Major city · China
Hongcun宏村
Stay one night inside the village walls, arrive before 09:00 or after 16:00 to dodge the tour buses, and pair it with Xidi the next morning.Stay one night inside the village walls, arrive before 9:00 AM or after 4:00 PM to dodge the tour buses, and pair it with Xidi the next morning.
Hongcun is a Ming and Qing village in Yixian County, Anhui, listed with nearby Xidi as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2000. Its ox-shaped plan, canal network and half-moon pond make it the classic Anhui white-wall, black-tile village. It is small: half a day covers the lanes, and one night is what turns it from a photo stop into a place you actually see.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- CNY
- Best months
- Mar–May, Sep–Nov
- avoid Jul–Aug (heat and rain), Chinese New Year and the first week of October (Golden Week crowds)
- Airport
- TXN
- Nights
- 1–2
Rules in force · 7
- East Asia ↗Every border in East Asia is a full international border, Hong Kong and Macau included: an entry permission for one never covers the next.
- East Asia ↗Ferries between Korea, Japan and China cancel in rough seas and typhoons; keep a flight or a spare day behind every sea leg.
- China ↗Most nationalities need a visa, a unilateral visa-free entry (the list and end dates change) or the transit exemption below. Confirm your route on the official sites before you buy a ticket.
- China ↗Transit stay without a visa: up to 240 hours (10 days) for citizens of about 55 listed countries who pass through China to a third country or region, with a confirmed onward ticket and a stay inside the permitted area (Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei count as one area). It replaced the 144-hour rule in December 2024, which some older pages still quote. Use the transit lane at immigration, show the onward ticket, and check the current nationality list. Hong Kong and Macau count as separate regions; check whether your ticket qualifies.
- China ↗Foreign visitors must register their address with the police within 24 hours; hotels do it at check-in with your passport. Carry the original passport at all times: hotels, trains, museums, Tiananmen Square and police checks ask for it.
- China ↗Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay with a foreign card before you fly. QR payment is the default in shops, taxis and many stalls, and some places refuse cash or a foreign card. Carry cash as a backup.
- China ↗Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and many news sites are blocked. Use an eSIM with roaming (it routes through your home network) or install and test a VPN before you fly; VPN sites and app stores are hard to reach inside China, and only government-approved VPNs are officially permitted.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Hongcun110 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Hongcun, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Alipay and WeChat Pay accept Visa, Mastercard, JCB and Amex cards; single payments over ¥200 (≈ US$30) carry a fee of about 3% on a foreign card (smaller ones…China-wide
- SIM or eSIMA roaming eSIM from outside China routes traffic through its home network, so Google, WhatsApp and Instagram work without a VPN — the simplest setup.China-wide
- Tap waterNot for drinking from the tap; bottled water ¥2–5 (≈ under US$1), and kettles and free bottles in hotel rooms.China-wide
- TippingRestaurants: No tip; upmarket hotels add 10–15% service.China-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/C/I. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): fits. 220 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.China-wide
- SafetyVery safe for a village of this size; the real risks are wet cobblestones, unlit lanes after dark…
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsPublic toilets are frequent and free; squat toilets outside hotels and malls.China-wide
- Emergency numbers110 police · 119 fire · 120 ambulance (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysMany museums and palaces close on Mondays; the Forbidden City too (outside holidays).China-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportTXN Huangshan Tunxi International Airport (About 1.5 h by road to Hongcun; buses and taxis run from Tunxi and Huangshan North railway station.).
- Getting aroundOn foot only.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Street or quick mealPreserved-vegetable flatbread from a street oven¥2–5 (≈ under US$1)
- Budget bedFamily room (up to 4), a night, per roomCN¥220 (≈ US$35)
- Mid-range bedVillage guesthouse double room, a night, per roomCN¥220 (≈ US$35)
- High-end bedVillage guesthouse double room, a night, per roomCN¥450 (≈ US$65)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget CN¥180 (≈ US$30) · Mid CN¥320 (≈ US$45) · High CN¥600 (≈ US$85)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- TXN Huangshan Tunxi International Airport (About 1.5 h by road to Hongcun; buses and taxis run from Tunxi and Huangshan North railway station.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
not flagged
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
Feb
not flagged
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
Mar
Best
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
Apr
Best
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
May
Best
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
Jun
not flagged
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
Jul
Avoid
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Aug
Avoid
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Sep
Best
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
Oct
Care
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
Nov
Best
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
Dec
not flagged
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
Best: Mar–May, Sep, Nov. Mixed: Oct. Avoid: Jul–Aug. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)), coolest Jan (0°C (32°F)32°F (0°C) low), wettest Jun (16 rain days), driest Nov (8). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Hongcun: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
0°C (32°F)32°F (0°C)
10 rd
Feb
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
12 rd
Mar
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
15 rd
Apr
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
15 rd
May
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
15 rd
Jun
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
16 rd
Jul
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
13 rd
Aug
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
12 rd
Sep
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
10 rd
Oct
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
9 rd
Nov
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
8 rd
Dec
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
8 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
On foot only. The lanes are narrow, cobbled and flat, and every path loops back to Yuezhao Pond or South Lake. Wear shoes with grip: the stones are slick when wet.
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Xidi
goDoor to door: About 30–40 min
Local bus or taxi from the Hongcun gate, about 20 min
The sister UNESCO village; go early, it is smaller and quieter than Hongcun.
Huangshan (Yellow Mountain)
overnightDoor to door: 1.5–2 h to Tangkou
Bus or taxi to Tangkou, then the park shuttle to the cable cars
A full day minimum, better as an overnight on the mountain or in Tangkou.
Tunxi (Huangshan city)
goDoor to door: About 1–1.5 h
Bus from the main entrance car park, roughly hourly
Old Street and the rail and bus hub for onward travel.
Yixian town
skipDoor to door: About 20–30 min
Green minibus from near the South Bridge, or a taxi
A transport hub with little to see; use it only to change buses.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Inside the village (guesthouses)
Traditional courtyards and canal-side rooms; book ahead, and expect small rooms and thin walls.
South Lake and South Bridge edge
Closest to the entrance and the lake view; easiest with bags and for early or late walks.
Outside the gate / Yixian town
Cheaper and quieter, 10–20 min by taxi or local bus; loses the after-dark village atmosphere.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- ¥150–250 (≈ US$25–35) excl. bed
- Mid
- ¥250–450 (≈ US$35–65) excl. bed
- High
- ¥450 (≈ US$65)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Village guesthouse double room1 × 1 night × CN¥220 | CN¥220 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × CN¥320 | CN¥640 |
| Village entry ticket, per person2 × CN¥104 · check — 2015 price, valid several days, keep it for re-entry | CN¥208 |
| Bus Tunxi → Hongcun, one way2 × CN¥30 · check | CN¥60 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × CN¥100 | CN¥200 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | CN¥133 |
| Trip total≈ CN¥731 per person per day, bed included | CN¥1,461≈ US$250 |
2026 estimate in yuan; long-distance transport and the village entry ticket excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Preserved-vegetable flatbread from a street oven | ¥2–5 (≈ under US$1) |
| Noodle bowl outside the village, near the South Bridge | ¥4–10 (≈ US$1–2) |
| Vegetable or meat dish with rice in a village restaurant | ¥15–30 (≈ US$3–5) per plate |
| Baozi (mornings) | ¥1–3 (≈ under US$1) |
| Taxi Hongcun → Yixian | About ¥20 (≈ US$3) (check) |
| Taxi Huangshan North station → Hongcun | About ¥160 (≈ US$25) (check) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Keep your entry ticket: it is checked each time you leave and re-enter the village.
- Restaurants may push an off-menu 'local fish' dish at ¥100 (≈ US$14) and up — ask the price before ordering.
- Cobblestones are slippery in rain; the lanes are unlit in places after dark.
- Weekend and holiday tour groups arrive mid-morning and fill the main lanes for a few hours.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 110
- Fire
- 119
- Ambulance
- 120
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
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Hongcun宏村
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
请到这个地址To this address, please
Emergency
- Police110
- Fire119
- Ambulance120
Embassy
No embassies in Yixian County; the US, UK, Canadian, Australian and New Zealand missions are in Beijing, with consulates-general in Shanghai. Register your stay with your hotel as required.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Bus Tunxi → Hongcun: about ¥30 (≈ US$5), roughly hourly (check)
- Minibus Hongcun → Yixian: about ¥2–3 (≈ under US$1), 20 min, leaves when full (check)
- Taxi Hongcun → Xidi: about ¥20 (≈ US$3) (check)
Say or show
- 你好 — Hello (nǐ hǎo)
- 谢谢 — Thank you (xiè xie)
- 多少钱? — How much is it? (duō shao qián)
- 可以用手机支付吗? — Can I pay by phone? (kě yǐ yòng shǒu jī zhī fù ma)
- 我有门票 — I have a ticket (wǒ yǒu mén piào)
- 洗手间在哪里? — Where is the toilet? (xǐ shǒu jiān zài nǎ lǐ)
Entry ticket is checked on every re-entry — keep it on you.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Hongcun. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Mar–May, Sep–Nov · avoid Jul–Aug (heat and rain), Chinese New Year and the first week of October (Golden Week crowds) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport and rail-to-bed contract for TXN and Huangshan North: last bus times, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
- Walking clusters with rescue anchors: South Lake and South Bridge, Yuezhao Pond, Chengzhi Hall, the hillside lanes.
- Place pages with verified opening hours and ticket rules for Chengzhi Hall, South Lake College and the village gate.
- Golden and hostile arrival fixtures so gates A–D can go green.