Xin'an River Landscape Gallery
新安江山水画廊
A boat trip down the Xin'an River from Shendu Town in Shexian, with Huizhou villages, rapeseed flowers and sun-dried crops reflected in the water; a water-based day trip from Huangshan.
The Xin'an River is the upper reaches of the Qiantang River. Along about 50 km of river from Shendu Town in Shexian to Jiekou Town, mountains rise on both sides, and Huizhou villages are scattered along the banks, earning it the name “Landscape Gallery.” Sightseeing is mainly by boat: board at Shendu Pier and pass Jiusha Village (sun-dried crops and ancient houses), Zhangtan (a thousand-year-old camphor tree) and Miantan (folk performances). You can also get off at Zhangtan to visit an old Huizhou village. The combined admission and boat ticket costs about 150 yuan (the round trip takes about 3 hours, with prices varying slightly by route), and commentary is provided on board. The most classic scene is in late March to early April, when layers of rapeseed flowers cover the banks. In autumn, crops are sun-dried and the autumn foliage turns. Shendu Town is a historic Huizhou ferry port, where you can eat Shendu bundle dumplings and Xin'an River fish. Getting there: Tunxi city center is about 45 km and roughly 1 hour from Shendu; buses run from the Shexian bus station to Shendu. It is usually a day trip from Tunxi or Shexian, and it pairs well with Huizhou Ancient City and Tangyue Archways (visit the old city in the morning and take the boat in the afternoon, or vice versa). Note: boat schedules are posted at the pier each day, with the first boat at about 08:30 and the last at about 15:00 in peak season. Boats may be suspended during the flood season or in heavy fog. It is windy on the river, so bring a jacket.
Opening hours
Pier approx. 08:00–16:00; check the day's sailing notices
Nearby sights
- Yangchan Earthen Houses
- Shitan Village
- Maihua Fishing Village
- Poshan Village
- Yuliang Dam & Ancient Street
- Huizhou Ancient City
- Xiongcun Village
- Bao Family Garden