Xin'an River

Features for phenomenal scenery around the world and numerous scenic spots along the Xib’an River, it originated from Huaiyu Mountain in Xiuning County, Huizhou district, Huangshan city. Xin’an River is long around 365kilometers, flows to the western Zhejiang province in the east, to the Qiantang River in the northeast, it joins Lanjiang River in Jiande via Chunan, and then flows into Qiantang River, being the source of Qiantang River. The drainage area is around 11,000 square meters. The water there is limpid all year round, mountains meandering, waterfalls splashing. 

Meng Haoran, a famous poet in China, born in Tang Dynasty (618-907), once put it while he was travelling here, "Lakes passing through the Dongting Lake become vast, while rivers flowing into the Xin’an River turn limpid." As the national scenic spot, Xin’an River also enjoys a good reputation as Cool World, a Road to Poetry of the Tang Dynasty. 

Visitors can enjoy houses of Hui style with white wall and gray tiles here and there on both sides. The fir, bamboo, tea bushes, loquat and orange forests on the hills extend as far as you can see, displaying a charming water landscape in southern China when sailing on the Xin’an River.

Trade along the Xin'an River
Xin’an River is a vital waterway to the local economy for local people. The local ship out timber and local agricultural products and transfer in salt and manufactured goods. Yuliang town in Tunxi and Shendu in Shexian County along the river used to be bustling river ports in the old days. There is still in Yuliang Town a one kilometer long Old Street which used to be the marketplace.

Lower Reaches of Xin'an River
In Tunxi and Shexian County, the river embraces ancient pavilions and bridges as well as clusters of lakes. Further down the river, one can see the busy rural and urban scenes. On the lower reaches of the Xin'an River there is the pearl-like Qiandao Lake, also call Thousand-Island Lake, which is located in Chun’an County, Zhejiang Province. It was built in the 1950s. The dam of this lake is 105 m high and 462 m long. The widest site of the reservoir is about 10 kilometers. Under normal water level, this lake covers an area of around 580 square kilometers, 104 times larger than West Lake in Hangzhou. Now, the travel route from Hangzhou to Qiandao Lake has become a hot line for visitors.

Coastal landscape & What to see along the Xinan River

Xin'anjiang Landscape Gallery
Xin'anjiang landscape gallery, located in Shexian County, a famous historical and cultural city in China, is a bright pearl on the golden tourism line of Huangshan Shexian Qiandao Lake. Xin'anjiang is the mother river of Anhui Province. It is famous for its unique Hui culture, natural scenery and ancient villages.

Qiyunshan Mountain
Qiyun mountain, 33 kilometers to the west of Huangshan City (Tunxi), gets its name "Qiyun" (as-high-as-the-cloud mountain) because the top of the mountain is even with the clouds. Qiyun Mountain has 36 steep peaks, 44 oddly shaped stones, 18 tranquil caves, 27 waterfall caves of springs, 14 pools, 16 pavilions, 537 inscriptions and stone tablets, 3 stone decorated archways, 5 stone bridges and 33 temples and monasteries. Listed by the State Council in 1994 as one of the cultural relics sites under the national protection.

Two Peaks Piercing the Clouds
The Two Peaks Piercing the Clouds is 36 kilometers east of Jiande County, Zhejiang Province. The two towers face each other across the river. South for the south tower, North Tower for the north, are octagonal seven brick tower, there are winding stairs to climb the top of the tower. It was built in the late Sui and early Tang Dynasties, and was rebuilt in the 25th year of Jiajing in the Ming Dynasty (1546).

Thousand Island Lake Scenic Area
The Thousand Island Lake is a man-made lake located in western Chun'an county of Hangzhou, the capital city of Zhejiang province, China. It is also one of the most famous scenic spots along the Xin'an River. The lake covers 573 sq km and has more than 1,000 small islands - hence its name. It`s formed since the completion of the Xinanjiang hydroelectric station and has a storage capacity of. The total area of the islands in the lake is about 86 km2. Averaging 34 m deep, the lake is clear, with visibility in the water around 10 m.

Thousand Island Lake is known for its clear, and sometimes drinkable water: with 17.8 km3 of drinking-quality water, the Thousand Island Lake has attracted many well-known bottled water brands, including Nongfu Spring brand of mineral water. The water company's state-of-the-art production facilities near the lake have become a State-level model spot for industrial tourism

Baisha Bridge
Baisha bridge is located on the Xin'an River in the south of Jiande County section. It's a bluestone bridge. Built in 1960. The bridge is 362M in length, 24m in height and 11m in width. There are six main spans in the main bridge, with each span of 50m. There are 256 stone lions of different sizes carved on the railings, which are lifelike. In the pavilion, "Baisha bridge" is inscribed by Guo Moruo. The construction technology of this bridge sums up the structural characteristics of ancient Zhaozhou Bridge and Lugou Bridge in China, and has some innovation, which is light, light and magnificent.

What to see along the Xinan River at Night?
In the Huangshan section of the Xin'an River, there is a sightseeing cable bridge. This bridge is the best place to enjoy the night scenery along the Xin'an River. There are Huizhou ancient architectural complex, cruise ship wharf and local small market on both sides of the bridge. After dinner, local residents and tourists can take a walk along the Xin'an River coast for sightseeing, and can also go to the cruise ship terminal to take a night cruise. With the wind and flowing river, the fog move slowly. When you are taking a boat drifting above the river, with the beautiful mountain scenery by the both sides of the river, it makes you feel like immersed in the dream-like paradise. 

What to eat?
Strictly speaking, Xin'anjiang cuisine must be Huizhou Cuisine-one of the eight major cuisines in China. Its most representative dishes are: Stewed turtle with ham, Huangshan stewed pigeon, Steamed stone chicken, Salted mandarin fish, Mushroom box, Wenzheng bamboo shoot, Hupi Maofu, Shiitake and chestnut, Bayberry ball, Huizhou burger, Roast pork with razor clam, Steamed Eagle turtle, Stewed duck with green snail, and Salted fish ”"Yipinguo", "Zhonghe soup" and other famous dishes. In the lower reaches of the Xin'an River - Thousand Island Lake, visitors can also taste the famous fish head.

Tour The Xin'an River with Hangzhou Huangshan Private Tour 
We design private and tailor-made Hangzhou Huangshan Tours customized to your style of travel at affordable local prices.  We will provide a private & spacious car and a local professional tour guide with over 5 years guiding experience only work for you or your group. Transport, ticket, and dining (We find the most authentic dishes popular with locals) all we will arrange for you according your requirements. Please check our most popular Hangzhou&Huangshan Tours including The Xin'an River as below: 

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