Things to do in Shitai

When visiting Chizhou, the first stop is the Guniujiang Scenic Area. It's lush and green everywhere you look. We happened to be there on a rainy day, so the air was fresh, the birds were singing, the flowers were blooming, and the negative oxygen ion content was extremely high. It was so comfortable!

I was passing through on a business trip and had heard so much about this place before, so I made sure to visit as soon as possible. And it truly lived up to its reputation! The attractions were well-organized and the overall experience was great. I had a wonderful time and wasn't tired at all. It was so much fun!

Arrive early to get a vehicle pass at the visitor center and drive up the mountain yourself. Later, you'll have to take the scenic area bus for 50 yuan per person. The scenery is beautiful and the air is very fresh. A hidden gem in southern Anhui for health and wellness: A selenium-rich village, Seven-Colored Jade Valley, Shenlong Valley, the Jugen Pass Ancient Huizhou Road, and a cloud sea viewing platform all in one place – a place for "lung cleansing, slow living, and avoiding crowds." A 2-day, 1-night itinerary is ideal – visit Seven-Colored Jade Valley/Shenlong Valley in the afternoon, stay overnight in Dashan Village, and wake up early the next morning to see the sea of ​​clouds, then hike a section of the Ancient Huizhou Road – not tiring.

It's 200 meters from Zuishanye Scenic Area, which is very convenient. The B&B is not as big as expected, but it is quite exquisite. The service during National Day can also keep up, and the fireworks on Mid-Autumn Festival night are well received!

This rafting spot is highly recommended. It has good currents and drops, and you don't need to paddle. It's thrilling and refreshing, and the whole trip can take two hours. Adults and children alike enjoy it… Having done rafting in Anji and Jingxian, I feel that Shitai Grand Canyon is the best. The scenic area is well-managed and orderly. Even on weekdays, the queues aren't too long, and they even gave out popsicles to cool you down on a hot day. The water is also very clear.

Qijing Mountain winds through the mountains in the northeast of Shitai County, with an altitude of 500-1100 meters. The area is 74 square kilometers, and is full of mountains, peaks and rocks. Nearly a thousand natural villages are scattered among the mountains. The tea forests on the hillside are lush and green, and the winding paths are ancient and quiet. We seem to have come to a paradise.

The Qiupu River Scenic Area, located in Shitai County, Chizhou City, Anhui Province, is a national 4A-level scenic area. The Qiupu River stretches 180 kilometers, its waters as clear as autumn, and its banks offer picturesque scenery. Tang Dynasty poet Li Bai visited the area numerous times, leaving behind 45 poems. The scenic area boasts ten distinctive attractions, including Baizhang Cliff and Qiupu Fishing Village. Visitors can enjoy a variety of activities, including rafting, jungle trekking, and hot spring wellness retreats.

The water was crystal clear, not thrilling or exciting at all. You have to paddle yourself, making it perfect for a leisurely stroll. Stopping in the shade to watch the small fish is incredibly pleasant. After the rafting trip, you can grab a milk tea or coffee at the visitor center, and kids can catch fish in the artificial pond – it's a lot of fun. The most amazing part was taking the sightseeing bus back to the parking lot. The road seemed to be under development, but it was incredibly pristine and beautiful. I doubt this kind of natural, free-flowing scenery will remain once it's fully developed. I hope the scenic area can preserve its unique character and avoid becoming generic.

Ciyun Ancient Cave is an underground art palace, and its karst cave landscape is amazing. In the 3,500-meter-long fantasy journey in the cave, stalactites are in various shapes and forms, and under the embellishment of light and shadow, they are transformed into fairyland paintings such as "Heavenly Girl Scattering Flowers" and "South China Sea Guanyin". The underground river flows in a winding way, and the boat shuttle adds to the mysterious artistic conception. The unique Buddhist filial piety culture theme blends with the geological wonders, giving the tour a deep connotation. The cave is cold and humid all year round, so it is recommended to prepare a coat and wear non-slip shoes. As the perfect crystallization of nature and humanity, this place is definitely a secret place that cannot be missed in southern Anhui!

I like the Dragon Valley very much. It has good air and many waterfalls. However, the mountain road is narrower, the road condition is not very good, and the parking space on the mountain is relatively small. People who do not like to challenge their driving skills do not recommend self-driving. Up in the mountains, there is the feeling of dark willows and bright flowers, the valley is still quite large, rape flowers blossom layer by layer. But it seems that every family in the village is building a happy farmhouse, and the house is in a hurry to insert needles, so it is more comfortable to live outside the mountains. I feel that building houses here should put environmental protection in an important position, improve sewage treatment system, centralized treatment of white plastic waste, reduce littering and so on. If the environment and water are polluted, fewer people come, and finally the income of villagers is affected.