Huizhou Ancient City

Huizhou Ancient City (Huizhou Gucheng) in Shexian County is the historic heart of the old Huizhou prefecture and one of China's four best-preserved ancient walled cities. For more than a thousand years it was the administrative and cultural capital of the Huizhou region, the homeland of the wealthy Huizhou merchants and the cradle of "Hui studies" (Huixue) — a tradition spanning architecture, woodcarving, ink-making, opera and cuisine. Only about an hour from downtown Huangshan, it is the best place to understand the culture behind the white-walled, black-tiled villages of Hongcun and Xidi.

What to See

The walled town packs several landmarks into a compact, walkable area. The reconstructed Huizhou Prefecture Yamen (Huizhou Fuya) shows how the region was once governed, while the towering Xu Guo Stone Archway — a rare eight-pillar Ming-dynasty memorial arch nicknamed the "Eastern Arch of Triumph" — is the symbol of the city. Doushan Street, praised as "the first street of Jiangnan," is lined with Ming and Qing merchant mansions, carved brick gateways and ancestral halls. Other highlights include the Hui Garden (Huiyuan), the Xin'an Stele Garden, Taibai Tower by the river, the riverside Yuliang Ancient Dam, and the Tao Xingzhi Memorial honouring the famous educator born here.

Wandering the Old Streets

Beyond the main sights, the pleasure of Huizhou is simply getting lost in its stone lanes. Narrow alleys thread between high firewall gables, opening onto courtyards, tea houses and family workshops still making ink sticks and inkstones.

Opening Hours

The scenic area is open daily, generally 08:00–17:00, extending to 07:30–17:00 during major national holidays such as National Day and the Spring Festival. Allow at least half a day to cover the main sites.

Tickets

A through-ticket covering the main attractions costs around CNY 100 for adults. Concession tickets (around CNY 50) apply to children, students and seniors aged 60–65, while children under 1.2 m and visitors 65+ enter free with valid ID. Buy combined tickets online or at the gate.

Getting There

Shexian sits about 25–30 km from downtown Huangshan (Tunxi). The fastest option is the Hangzhou–Huangshan high-speed railway to Shexian North Station, roughly 10–15 minutes from the old city by taxi. By road it is about a one-hour drive from Tunxi, with regular intercity buses also available.

Best Time to Visit

Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) offer the most comfortable weather and the clearest light for photographing the white walls and grey tiles. The surrounding countryside is especially beautiful when the rapeseed flowers bloom in early spring.