March 10,2023 Post by :Ruoshui Chen
Introduction to Tunxi Ancient Street in Huangshan.Tunxi Ancient Street (Huangshan) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go
We stayed in Tunxi at the Xinan Country Hotel this August 2016.
From there we walked to the ancient street along the river for around 10-15 minute which by itself was really nice (not far from the adjacent park I've described in a separate review here).
The street is really beautiful, it does look ancient and so do most of the shops.
We saw few western tourists and mostly Chinese tourists and it was not overcrowded as some reviews here had mentioned.
It has all kind of shops selling jewelry, wooden items, carved stone stamps, fans, even clothes.
It also has of course and as usual all kinds of eateries from traditional Chinese cuisine, pastries (only butter) and till the inevitable Mc Donald's.
You can buy there all the regular souvenirs but don't miss the tea shops and especially the Chinese ink and brushes shops which are worth stopping by.
Just look at the pictures i have attached as I always do so you can catch the atmosphere there.
Bottom line no doubt the place is for tourists, still it is a real must in Tunxi since these streets are certainly the reason you stayed there (probably on your way to the Yellow Mountain) ...
So, since you're already there, I definitely recommend a 1 or 2 hours stroll ... plus a meal of course.
Huangshan Tuxi Old Street, Huangshan Attractions
Old Street (老街) has a plethora of souvenir shops. The old architecture and shops, and good restaurants, make Tunxi Old Street one of the region's favorite tourist spots.
Highlights: shopping, Huangshan Ink Factory, Anhui architecture, local food
shopping, Huangshan Ink Factory, Anhui architecture, local food Popular activities: Sightseeing, shopping, dining, photography, walking along the street, and exploring the back streets
Sightseeing, shopping, dining, photography, walking along the street, and exploring the back streets Suited to: architecture enthusiasts, souvenir shoppers
architecture enthusiasts, souvenir shoppers Suggested things to shop for: Four Treasures of the Study (文房四宝) and the local teas.
Four Treasures of the Study (文房四宝) and the local teas. Suggested time for visit: four hours
four hours Claim to fame: The old architecture and street have been a setting for 100 movies.
Highlights
Anhui Architecture
Tunxi Old Street up close Tunxi Old Street up close
Tunxi Old Street was a merchant area. The structures date from the Ming (1368–1644) and Qing (1644–1911) eras. The style of architecture is called the Anhui style or Huizhou (鰴州) architecture. The look of these structures is similar to that of the Hongcun merchant houses. It is the best-preserved section of Huangshan City.
The buildings are made of brick and wood and have two or three floors. Although the shops on Tunxi Old Street are not very large, they are deep, allowing for a shop in the front and space in the back for a home, workshop, or storeroom.
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The Shops
Tunxi Old Street Tunxi Old Street
Tunxi Old Street is 1½ kilometers long and 7 meters wide, and it is lined on both sides by long lines of shops. About a kilometer stretch of it is pedestrian only.
Japanese tourists particularly frequent the tea shops and calligraphy shops. Huangshan Maofeng 黃山毛峰 and Taiping Houkui 太平猴魁 are favorite local types of Chinese tea.
The Ink Factory
Tunxi's old ink factory is famous regionally. It still produces ink blocks in the traditional way. These and the other "treasures of the study" (palletes, calligraphy pens, and paper) are on sale there along with traditional seals, which can be carved to your specification. On a tour you can see how these commodities have been produced for centuries.
Travel Essentials
Address: Lao Jie, Tunxi Qu, Huangshan City, Anhui Province
Lao Jie, Tunxi Qu, Huangshan City, Anhui Province Open: shops open till late at night
shops open till late at night Entry: free
How to Get to Tunxi Old Street
From the bus or train station it takes about 5 minutes by taxi.
From Huangshan Airport a cab costs 30 RMB, and the airport express bus costs 6 RMB.
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Nearby Attractions
A Yellow Mountain sea of cloud A Yellow Mountain sea of cloud
The Yellow Mountains (1½ hours) is legendary in China, the star attraction of the region. It is known for the beautiful mountains and hiking paths.
Wuyuan Village (1½ hours, 85 km south) is known for the annual 'sea of flowers'. The yellow rape flowers bloom in March and April.
Hong Ancient Village (1½ hours) is the most famous and popular World Heritage listed village in the area. There are well-preserved historic courtyard gardens and houses.
Touring Tunxi
Touring Tunxi with China Highlights Touring Tunxi with China Highlights
Tunxi, downtown Huangshan City, is a popular staging ground for trips to the Yellow Mountains and nearby attractions with its bus and train stations, and Huangshan's airport 9 kilometers (5 miles) away. Backpackers and low budget tourists often stay around Old Street for its good dining and less-expensive hotels (than at the famed tourist spots). It is an interesting place to amble around and rest before or after going to the Yellow Mountains.
When schools and universities are on summer vacation in July and August, there is the biggest influx of families and young people eager to go to the Yellow Mountains. To avoid crowds, avoid Friday, Saturday, and Sunday during high season, and the major holidays.
Let us help you make reservations in advance. In high season or on major holidays, Huangshan flights and hotel accommodations are relatively more expensive, and train tickets may be difficult to obtain.
Tunxi Tours
Our 3-day Essence of the Yellow Mountains and Tunxi Tour includes a visit to the Old Street. Or contact us to tailor-make a tour including Tunxi according to your interests and time constraints.
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Introduction to Tunxi Ancient Street in Huangshan.
Tunxi, a city seeded in history, is a great destination for tourists visiting Huangshan. It is the major gateway to Huangshan. It is located about an hour away from Huangshan Mountain. Tunxi Ancient Street has budget accommodations, restaurants and many unique things to offer. The restored part of the Tunxi Ancient Street is particularly beautiful at night when the red lanterns lining the river are lit, and create a very festive atmosphere. Tunxi Ancient Street also has one of China's best antique markets.
Built during the Song Dynasty (960-1279), the deep and narrow Tunxi Ancient Street, is paved with maroon flagstones. The buildings are built in traditional Hui ethnic minority group style. Most of them are only three stories high, with a stone foundation and brick walls. The houses are decorated with gray tiles, exquisite wood carvings, white walls, and horse-head double eaves on the roofs.
Tunxi Ancient Street is lined with antique shops, medicine shops, teahouses, restaurants and galleries. Many of these shops have been open for more than a hundred years. Many of the shops carry "Four Treasures of the Study,” which include the paintbrush, ink, ink stone, and paper used by artists to create traditional Chinese paintings. Huangshan is famous throughout China for creating the best handmade artist supplies. The shops, workshops and houses there have continued to maintain the characteristics and operational layout of ancient stores. These stores also continue to use the same methods of production, display and operation as they did in ancient times. Here, you can see traditional Chinese curios and handicrafts, such as brush calligraphy, ink painting and woodcarving. Surrounded by so many beautiful works of art, the Tunxi Ancient Street is similar to a simple and unadorned artist's gallery. It is a paradise for tourists to buy souvenirs rich in Chinese culture at comparatively low prices and is a must-see before or after hiking to Huangshan.
