An art student makes a drawing about the Hongcun ancient village in Yixian county. [Photo by Hu Yongqi/China Daily]

Another angle

During our trip, the mountain was hidden in a looming mist and by clouds. However, that meant we could enjoy another kind of experience of the mountain and the city named after it.

We rented a car at the Huangshan Tunxi International Airport and drove two hours to the scenic area of Huangshan Mountain via an expressway that weaves its way between bamboo-capped mountains. Local residences painted in white and black - a typical architectural style in the southern part of Anhui, influenced by the ancient merchant culture dating back to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) - dot both sides of the road.

At the foot of the mountain are dozens of restaurants where delicious traditional food including fermented mandarin fish and dried bamboo shoots cooked with ribs, are served.

Mandarin fish is fermented in rice soup for weeks and then tastes soft and fragrant when cooked with ginger and soy sauce. Its reputation expanded to other places outside Anhui to become a popular dish in major cities such as Beijing. Many foodies in the capital go to Anhui restaurants for the fish.

Tangkou township lies under the mountain foot and most people have made their living from receiving tourists in restaurants and hotels. Before darkness falls on the small town, owners of private supermarkets or grocery stores ride motorcycles home.

This summer, regions along the Yangtze River including Anhui have seen more rainwater than usual. Riders install an umbrella to shelter themselves from the rain, a rare and interesting scene for someone living in Beijing like my girlfriend.