Anhui Ancient Towns Slow Travel Guide | Guangde + Shuidong 2 Days 1 Night / 3 Days 2 Nights Comprehensive Guide
3 Days 2 Nights Baby Guide
📍Core Area: Guangde City, Xuancheng, Anhui (Taozhou Ancient Town/Zhuanqiao Ancient Village/Dushu Ancient Town) + Shuidong Ancient Town, Xuanzhou
✨Keywords: Free ancient towns, Hui-style fireworks, bamboo forests and karst caves, hot pot cuisine, less crowded and photogenic
💰Average Budget: 2 days 1 night ≈ 500-700 RMB; 3 days 2 nights ≈ 700-1000 RMB
🚌Best Transportation: High-speed rail + taxi/self-driving; Guangde has free cultural and tourism buses connecting the city center and attractions
I. Basic Information - Must-Read Before Trip
1. Best Time to Travel
· Spring and Autumn (March-May, September-November): Comfortable climate, lush bamboo forests, and great atmosphere for taking photos in ancient towns
· Summer: Escape the heat and enjoy fresh air, cool caves and bamboo forests; Winter: Rich in the aroma of fireworks, heartwarming hot pot
2. Transportation Guide (Guangde Entry and Exit)
High-Speed Rail
· Arrival Station: Guangde South Station
· Hangzhou East → Guangde South: Approx. 35 minutes; Nanjing South → Guangde South: Approx. 50 minutes; Shanghai Hongqiao → Guangde South: Approx. 1.5 hours
· Exit: Taxi to the city center/ancient town: Approx. 10-20 RMB; Free tourist bus directly to the attractions
Driving
· Shanghai/Suzhou: G50 Shanghai-Chongqing Expressway → Guangde Exit
· Hangzhou: G50/S43 Xuantong Expressway → Guangde North/Lucun Exit
· Nanjing: G4221 Shanghai-Wuhan Expressway → Guangde South Exit
· Parking in the Ancient Town: Mostly free/low-cost, ample parking spaces
Transportation to Shuidong Ancient Town
· High-speed rail to Xuancheng Station → Transfer to K602 bus/Shuidong special line, approx. 40 minutes direct
· Driving from Guangde → Shuidong Ancient Town: Approx. 1 hour, conveniently located along the way
3. Must-Do List
✅ Explore the pristine ancient town with free admission, walking along cobblestone streets.
✅ Enjoy Guangde stew, Shuidong dates, and other southern Anhui snacks.
✅ Take a free shuttle bus to explore the historical sites of Guangde city.
✅ Bamboo forest hike + cave exploration.
✅ Take photos at ancient bridges, temples, and Gothic churches.
II. Core Highlights of the Ancient Town (All Free)
1. Guangde·Taozhou Ancient Town (City Center)
· Location: Taozhou Town, Guangde City, the heart of the old town's vibrant atmosphere.
· Must-Visit:
· Drum and Horn Tower: Built in the fourth year of the Zhiping era of the Northern Song Dynasty, a landmark of Guangde, offering panoramic views of the old town.
· Tianshou Temple Pagoda: A seven-story, six-sided ancient pagoda from the Northern Song Dynasty, a brick and wood structure, a model of Jiangnan-style pavilion architecture.
· Yingchun Street/Confucius Temple Pedestrian Street: A collection of time-honored brands, offering a complete shopping and dining experience.
· Recommended Visit Duration: 1-2 hours
2. Guangde·Zhuanqiao Ancient Village (Millennial Village)
· Location: Northwest of Xinhang Town, bordering Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui provinces
· Highlights: Thousand-year-old brick bridge (the first of Guangde's ten ancient bridges), thousand-year-old ginkgo tree, four waterfalls at the brick bridge, Tongguan Ancient Road
· Features: Adjacent to the Nanshan Bamboo Sea in Jiangsu, a blend of mountains, water, and ancient villages
· Recommended visit duration: 2 hours
3. Guangde·Dushu Ancient Town (formerly Shuanglin Town)
· Location: Dushu Community, Yangtan Town, a thousand-year-old town
· Highlights: Tonghe River scenery, 70% forest coverage, original ecological villages, bamboo and tea producing areas
· Suitable for: Hiking, rural photography
· Recommended visit duration: 1-1.5 hours
4. Xuancheng·Shuidong Ancient Town (Southern Anhui Ming and Qing Dynasty Old Street)
· Admission: Free (4A-level scenic spot)
· Must-see:
· Shuidong Old Street: Formed during the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty, featuring bluestone roads and Hui-style old houses
· Eighteen Steps and Five Wells: A Qing Dynasty water conservancy marvel, the soul of the old street
· Our Lady Church: A century-old Gothic church in East China, a stunning blend of Chinese and Western styles
· Dafu Mansion: A Ming Dynasty official residence with exquisitely carved gate tower
· Duration of visit: 2-3 hours
III. Classic Itinerary
Option A: 2 Days 1 Night (Guangde Ancient Town + Mountain and Water)
Day 1: Slow Tour of Guangde City and Ancient Town
· Morning: Arrive in Guangde South → Drum Tower → Tianshou Temple Pagoda → Stroll around Taozhou Ancient Town
· Noon: Enjoy Guangde stew, potstickers and steamed buns on Yingchun Street
· Afternoon: Guangde Museum → Suoshan Bridge (Daoguang Ancient Bridge, perfect for photos)
· Evening: Stay in Guangde city/characteristic guesthouse, explore the old town at night
Day 2: Ancient Village + Mountain and Water
· Morning: Zhuanqiao Ancient Village (Ancient Bridge + Ginkgo + Waterfall)
· Lunch: Enjoy a farmhouse meal in an ancient village, including stewed chicken and crispy rice crust cooked on a traditional earthen stove.
· Afternoon: Hike through Jishan Bamboo Forest/Walk around Luhu Lake.
· Evening: Return trip.
Option B: 3 Days 2 Nights (Guangde + Shuidong Ancient Town Deep Dive)
Day 1: Guangde City + Zhuanqiao Ancient Village
Day 2: Taiji Cave (East China's No. 1 Karst Cave) + Dushu Ancient Town
Day 3: Shuidong Ancient Town → Return trip
· Morning: Take photos at Shuidong Old Street, Shibata, and the Holy Mother Church.
· Lunch: Enjoy local Anhui cuisine and Shuidong jujube desserts in Shuidong Ancient Town.
· Afternoon: Purchase souvenirs and return trip.
IV. Must-Try Foods & Avoid Pitfalls
Guangde Specialties
1. Guangde Stew Pot (Hometown of Chinese Stew Pots): Stewed chicken, black pork ribs, and beef vermicelli, cooked over charcoal.
2. Guangde Three-Piece Set: Stew Pot + Milk Tea + Zhanji Peach Crisp
3. Snacks: Potstickers, wormwood buns, pagoda-shaped sesame cakes, spicy vermicelli
4. Specialties: Guangde golden sprouts, chestnuts, bamboo handicrafts
Shuidong Ancient Town Features
1. Shuidong Honey Dates: A tribute item from the Qing Dynasty, sweet, glutinous, and soft
2. Shuiyang Three Treasures: Duck feet buns, duck wings, water celery
3. Snacks: Artemisia argyi cakes, fried hairy tofu, jujube wood combs (souvenirs)
Recommended Food Streets
· Guangde: Yingchun Food Street, Lijing Stew Pot Street, Jingxian Night Snack Street
· Shuidong: Snack shops on the main street of the old town
V. Accommodation Recommendations
1. Guangde City: Budget options 150-300 yuan/night, convenient transportation, easy access to food and shopping
2. Ancient Town B&Bs: Renovated brick bridge/Shuidong old houses, 120-260 yuan/night, excellent atmosphere
3. Resort Hotels: Qinxingu Resort Hotel (Shuidong), Muzi Mountain Villa (Guangde), suitable for families
VI. Photo Spots
1. Taozhou Ancient Town: Drum Tower, Tianshou Temple Pagoda, Yingchun Street Lantern Alley
2. Zhuanqiao Ancient Village: Thousand-year-old brick bridge, under the ginkgo tree, Zhuanqiao Four Waterfalls
3. Shuidong Ancient Town: Eighteen-step ancient well, lawn of the Church of Our Lady, bluestone alley, Dafudi gate tower
4. Along the way: Suoshan Bridge, Jishan Bamboo Sea, Luhu Reflection
VII. Practical Tips & Avoidance Guide
1. Guangde Free Cultural Tourism Bus: Connects the city, bamboo sea, and historical sites, no need to pay for taxis
2. No entrance fees to ancient towns, don't trust paid guides
3. Large temperature difference between day and night in mountainous areas, always bring a light jacket; bring an umbrella for rainy days
4. It is recommended to buy local specialties in regular shops in the city, do not buy overpriced "wild specialties" in scenic spots
5. Avoid taking photos in the strong midday sun; the softer light of early morning or late afternoon produces better results.
6. Use the Guangde Mobile Bus App for convenient real-time bus tracking.
VIII. Budget Breakdown (2 days 1 night/person)
· Transportation: Round-trip high-speed rail + taxi ≈ 150-250 yuan
· Accommodation: 150-300 yuan
· Food: Around 200 yuan
· Entrance Fees: 0 yuan (Free admission to the ancient town; Taiji Cave optional, 65 yuan)
· Total: 500-700 yuan