I've been to Tongling and want to share some brutally honest thoughts.

Tongling, a hidden gem of a city 🌆 located in the south-central part of Anhui Province and the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, is at its most beautiful and charming in April. Take advantage of the pleasant spring weather and embark on a spring trip to Tongling! 🚗 Transportation Guide • External Transportation: ◦ Airplane ✈: The nearest airport is Chizhou Jiuhuashan Airport, about 20 km from Tongling. After arriving, you can take an airport bus to Tongling city, or take a taxi, which takes about 40 minutes and costs around CNY 100–150. ◦ Train 🚉: Tongling Railway Station and Tongling North Railway Station handle the main passenger traffic. Tongling Railway Station is located in the city center and has convenient transportation. Tongling North Railway Station is a high-speed train station, making it very convenient to take the high-speed train from cities such as Hefei and Nanjing. For example, the high-speed train from Hefei takes only 50 minutes. • Internal Transportation: ◦ Bus 🚌: The city's bus lines are extensive. The fare is CNY 2, and you can also scan the QR code to pay. Buses can reach most attractions, but the departure interval is sometimes long. ◦ Taxi 🚕: The flag-down fare is CNY 7. Taxis are very convenient for getting around the city, and it is not too expensive to take a taxi to some of the more distant attractions. 🗺 Itinerary • Day 1: Tianjing Lake Park → Tongguanfu Cultural and Creative Park ◦ Morning: Come to Tianjing Lake Park 🌳, which is known as the "West Lake of Tianjing". The lake water is clear and surrounded by mountains. You can stroll along the lakeside boardwalk to admire the blooming flowers and tender green weeping willows in spring, or rent a small boat 🚤 to feel the spring breeze on the lake. ◦ Afternoon: Go to Tongguanfu Cultural and Creative Park 🎨 to learn about Tongling's 3,000-year-old bronze culture. Here, you can visit the bronze production process, and also experience bronze casting by hand to feel the charm of traditional culture. • Day 2: Yongquan Tourist Resort → Datong Ancient Town ◦ Morning: Yongquan Tourist Resort 🏞 is a good place to relax. Stroll along the Jiangnan Flavor Town, admire the Huizhou-style architecture, and taste various local snacks. You can also hike in the mountains and forests of the resort, breathe fresh air, and feel the beauty of nature. ◦ Afternoon: Walk into Datong Ancient Town 🏮, this ancient town with a history of thousands of years is quiet and simple. Stroll around Lanxi Old Street, see the old shops and buildings, and then come to Heyuezhou to watch the finless porpoises (if you are lucky, you can see them 🐬) and feel the historical charm of the ancient town. • Day 3: Fenghuang Mountain Scenic Area Spend the whole day playing in Fenghuang Mountain Scenic Area 🌄, where there are mountains of peonies (April is the peak flowering period), with red, pink, and white flowers competing for beauty. You can also visit the Acacia Tree, Dripping Cliff and other attractions to admire the unique natural landscape. 🏠 Accommodation Guide • City Hotel: It is recommended to live near Changjiang Road, where there are many shopping malls and restaurants, making it convenient to travel. For example, Tongling Tonque Terrace Kaiyuan International Hotel, a four-star hotel, has complete room facilities and costs CNY 400–600 per night. • Scenic Area Homestay: If you want to live near the scenic area, there are some characteristic homestays in Datong Ancient Town, such as Chenshui Renjia Homestay. You can see the small river flowing in the ancient town when you open the window. The price is CNY 200–400 per night, and you can experience the unique ancient town life. 🍱 Food Recommendations • Tongling Large Intestine Noodles: One of the must-eat delicacies 🍜. The large intestine is cleaned and not greasy, the noodles are chewy, and the soup is rich. One bite of noodles and one bite of large intestine is super satisfying. It is recommended to go to "Pangmei Noodle Restaurant", an old shop where Tongling people have been eating since they were young. • Shunan Crispy Candy: Sweet, crispy, and melt-in-your-mouth 🥧, it is a traditional famous snack in Tongling. It is made of sesame, peanuts, maltose, etc. It is a good idea to buy some as a souvenir. • Datong Dried Tofu: The taste is delicate and the bean flavor is strong. It can be eaten directly, or it can be mixed cold or stir-fried. Fresh dried tofu can be bought in many small shops in Datong Ancient Town. 💖 Must-try Experiences in Tongling • Watch a finless porpoise frolic: On the river near Datong Ancient Town, if you are lucky, you can see the cute finless porpoise 🐬 jumping out of the water. This is an elf in the Yangtze River, and you will feel extremely lucky to see them. • Participate in a bronze production: In Tongguanfu Cultural and Creative Park, participate in the bronze production experience by hand, from shaping to casting, feel the magic of ancient craftsmanship, and take away a unique souvenir. Tongling in April is full of spring surprises and romance. Pack your bags and come to this small city to start your spring adventure! 🎉