Shitai

The primeval forest of Guniujiang, the "Western Huangshan" of southern Anhui, pairs with the Qiupu River from Li Bai's poems, while Dashan selenium-rich village, Xianyu Mountain's ancient Huizhou road and a cluster of karst caves make this an off-the-beaten-path mountain retreat.

Shitai & Guniujiang is in Shitai County, Chizhou, Anhui, deep in the mountains of southern Anhui between Huangshan, Mount Jiuhua and Taiping Lake. It bills itself as "China's most beautiful unspoiled mountain county"; the county town is about 45 km from Mount Jiuhua and about 70 km from Huangshan. The main scenery falls along three routes. The southern route is the Guniujiang National Nature Reserve, historically called the "Western Huangshan": from the Longmen Scenic Area at the north gate, follow the stream to the four-tiered waterfall and Longmen Pool, and stay overnight in Yanjia Old Village at the foot of the mountain. The southwestern route covers the ancient Huizhou road over Jugenling on Xianyu Mountain and Dashan selenium-rich village, whose tea gardens, longevity village and guesthouses are ideal for a slow summer stay. Around the county town are the Qiupu River that Li Bai visited five times (fishing-village rafting, Baizhang Cliff), rafting at Hengdu Guaitan, Penglai Fairy Cave, Zuishanye Canyon, and Yulong Cave in the east near Taiping Lake. Best seasons: alpine azaleas and new tea in April–May, stream rafting to beat the heat in June–August, and autumn colors along the Qiupu River and in the old villages in October–November. Getting there: the Jinan–Qimen Expressway has a Shitai exit, so driving is easiest; alternatively, take the high-speed train to Chizhou or Huangshan North and transfer to a bus. Suggested 2–3 days: day 1 for the caves and the Qiupu River around town, day 2 for Guniujiang, day 3 for Xianyu Mountain and Dashan Village. Note: mountain roads are full of hairpin bends, so watch for rockfalls and rising water in the rainy season; rafting depends on water levels, and tickets and opening hours are subject to the scenic areas' official announcements.

Top sights

• Guniujiang Scenic Area – A national nature reserve once known as “West Huangshan.” Primeval forest, a four-tier waterfall and streams running through the Longmen Po…
• Yanjia Ancient Village – Huizhou-style ancient village at the northern gate of Guniujiang, home to descendants of the Eastern Han hermit Yan Ziling. Old ancestral h…
• Qiupu River Scenic Area – Poetic river celebrated by Li Bai, who visited the Qiupu five times and wrote the 'Qiupu Songs'. Where the river is wide and the water clea…
• Baizhangya Waterfall – Canyon waterfall within the Qiupu River Scenic Area. The main Baizhangya Waterfall drops over 100 metres, and along 3 km of stream there ar…
• Guaitan Rafting – Rapids rafting on the upper Hongling River, a headwater of the Qiupu River, covering about 4 km with five dangerous rapids. Along the banks…
• Xianyu Mountain & Jugenling Ancient Road – A flagstone Huizhou ancient trail climbs Jugenling on Xianyu Mountain, a spur of Huangshan, passing old pavilions, stone tablets, and the J…
• Dashan Selenium-rich Village – A longevity village in the heart of Xianyu Mountain, with selenium-rich tea gardens, Longtan Waterfall, and nearly 200 guesthouses, a model…
• Zuishanye Scenic Area – A gorge recreation area just outside the county seat, where Huangya Grand Canyon offers a 5D sky glass bridge and a long zipline, and the C…
• Penglai Fairy Cave – Shitai's first scenic spot and a 4A karst cave system about 3 km long across four levels, famed for its white crystal formations known as t…
• Yulong Cave – An underground river cave in Qidu Town near Taiping Lake, with a cave mouth shaped like an open crocodile's jaws, where visitors can take b…

Where to eat

• Sanjiaolin Local Cuisine – The most popular local restaurant in Shitai County town. Snail chicken and Shitai one-pot stew are must-orders, and the…
• Julong Guniujiang Hotel Chinese Restaurant – The Chinese restaurant inside the hotel at the entrance to Guniujiang Scenic Area, known for its stream mixed-fish hotp…

Itineraries

• Southern Anhui in the Footsteps of Li Bai – From Caishiji to Jingting Mountain, Taohuatan, Mount Jiuhua, and the Qiupu River, explore the southern Anhui of Li Bai'…
• Southern Anhui Landscapes & Ancient Villages Grand Loop – Depart from Hefei to loop through Mount Jiuhua, Guniujiang, Mount Huangshan, the six counties of Huizhou, and Taohuatan.