Blog – Page 3 – Discover Wuyuan

The world’s best tourism villages in 2023

October 31, 2023

The World’s Best Tourism Villages initiative was launched by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in collaboration with other global organizations. The program aims to highlight unique villages worldwide that excel in sustainable tourism practices, cultural preservation, and offering authentic experiences to visitors.

I am a big fan of rural travel. For travelers like me who love a slower pace, natural scenery and local traditions, I am so excited to find out that the UNWTO has just put out its list for the world’s best tourism villages 2023. The selected 54 villages across the world ” are leading the way in nurturing rural areas and preserving landscapes, cultural diversity, local values and culinary traditions”, according to UNWTO.

From the list, one village stands out that makes me really proud: Huangling Village in China, my hometown. Here, I would like to give my fellow travelers a tour of Huangling Village in China.

Huangling village is regarded as one of the prettiest villages in China. Perched on the top of a mountain, Huangling is home to a host of original and restored heritage houses and buildings. This ancient village showcases a spectacular view of the blooming canola fields in the spring and boasts colorful harvest scenes every autumn—making Huangling an architecture lover’s delight and a photographer’s paradise.

Endangered birds found home in Wuyuan

July 23, 2021

Wuyuan gets attention from bird lovers and photographers around the world for its varied and rare birds. People here are very conscious about protecting and preserving its environment and bird population, as a result, more than 300 bird speices find their home in Wuyuan.

The mysterious blue-crowned thrushes have a population of fewer than 250 individuals worldwide, its scientific name is Dryonastes courtoisi. This critically endangered species is found exclusively in China. As its name suggests, it has a blue crown on the top of its head. Its face is black while its back is covered in olive feathers. The chest and neck are golden yellows.

Rao Heyuan National Wetland Park

In Wuyuan, Blue-crowned Laughingthrushes are known to nest in a wood area between a tea plantation and the river. One of the species’ most important habitats is Rao Heyuan National Wetland Park. Inside the park, there is a science museum that dedicates to these unique birds. If you are a bird lover or a keen photographer, you should pay a visit to this park while in Wuyuan. Sometimes these birds would show themselves and you might be the really lucky one to catch a glimpse of these extremely rare creatures.

Hui Cuisine

May 19, 2021

China has a long and rich culinary history. China’s ” Eight Cuisines” are well-known worldwide, Hui Cuisine is one of them. Many people think that Hui Cuisine refers to cuisine in the Chinese province of Anhui, but in fact, it refers to Huizhou cuisine. Huizhou is a region in southeastern China, now located in Huangshan city in Anhui Province. Huizhou consisted of six counties and Wuyuan was one of them.

Wuyuan cuisine is considered Hui Cuisine. The signature cooking techniques of the cuisine incorporate stewing and steaming, not much frying. Dishes tend to be steamed meat/vegetables with rice flour and paste dishes like paste tofu, paste vegetables, etc. The traditional Wuyuan dishes include Steamed Red Perch, Steamed Belly Pork in Rice Flour and Spices, Paste Tofu, etc.

Local people in villages still live a traditional lifestyle. Most households grow their own vegetables in their backyard or nearby land. Visitors who choose to stay in the countryside not only appreciate the slow lifestyle but also enjoy the home-cooked meals the host provides. With freshly-picked vegetables and local-sourced specialty herbs, you have a chance to taste really authentic Hui Cuisine!

Find Rare Panda Birds in Wuyuan

May 19, 2021

The pied falconet, also known as the white-legged falconet, is a species of bird of prey in the family Falconidae. The falconets found in Wuyun are mainly black and white with distinctive black shadows around their eyes just like a panda and they are small, fluffy, and adorable. Due to its appearance similar to a panda and its rarety, these birds are also known as panda birds by locals. Falconet prey is suitably small, ranging from butterflies, moths, and dragonflies, to lizards, cicadas, and even small birds.

The pied falconets mainly live in Asia. You can find these birds in Eastern China and Yunnan province, but Wuyuan is the place where panda birds consistently show themselves and has the most population. Specifically, Xiaoqi Village in Wuyuan is where you have the best chance to spot these rare and cute creatures.

Xiaoqi Village is located 45 km northeast of central Wuyuan. It is an ecologically well-preserved village with many types of old trees, among them are some huge ancient camphor trees, which the falconets build nest holes and use those bare branches as lookout points. There is a guest house, where most bird lovers and photographers stay and are treated to views of the pied falconets from its rooftop deck.

Wuyuan, One of the Best Ecotourism Destinations in China

May 16, 2021

Ecotourism means responsible travel to natural destinations that help conserve the local environment. While the hustling and bustling metropolitan city of Shanghai might not be an ideal destination for an ecotourist, Wuyuan County which is only three and half hours by train offers an eco-friendly array of natural experiences for travelers, ideal for a quiet retreat, walking, hiking and families.

Wuyuan County was developed over 1,000 years ago during the Tang Dynasty. With distinctive whitewashed walls and black-tiled roofs surrounded by lush green hills, clear rivers, and rice fields, the ancient villages in Anhui Province are among the most picturesque in China. Locals who live in the villages are still leading a simple and laid-back rural life that attracts most urban people to Wuyuan to enjoy and rewind.

From the cascading sea of canola flowers blooming in the spring, old maple trees turning fiery red in the fall to mandarin ducks, rare panda birds, and waterfalls, Wuyuan is the ecotourism destination you don’t want to miss.

The world’s best tourism villages in 2023

Endangered birds found home in Wuyuan

Rao Heyuan National Wetland Park

Hui Cuisine

Find Rare Panda Birds in Wuyuan

Wuyuan, One of the Best Ecotourism Destinations in China

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