Xin'an River Landscape Gallery

​​Overview​​

The ​​Xin'an River Landscape Gallery​​ (新安江山水画廊) is a ​​AAAA-rated​​ scenic area in Shexian County, Huangshan, China. Stretching ​​50km​​ along the Xin'an River—dubbed the "Oriental Danube"—it merges ​​Hui culture​​, ​​Ming-Qing architecture​​, and ​​biodiversity​​ into a UNESCO-recognized masterpiece. The river, historically a vital trade route for Huizhou merchants, now captivates visitors with its "​​high-mountain forests, mid-mountain tea, low-mountain fruit, and river fish​​" ecosystem.

​​Key Features​​

1. ​​Natural & Cultural Highlights​​

   • ​​Three-Tiered Ecology​​:
     • Highlands: Forests (e.g., ​​Liugujian Peak​​, 1,629m)
     • Midlands: Terraced tea plantations (source of ​​Huangshan Maofeng​​)
     • Lowlands: Orchards (​​Santán loquats​​, citrus) and fishing villages.
   • ​​Iconic Villages​​:
     • ​​Jiusha​​: 800-year-old riverside hamlet with onion-drying terraces.
     • ​​Zhangtan​​: Home to a ​​1,000-year-old camphor tree​​ (26m tall) and the ​​Red Makeup Museum​​, showcasing imperial-era bridal dowries.
     • ​​Miantan​​: Live ​​"Nine-Surname Fishing"​​ performances using traditional cormorants.

2. ​​Activities & Experiences​​

   • ​​Boat Tours​​: Depart from ​​Shendu Port​​ (4 daily trips; 3-hour round trip). Stops include fruit-picking, ​​Hui opera shows​​, and ​​soybean grinding​​ workshops.
   • ​​Seasonal Events​​:
     • Spring: Rapeseed flower blooms (March–April).
     • Autumn: "​​Santán Loquat Festival​​" (May) and golden rice terraces.

3. ​​Historical Significance​​

   • A ​​Ming-Qing trade artery​​ linking Huizhou to Hangzhou. Poet Li Bai praised its clarity: "The water’s hue outshines all others; / Like moving through a mirror, birds cross a painted screen.".

​​Visitor Information​​

• ​​Best Time to Visit​​: ​​April–May​​ (flowers) or ​​September–November​​ (harvests). Winter offers misty, painterly vistas.
• ​​Tickets​​:
  • ​​Entrance​​: ¥50 (≈$7).
  • ​​Boat​​: ¥51–68 (mandatory for tours).
• ​​Transport​​:
  • From ​​Huangshan North Station​​, take a ​​1-hour bus​​ to Shendu Port.

​​Preservation & Global Recognition​​

• ​​Eco-Initiatives​​: Since 2011, ​​¥1.2 billion​​ was invested to reduce pollution, earning UNESCO praise as "​​true ecological tourism​​".
• ​​Awards​​:
  • "​​Best Tourism Village​​" (2021, UNESCO).
  • Featured in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon for its ethereal landscapes.

The Xin'an River is more than scenery—it’s a ​​cultural voyage​​ through China’s agrarian past and artistic legacy.