China (Tunxi, Hongcun & Xidi, Anhui) Sept 2010 D-10, D-11 & D-12

Map of Anhui, China

Hostel: Koala International Youth Hostel - CNY45 (2 nights)

Train: Shanghai>Huangshan CNY94 (hard seat)
Food & Groceries: CNY149
Day Tour (Hongcun & Xidi) : CNY140
Sundries (shoe) : CNY134
Total expenses incurred: CNY607

Guessed what, I came to Huangshan to climb the

Mt Huangshan but due to a bad weather forecast by our hostel, some of our hostel guests decided to abandon visiting Mt Huangshan on the day of our arrival. What a regret but I shall return to Huangshan to fulfil this dream.

Instead, we signed up for a day tour (CNY140 for senior citizen - normal ticket CNY180) from the hostel to visit two ancient villages in Anhui. Both Hongcun and Xidi are UNESCO Heritages so both villages were filled with tourists at the time of our visit.

With the spare time we had, we spent half a day in Huangshan Si Old Street and tasted some of the local street food ie ginger candy, roasted chestnuts, charcoal fired biscuits, smelly Tofu, local mandarins and snacks. We also bought walnuts, Hangshan green tea leaves and packaged foods as gifts for our family members back home.

1) Xidi Village, Anhui

2) Tunxi, Huangshan Si, Old Street (Lao Jie), Anhui

3) Hong Chun Village, Anhui (UNESCO)

" Huangshan or Yellow Mountain is China most scenic mountain, a UNESCO site. Misty mountain, sea of clouds, tall pine trees, funny shaped rocks, stiff admission fees but tourists keep flocking to Mt Huangshan .... a wonderful experience not to be missed if given the opportunity. I shall return ....

The Secrets of Life : Old age is like a bank account. You withdraw in later life what you have deposited along the way. So deposit all the happiness you can in your bank account of memories "