Pre-departure Thoughts

The decision to visit Wuyuan came suddenly. As someone who has lived in the modern metropolis of Shenzhen for years, I had grown accustomed to the fast-paced life surrounded by steel and concrete. Every day, I would wake up at seven, squeeze onto the subway, work at my computer until nine in the evening, and spend weekends in my rental apartment watching shows and playing games. This rhythm made me feel like a precision machine, operating according to schedule.

Until that day, when I saw photos of Wuyuan's rapeseed flower fields on my social media feed, that sea of gold instantly struck my heart. In the photos, terraced fields full of golden rapeseed flowers created striking contrasts with the black tiles and white walls of Hui-style architecture, while distant mountains appeared like a Chinese ink painting. I suddenly realized it might be time to escape this concrete jungle and find a sanctuary for my soul.

That night, I booked my flights and accommodation to Wuyuan. My colleagues said I was too impulsive to depart without detailed travel plans. But I felt that sometimes the most beautiful journeys come from spontaneous decisions. With anticipation for the unknown and a hint of nervousness, I packed my bags and embarked on this journey to find inner peace.

Impressions of Wuyuan

Wuyuan is called "China's Most Beautiful Countryside," and this title is not an exaggeration. Standing on the viewing platform at Huangling Ancient Village, I saw golden rapeseed flowers covering the mountains, layers of Hui-style buildings in the distance, and red peppers and corn drying nearby. This visual impact instantly made me understand what it means to "step into a painting."

Morning in Wuyuan is shrouded in thin mist, with mountain ranges appearing and disappearing in the distance, and rapeseed flowers gleaming softly in the dawn light. Before tourists arrive, the entire ancient village is so quiet it feels like time has stopped. Walking along the stone paths, listening to birdsong, breathing the fresh air, I felt as if I had traveled back hundreds of years.

At noon, sunlight disperses the morning mist, and the entire valley seems coated in gold. The distant Hui-style buildings shine in the sunlight, with the horse-head walls clearly visible. As tourists gradually increase, the ancient village maintains its unique tranquility. I found a spot with a broad view, quietly watching tourists take photos in the rapeseed fields and local elderly drying crops in front of their houses – scenes that made me feel particularly warm.

Evening in Wuyuan has its own charm. The setting sun's rays fall on the rapeseed fields, bathing the entire valley in golden-red light. Smoke rises from distant chimneys, and the air fills with the aroma of cooking. At this moment, I finally understood why ancient poets used phrases like "watching sturdy pines in the misty dusk, still composed as wild clouds fly past" to describe evening scenes.

Experience of Slow Living

In Wuyuan, time seems to slow down. I stayed in a renovated old house that maintained its Hui-style architectural features despite modern interior facilities. The owner told me the house was over 200 years old. Every wooden board and tile tells stories of the passing years.

In the morning, I would often be awakened by birdsong. Opening the wooden window, distant mountains appeared and disappeared in the morning mist, with the fragrance of soil and grass in the air. These mornings were completely different from those in Shenzhen – no harsh alarm clocks, no hurried footsteps, only nature's most primitive sounds.

During the day, I enjoyed sitting in the rattan chair in the courtyard, sunbathing. Sunlight filtered through the ancient wooden eaves onto my body, creating a warm feeling. The courtyard had several osmanthus trees that filled the air with fragrance when blooming. Occasionally butterflies would flutter past, dancing among the flowers. In such moments, time seemed to cease existing.

At night, I often sat around the stove chatting with the innkeeper's family. Local farm tea brewed on the stove, its aroma mixing with the scent of firewood, creating a particularly pleasant atmosphere. The innkeeper would tell many local stories about the village's history and their family's heritage, each story deepening my understanding of this land.

What moved me most was the innkeeper's family's attitude toward life. They didn't pursue material luxury but possessed the most authentic happiness. They said living in Wuyuan is about slowing down and experiencing every detail of life. This reminded me of my days in Shenzhen, where I seemed to always be chasing something, forgetting what life should really be like.

Exploring Rural Culture

During my days in Wuyuan, I deeply experienced true rural culture. Every corner here tells historical stories: footprints on stone paths record the passage of time, carved flowers under eaves tell craftsmen's stories. During the Sun-Drying Festival, the whole village busy drying crops, colorful produce gleaming in the sunlight, creating a beautiful picture.

Wuyuan's architectural art amazed me. The Hui-style buildings here aren't just simple dwellings but artistic presentations. Every horse-head wall is carefully designed, every carving contains craftsmen's dedication. The innkeeper told me these buildings were built brick by brick by ancestors, with every detail having special meaning.

I particularly enjoyed observing the wood carvings. These carvings not only serve as decorations but express ancient people's aspirations for a better life. Some depict scenes of prosperity with blooming flowers, others show fish symbolizing annual surplus, and some portray auspicious dragons and phoenixes. Each carving tells a story, revealing ancient wisdom and hopes.

In the village, I discovered many interesting folk customs. For instance, people here particularly value door god culture. Every household has door god paintings on their main doors, said to ward off evil. Red pepper strings hang on door frames, not only for drying but symbolizing prosperity.

Most impressive was the ancestral hall culture. These halls are places for clan gatherings and worship, important carriers of family culture. I was fortunate to visit a 300-year-old ancestral hall preserving precious artifacts like genealogy books and plaques. Through these artifacts, I seemed to see this clan's rise and fall over centuries.

During the Sun-Drying Festival, the whole village immersed in joyful atmosphere. Every household brings out harvested crops for drying – red peppers, yellow corn, orange pumpkins – colorful produce decorating the village like a palette. Villagers also hold various folk activities during this time, including dragon and lion dances and folk craft demonstrations, making the village extremely lively.

Local Cuisine

Wuyuan's cuisine delighted me. Every dish here is full of rural character, using the freshest local ingredients. Morning tofu pudding, afternoon Huizhou stinky mandarin fish, evening farmhouse dishes – each meal was a taste exploration.

Breakfast was my most anticipated moment. The innkeeper would wake up at five every morning to prepare breakfast. Fresh tofu pudding made from yellow beans ground with mountain spring water had a delicate texture, perfect with pickled vegetables and fried dough sticks – simple yet delicious. Sometimes there would be glutinous rice steamed in special bamboo tubes, carrying a subtle bamboo fragrance.

Lunch dishes were also distinctive. Most memorable was Huizhou stinky mandarin fish, which has a special initial smell but tastes delicious. The innkeeper told me this dish requires special pickling techniques passed down for generations. There was also Huizhou fermented tofu, crispy golden outside, tender inside, irresistible with special chili sauce.

Dinner usually consisted of various farm dishes. Fresh vegetables from the garden, free-range chicken soup, home-pickled vegetables. Most special was a dish called "Huizhou Soaked Rice Cake," made from glutinous rice soaked in special broth, soft and chewy. The innkeeper said this is a must-have New Year dish in Wuyuan.

Besides main meals, Wuyuan's snacks are also distinctive. Street vendors often sell glutinous rice balls filled with crushed peanuts and sesame sugar, coated with fine rice flour – sweet and soft with one bite. There's also "Huizhou Mochi," made from mugwort and glutinous rice, carrying a subtle mugwort fragrance, said to have health benefits.

Most memorable was an elderly lady's glutinous rice, a recipe she said had been passed down five generations. She would start preparing materials before dawn, soaking glutinous rice and carefully preparing ingredients. When steaming, she would add some red dates and longan, making the rice not only sweet and delicious but carrying a subtle medicinal fragrance.

Human Stories

In Wuyuan, I met many interesting people, each with their unique story. Like Old Wang who sells tea at the village entrance – he's grown green tea all his life and his understanding of tea has reached philosophical heights. He said, "Good tea is like a good friend, light but not thin, strong but not greasy." This saying made me think for a long time.

Old Wang is over seventy now but still checks his tea garden at dawn every day. He told me growing tea isn't just technology but art. You must know the best time to pick tea, how to control roasting temperature, how to preserve tea's best quality. He said these are experiences passed down from ancestors, requiring heartfelt understanding.

There's also Craftsman Li, a famous local wood carver. In his workshop, I saw many exquisite wood carvings, from traditional dragons and phoenixes to modern portraits. He said carving requires patience, with one piece possibly taking months or longer to complete. But it's this slow-and-steady attitude that makes works truly touching.

Most moving was Grandma Zhang. She's one of the village's oldest residents at eighty-five. Yet she still dances in the small square every morning and knits in front of her house in the afternoon. She says elderly people should keep moving, not stay idle. She also makes many traditional snacks, cooking for village children during festivals. She says these traditional foods must not be lost but passed down generation by generation.

At the village cultural station, I met Teacher Chen responsible for cultural protection work. He dedicates himself to collecting and organizing Wuyuan's folk stories and traditional culture. He told me many historical stories about Wuyuan, like why buildings here are black and white, why red peppers hang on door frames. These stories deepened my understanding of Wuyuan's culture.

There was also a young couple who gave up high-paying city jobs to return to Wuyuan and open a guesthouse. They said although they earned more in the city, something always felt missing. After returning to Wuyuan, although life slowed down and income decreased, they felt they found true meaning in life. Seeing their smiles, I seemed to understand what "meaning" they spoke of.

Travel Gains

After returning to Shenzhen, I found my attitude toward life had subtly changed. Life doesn't always need to be fast-paced; occasionally slowing down to experience rural tranquility is also happiness. The biggest inspiration from my Wuyuan trip is: travel's meaning lies not just in seeing different scenery but in finding inner peace.

My experience in Wuyuan made me rethink many questions. Like, what is true quality of life? Is it high-end office buildings or homes that make people feel secure? Is it a glamorous appearance or inner fulfillment? In Wuyuan, I saw many people living happily in simple environments, making me understand that life quality doesn't depend on material conditions but how we view and experience life.

This trip also gave me new understanding of traditional culture. In modern city life, we often overlook traditional culture's value. But in Wuyuan, I saw how traditional culture integrates into daily life. Those ancient buildings, traditional crafts, generation-inherited cuisines are all essence of our national culture. These cultural heritages aren't just "living fossils" for viewing but sources nourishing our spiritual life.

Most importantly, this trip taught me how to be with myself. In city life, we're always surrounded by various affairs, rarely having time to think quietly. But in Wuyuan, slow-paced life gave me ample time to reflect and feel. I began learning to enjoy solitude, appreciate life's details, face life's ups and downs with a more peaceful attitude.

After returning to Shenzhen, I began trying to change my lifestyle. I no longer fill all my time like before but leave some time for myself. On weekends, I'll walk in nearby parks or find a quiet café to read. I also started learning to make some traditional foods – though perhaps not as skilled as Wuyuan grandmothers, the process makes me feel fulfilled.

Practical Advice

For friends wanting to visit Wuyuan, note that the best travel time is March to April when rapeseed flowers are in full bloom. However, I suggest avoiding short holidays like Qingming Festival when tourist numbers are extremely high, possibly affecting travel experience. If you want to see red leaves, choose late October to early November when autumn scenery is also beautiful.

Regarding accommodation, I strongly recommend guesthouses in ancient villages. Though conditions might not match star hotels, this is true rural experience. When choosing guesthouses, note several points: first check location, best choose near scenic areas to save travel time; second check host reviews, good hosts not only provide comfortable accommodation but also lots of local travel advice. Remember to book early as good rooms are hard to find in peak season.

For transportation, from Shenzhen I suggest flying to Huangshan Airport first, then taking a car to Wuyuan, about two hours' drive. For touring within Wuyuan, you can choose chartered cars or join local day tours. If time permits, suggest staying in different villages as each has unique scenery and culture.

For dining, must try local specialties. But note Huizhou cuisine is generally salty; if unaccustomed, tell restaurants beforehand. Suggest having breakfast at guesthouses for most authentic farm breakfast. Lunch can be at farmhouse restaurants near scenic areas, dinner at county town restaurants for authentic Hui cuisine.

Future Outlook

With rural revitalization strategy advancing, rural tourism destinations like Wuyuan will increase. But I hope while developing tourism, these places maintain their authenticity. After all, this genuine rural atmosphere is rural tourism's most precious charm.

I believe more young people will choose rural tourism in future. Not just for scenery, but to find different lifestyle. In this fast-developing era, we need such slow life to balance our body and mind.

Meanwhile, I hope more young people participate in rural construction. Like the young couple I met in Wuyuan, they inject new vitality into rural development in their own way. Perhaps this is rural tourism's most beautiful future: maintaining traditional charm while integrating modern elements.

Finally, I want to say travel's meaning lies not just in enriching our experiences but in broadening our minds. Through this Wuyuan trip, I not only saw different scenery but found inner peace. This perhaps is travel's greatest meaning.