Before visiting Hongcun, I was already drawn in by its reputation as a "village in a painting," and after seeing it in person, I found it even more beautiful than I expected! Buying tickets on the official website a day in advance saved me 20 yuan, and for only 94 yuan, I could enter the park repeatedly for three days – an incredible value!
I rushed into the scenic area at 6:30 am. There was no one vying for a good spot at the South Lake Bridge; the blue tiles and white walls were reflected on the calm lake surface. The ink-wash painting style from "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" seemed to come alive. A quick wide-angle shot with my phone was met with comments on social media asking if it was AI-generated. At 4 pm, I waited at Moon Pond. The sunset gilded the white walls, and the water reflected a "double moon spectacle." After 40 minutes of waiting, I finally got the best spot – the final photos were well worth the wait! The wood carvings at Chengzhitang are a must-see. Shining a phone flashlight at an angle, you can clearly see the eyelashes of the children in the "Hundred Children Celebrating Spring" scene – truly deserving of its title as the "Folk Palace Museum" of Huizhou.
For accommodation, I chose a guesthouse near the South Gate, just a few minutes' walk from the scenic area. The window offered a view of South Lake. The owners were incredibly welcoming, helping with my luggage and providing detailed explanations of the local customs and culture. They even made sure I arrived safely before I checked out. For food, I highly recommend the mildly spicy stinky mandarin fish at Deyuelou Restaurant. The skin is crispy, the flesh is shaped like garlic cloves – it smells pungent but tastes delicious! Also, try the fried hairy tofu sold by the old lady near the Wang Family Ancestral Hall, sprinkled with chili powder – crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and incredibly flavorful.
Avoid these pitfalls: The cobblestone paths are extremely uncomfortable on your feet, so definitely don't wear high heels; a bowl of beef noodles inside the scenic area costs 50 yuan, which is not worth it. The "Laozaotou" restaurant outside South Lake offers a much better deal at 38 yuan, including stinky mandarin fish and braised pork with dried bamboo shoots; the "Huangshan Maofeng" tea sold for 10 yuan for 3 packs by the roadside is mostly stale tea. Look for the Hongcun Post Office at the South Gate exit, where you can sample the 68 yuan can of pre-rain tea.
Whether you're admiring the Hui-style architecture, taking stunning ink-wash style photos, or savoring authentic Hui cuisine, Hongcun is worth slowing down and savoring. I'm already missing the morning mist, the evening smoke, and the fresh aromas on my tongue. I'll definitely come back again!