Tunxi Old Street is located in the heart of Tunxi District, Huangshan City, and is a renowned snack and commercial street within the city. The street is paved with bluestone slabs, flanked by Huizhou architecture, with shops operating in the houses along the street, primarily selling Huizhou specialties. The main street of Tunxi Old Street runs east-west, spanning over 800 meters in length, starting from the eastern end with a memorial arch and a wall inscribed with ‘The Record of Tunxi Old Street’, and ending at the Old Big Bridge (Zhenhai Bridge) where the Hengjiang, Shui River, and Xin’an River converge. This area thrived due to its position at the confluence of three rivers and reached its peak during the Ming and Qing dynasties. The street still retains its former prosperity. During the day, visitors to Tunxi Old Street can clearly see the exquisite brick, wood, and stone carvings on the Huizhou architecture and visit attractions such as Tunxi Museum and Wancui Building.
At night, the area becomes even more lively than during the day, with shops illuminated by lights, strings of red lanterns contrasting with the white walls and black tiles, making it an ideal spot for photography with a tripod while enjoying meals and shopping. For culinary delights, Xinsu Old Hui Restaurant (No. 151 Old Street) is quite famous; you can taste the Huizhou specialty dishes Mao Tofu and Stinky Mandarin Fish featured on the TV program ‘A Bite of China’. Additionally, there are numerous street food vendors selling snacks such as stinky tofu, baked pancakes, and Hui ink cookies, which are perfect for tasting while strolling, and Hui ink cookies make great gifts for friends and family. The roads branching off from the main street are also part of the Tunxi Old Street area.
If shopping is not to your liking, you can head south from the branching roads to reach the banks of the Xin’an River for river views, or walk to Deyang Tower to enjoy Huangmei Opera while sipping tea. The Old Street is open all year round, accessible 24 hours a day. Essential tips for visitors: if you plan to climb Huangshan Mountain, consider purchasing souvenirs at the Old Street the day before and pack them along with unnecessary items into a bag, which can be stored at the hotel front desk or at shops at the foot of Huangshan Mountain. It is recommended to travel light when ascending Huangshan, as there is still a significant amount of hiking involved even when using the cable car to go up and down the mountain.
