Tongling

Tongling combines 3,000 years of bronze culture, waterside night views and a finless porpoise reserve. Its relaxed pace makes it a good choice for a weekend or short holiday.

• Liqiao Water Town: This Huizhou-style water town is best enjoyed after dark, with nightly performances including the traditional molten-iron fireworks display, fire-pot performances and fish-lantern parades. Arrive around dusk; you can also wear hanfu for photos.

• Yongquan Town: This traditional-style holiday resort uses copper coins for purchases within the grounds. Attractions include the Twelve Scenes of Remembering Jiangnan, a hillside escalator, a slide and Jiubao Hot Springs. It suits family outings and relaxing breaks for couples.

• Datong Ancient Town: With a history spanning a thousand years, this old town retains much of its original character. Take the free ferry to Heyuezhou to see finless porpoises, or explore traditional southern Anhui architecture along Lanxi Old Street.

• Tongling Museum: The building's exterior incorporates 50 tonnes of copper. Displays include Shang and Zhou dynasty bronzes and the “Golden Crab.” Check ahead to see whether the “Golden Crab” is on display. Admission is free, and the museum is closed on Mondays.

• Tongguanshan 1978 Creative Park: Converted from a former miners' residential area, the park retains a steam locomotive and has a mine-tunnel café, giving it a nostalgic, creative atmosphere.

• Tianjing Lake Park: This free park features the “Heavenly Well” in the lake. The lakeside paths are level and well kept, making it a pleasant place for a stroll and some fresh air.

Suggested Itineraries

• Two days, one night (classic relaxed break)
  • Day 1: Arrive in the morning and visit Tongling Museum to learn about the local bronze culture. In the afternoon, take a taxi to Liqiao Water Town and enter around dusk for the night views and traditional molten-iron fireworks. Stay overnight in the city or at a guesthouse in the water town.

• Day 2: Sleep in, then head to Yongquan Town to try paying with copper coins and explore the gardens. Spend the afternoon at the hot springs, or visit Tongguanshan 1978 Creative Park instead. Leave for home in the early evening.

• Three days, two nights (time to fully unwind)
  • Day 1: After arriving, explore Tongguanshan 1978 Creative Park, take an afternoon stroll in Tianjing Lake Park, then head to Liqiao Water Town in the evening to watch the molten-iron fireworks.
  • Day 2: Spend the day at Yongquan Town, trying the hillside escalator, slide, copper-coin market and hot springs. Join the bonfire gathering in the evening.
  • Day 3: Visit Lanxi Old Street in Datong Ancient Town, then take the free ferry to Heyuezhou to see finless porpoises, keeping feeding times in mind. Return to the city for a meal in the afternoon before heading home.

Local Food to Try

Tongling's food combines the fresh flavors of a riverside town with southern Anhui cooking, from pork-intestine noodles in the early morning to stalls serving blanched dishes late at night.

• Jiaming Pan-Fried Dumplings: This long-established shop serves dumplings with crisp, golden bottoms, paired with homemade chili sauce. Expect possible queues during the morning and evening meal rushes.

• Pangzi Specialty Stinky Tofu: This fried snack has been sold here for more than 30 years. The tofu has a puffy, porous exterior and a special savory marinade inside, and is served with sweet chili sauce. Queues are common when the stall opens in the early evening.

• Yuling Blanched Dishes: A down-to-earth snack shop popular with local residents, serving rice noodles, wheat noodles and blanched dishes with traditional flavors in a simple setting.

• Sanpingfang Milk Tea: A local Tongling milk tea brand. Its yogurt with white glutinous rice is refreshing and makes a pleasant drink while shopping.

• Datong Chagan (Pressed Tofu): A local specialty with several hundred years of history, known for its rich color and deep, lingering flavor. It makes a good food gift.

• Tongling White Ginger: A nationally recognized geographical indication product with a crisp, tender texture and a balanced sweet-and-sour flavor. It makes a distinctive local gift.

Accommodation and Transport

• Transport: If traveling by high-speed rail, Tongling Railway Station is the more convenient choice. It is close to the city center, roughly a 15-minute taxi ride away. Tongling North Railway Station is about 30 km from the city center, with a taxi journey of around 40 minutes. Attractions are spread out, so taxis are convenient for getting around, and fares are affordable.
• Accommodation: If you have a generous budget and want easy access to the night views, choose a guesthouse inside Liqiao Water Town. For convenient transport and better value, consider a chain hotel near Wanda or Changjiang Middle Road Pedestrian Street in the city center. Tongling's urban area is compact, so taxi trips around town are generally quick.

Practical Tips

• Liqiao Water Town: The daytime scenery is relatively modest; the night views and evening performances are the main draw. Aim to enter between 5 and 6 pm, and check the schedule first so you can catch the molten-iron fireworks and performances on the water.
• Yongquan Town: Allow more than half a day. Once inside, visit the money exchange to obtain copper coins. You can also earn coins through games such as rolling dice and tossing beanbags, then spend them on food and drinks. Take the hillside escalator up to explore the Twelve Scenes and the slide back down.
• Seeing finless porpoises: Before visiting Datong Ancient Town to see the porpoises, confirm the ferry schedule and feeding times. Feedings are usually at 8:00, 10:00, 14:00 and 16:00. Also check the evening return ferries from Heyuezhou so you do not miss the last boat.
• Museum: Tongling Museum is closed on Mondays. The “Golden Crab” is sometimes loaned to other exhibitions, so check the museum's official WeChat account before your visit to confirm whether it is on display.
• What to wear: Light-colored clothing or modern Chinese-style outfits work well for visits to the old towns and gardens. Wear comfortable athletic shoes for walking uphill at Yongquan Town.