Chaji｜A Lesser-Known Ancient Village in Southern Anhui

Chaji is a thousand-year-old Huizhou-style ancient village located in Jing County, Xuancheng City, Anhui Province, situated between Huangshan and Jiuhua Mountain. Here is a travel guide for Chaji Ancient Village:

Transportation Guide

- External Transportation: Take the high-speed train to "Jing County Station," then take a taxi for about 1 hour or the "Jing County-Chaji" shuttle bus, with the last bus at 16:30. For self-driving, it takes about 3 hours from Hefei or Nanjing. Navigate to "Chaji Ancient Town Scenic Area Parking Lot," parking fee is 10 RMB/day.
- Internal Transportation: The core area centers around the main street "Xuxi Road" and "Honglou Bridge," which can be explored on foot without the need for sightseeing vehicles.

Recommended Attractions

- Degongting House: A Yuan Dynasty "menfang-style" building featuring the rare "Five Phoenix Tower" structure, with exquisite brick carvings of "Carp Leaping over the Dragon Gate" on the gate arch.
- Baogong Ancestral Hall: A Ming Dynasty building showcasing the essence of wood carving art, with the "Carp Leaping over the Dragon Gate" openwork carving being exceptional.
- Honggong Ancestral Hall: A Qing Dynasty "Paoma Tower" design, with a hidden embroidered bridal chamber on the second floor, featuring a unique architectural style.
- Honglou Bridge: A Ming Dynasty stone bridge with three small red towers on top. In the early morning mist, the bridge and its reflection create a picturesque scene, perfect for photography.

Accommodation Recommendations

- Guangyuan Building: Starting at 128 RMB, riverside scenic rooms with a self-built viewing platform on the third floor overlooking the entire village. It is the location for Chaji promotional photos, and guests can climb the tower for free to photograph the starry sky.
- Chaji Sanxi Homestay: Starting at 400 RMB, newly opened in 2024, featuring panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows and original wood-style design. The bathtub faces the green mountains, allowing guests to soak while enjoying the view.
- Tianshentang: Starting at 150 RMB, renovated from Ming and Qing Dynasty old houses. The WiFi password is hidden in the courtyard couplets, offering guests an authentic ancient house experience.

Food Recommendations

- Chaji Mao Tofu: Best enjoyed at "Chashi Tofu Workshop," featuring mold-fermented tofu paired with chili sauce, crispy outside and tender inside.
- Qinyu Steamed Egg: Made with the locally unique Qinyu fish, offering a fresh and delicious taste.
- Osmanthus Rice Wine: Homemade by farmers, with about 2% alcohol content, sweet and fragrant, perfect for tasting.

Suggested Itineraries

- One-Day Highlights: Visit Degongting House and Baogong Ancestral Hall in the morning, sketch by the Xuxi stream; in the afternoon, tour Honggong Ancestral Hall and Honglou Bridge, fish by the stream; at night, enjoy a lantern night tour and taste rice wine.
- Two-Day Immersive Experience: On the first day, study ancient architecture by visiting ancestral halls and bridges, and experience intangible cultural heritage crafts; on the second day, pick tea or hike in the back mountain, and buy dried bamboo shoots and other souvenirs before returning.

Practical Tips

- Tickets: Admission is 65 RMB, possibly free after 4 PM, or save 10 RMB by purchasing through homestays. Students and seniors get half price.
- Customs: Do not accept copper coins, do not touch stone lions, and do not ask about ancestral hall plaques; respect local customs.
- Dress Code: It is recommended to wear cotton-linen long shirts and old cloth shoes, which are slip-resistant and photogenic. Local tailors can custom-make them for about 50 RMB.