5 Days Southwestern Anhui Province Tour

Arrive in Hefei, the capital of Anhui Province. Tour Anhui Provincial Museum, the Temple and the Tomb of Bao Zheng, the Former Residence of Li Hongzhang, Museum of Anhui Celebrities, etc. Stay in Hefei for the night.

After breakfast, take car/van for Mount Tianzhu along the highway (120 kilometers, about 2 hours). Mount Tianzhu, also called Mount Wanshan or Mount Qianshan, is situated in Qianshan County. Tainzhu Peak, the highest peak of Mount Tianzhu, which stands 1,488 meters above sea level, has a projecting shape like a pillar, but by hiding itself behind a cluster of mountain peaks mysteriously, veiling its splendid scene of propping up into the sky and towering other peaks in the clough until the sightseer climbs up to its top. The scenic area of Mount Tianzhu covers an area of 82 square kilometers. With two cableways built, its infrastructure construction has been progressing fast these years and is promising in the tourism of Anhui Province. After climbing the Mount by cableway, visit scenic spots including the Xiangbi Rock, Mysterious Cave, the Baiyue Terrace, Tianzhu Peak and the Liandan Lake. In the afternoon visit the famous Temple Sanzu of the Chan sect, valleys and streams, cliff and the rock inscriptions at the foot of Mount Tianzhu, and also drifting over the Wan River by taking a bamboo raft. Stay for night at Qianshan County Seat.

Tour the Qianshan County Seat. Qianshan, historically called Shuzhou Prefecture and is the birthplace of the Qiao Sisters the Elder, the two best-known beauties in the Three Kingdoms Period, and also the place where the famous love-story of "Peacocks Fly Southeast" happened. The attractions there include theTower Jueji built in Tang Dynasty, the Memorial for the novelist Zhang Henshui and the Memorial for Peking Opera pioneering artist Cheng Changgeng. After lunch, depart for Taihu County by bus ride (40 kms) and cruise the beautiful Huating Lake, a famous man-made valley lake surrounded by mountains in West Anhui with clear water and beautiful scenery. Many Buddhist temples assemble on the mountains by the Huating Lake, of which temples of the Chan sect and the Erzu Chan Hall in Lion Hill are the most famous. Along northwest bank of the lake, there is Tangwan Hot Spring for taking a bath and rest. Stay for night at Taihu County.

After breakfast drive to Anqing (40 kms). Anqing City, with a long history, is situated on the northern bank of the Yangtse River, southwest of Anhui Province. It was once the capital of Anhui Province for quite a long time and is one of China's outstanding tourist cities, with the Facing-the-River Temple, Tower Zhenfeng and Tomb of Cheng Duxiu worth sightseeing. Anqing is the origin of Huangmei Opera and the birthplace of famous artists such as Yan Fengying, Ma Lan and Han Zaifen. In the day, you may visit the well-known Anqing Huangmei Opera School and in the evening may enjoy the native Huangmei Opera performance. Stay for night at Anqing.

After breakfast, leave for your next tourist destination.