RMB (includes double breakfast + hot spring)
Meals Three main meals + one breakfast ≈ 200 RMB
Experiences Tea ceremony (free) + copper engraving ≈ 80 RMB
Total ≈ 800-1180 RMB/person
• ✅ Money-saving tips: Travel off-season (Dec-Feb except Chinese New Year) or on non-weekends, accommodation can drop below 400 RMB, total budget easily controlled at 800 RMB.
💡 Pitfall Avoidance & Practical Tips
1. Book in advance: Hot springs, tea ceremony, and handicraft experiences require contacting the hotel 1 day ahead to arrange, avoid wasted trips.
2. Dressing advice: Wear cotton-linen long dresses or plain Hanfu, pair with straw bags for great harmony with Huizhou architecture and mountain scenery; wear non-slip sports shoes for hiking (many stone paths).
3. Essentials: Bring a book or notebook (for slow reading and journaling), sunscreen, mosquito repellent (many insects in the mountains), swimsuit (for hot springs).
4. Best travel times: March-May (tea picking season, mountain flowers bloom), September-October (clear autumn weather, perfect for hiking and hot springs), December-February (winter hot springs are excellent).
📸 Photo Guide: Capture Zen-style shots to wow your friends
• Best times: Early morning 6:30-7:30 (tea mountain morning mist), evening 17:30-18:30 (courtyard light and shadow)
• Hidden photo spots:
◦ By the millennium-old well: borrow a wooden bucket to capture the “drawing water” moment, full of atmosphere.
◦ Hot spring pools: shoot starry sky silhouettes while soaking or reflections on the water surface.
◦ Yunqi Tea House: backlit shots of curling tea smoke, very Zen.
◦ Garden corridors: wear Hanfu for side profiles, use corner compositions, full of ancient style.
Yongquan Town is never a place for rushed sightseeing but a true slow living space. Here, time hides in the sound of the ancient well water, the steam of chicken soup, and the daydream moments in the tea house. Spend 800 RMB, avoid the crowds, be a “mountain guest” for a day—this mountain wilderness Zen vibe is worth your weekend trip.