Tunxi Old Street
Here lies over 300 timeless Huizhou-style structures on the street, making it China’s best-preserved ancient commercial street and fully showcasing the architectural styles of the Song, Ming, and Qing dynasties.
Tunxi Ancient Street also blends ancient Huizhou architecture, the cultural heritage of Huizhou merchants, and vibrant local traditions, offering visitors an immersive experience from savoring world-renowned Huangshan tea to exploring a traditional ink workshop with 250 years of history.
Huangshan Tunxi Old Street Facts
Brief History of Tunxi Ancient Street
The story of Tunxi Ancient Street began over 700 years ago during the Song Dynasty (960-1279), flourishing due to its strategic position as a vital water transport hub for the Huizhou region. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the tea trade flourished, and Huizhou merchants expanded their shops and began stockpiling goods. This led to the market in Tunxi gradually growing in scale. By the late Qing dynasty, the reputation of Tunxi’s tea merchants soared, and Tunxi Ancient Street prospered day by day. Alongside the rise of the Huizhou merchants, this ancient street gradually developed into a central hub for trading goods like tea leaves, ink implements, silk textiles, and salt.
Today, when you tread upon the flat stone pavements of the ancient street, you are following in the footsteps of ancient scholars and merchants. This rich history makes it a cornerstone destination for any thoughtfully planned Huangshan tour.
>> Recommended 3 Days Huangshan Highlights TourWhat to See & Do in Tunxi Old Street
Strolling through Tunxi Old Street, which is often called a living “Along the River During Qingming Festival,” you can fully appreciate the beauty of Huizhou-style architecture and also savor a cup of fine tea and experience the making of a piece of ink.Marvel at Huizhou Architectural Masterpieces
Tunxi Old Street comprises one main thoroughfare, three cross streets, and eighteen alleys, with over 300 Huizhou-style buildings constructed across different eras forming the entire street network. It is widely recognized that the greatest spectacle of Tunxi Ancient Street is the street itself. The continuous line of Ming and Qing dynasty buildings represents the pinnacle of Huizhou architecture.
Look up to appreciate the elegant horse-head gables (matou qiang), intricate wood and stone carvings on windows and door frames, and the iconic layout of “shop in front, home or workshop in the rear.” The harmonious blend of black tiles, white walls, and dark timber creates a serene and picturesque atmosphere, making it a paradise for Tunxi Old Street photos.
Dive into the World of “The Four Treasures of the Study”
No visit is complete without exploring Tunxi Ancient Street’s profound literary culture. This street has been a central marketplace for the “Four Treasures of the Study” (brush, ink, paper, and inkstone) for centuries.There is a must-visit spot in the street: the Hu Kaiwen Ink Factory. Founded in 1782, here you can not only witness the traditional craft of ink-stick making and browse thousands of intricate ink molds, but also you can spend CNY 200 yuan to hire a professional artisan to guide you step-by-step in crafting a piece of Huizhou ink.
The surrounding Chinese ink and brush shops offer perfect opportunities for souvenir shopping in Huangshan, from hand-carved inkstones to fine calligraphy brushes.
Visit Tunxi Museum & Wancui Building Museum (万粹楼)
The Tunxi Museum, located on the street, is a comprehensive local museum showcasing Ming and Qing dynasty furniture, calligraphy, paintings, porcelain, jade, bronze ware, and Huizhou tile carvings. The most striking exhibit is a Qing dynasty figure carving—a tile sculpture measuring 128 cm high and 290 cm long, assembled from 52 individual tile carvings. This work vividly depicts three legendary episodes from Romance of the Three Kingdoms: the Battle of Changban Slope, Liu Bei’s marriage, and the borrowing of the east wind. The museum also displays the Xie Family Inkstone, measuring 1.62 meters long, 0.61 meters wide, and weighing 360 kilograms—a truly unparalleled treasure among inkstones.
A short walk away you will reach the Wancui Building Museum: the biggest private museum on Tunxi Ancient Street. It is also the first private museum in China in the form of ancient Chinese architecture. Constructed in 1996, it spanning over 2,000 square meters, it blends the styles of Huizhou-style residences, gardens, mansions, and shops.
This four-story building incorporates exquisite reclaimed stone carvings, brick carvings, and wood carvings from Ming and Qing dynasty architectural relics, reassembled in the Huizhou architectural style. It houses the “Nine Hundred Inkstone Hall” exhibition space displaying 900 precious inkstones (including the She inkstone screen “Soul of King Wen”) and over 500 artifacts such as calligraphy and paintings by contemporary masters, Han Dynasty Buddhist statues, and Ming-Qing Dynasty wood carvings.
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Savor Local Tastes and Find the Perfect Souvenir
If you are a foodie, Tunxi Ancient Street is the right place for you where can taste delicious Huizhou cuisine and local snacks. The street food in Tunxi is an adventure for the senses. Here you can nibble on crispy Huangshan sesame cakes (shaobing), try stinky tofu, or savor a bowl of wonton from the Wong Yitiao shop.
As you stroll, you’ll find that Tunxi Ancient Street in Huangshan is a premier destination for souvenir shopping. For a relaxing break, you are recommended to step into a tea shop to enjoy cups of this area’s famous teas, such as Huangshan Maofeng (黄山毛峰), Qimen Black Tea (祁门红茶), or Taiping Kowkui (太平猴魁).
>> Learn more from 6 Days Huangshan Tea Culture Tour | 20 Days China Tea Discovery
Beyond the food, Tunxi Ancient Street is also a perfect place for souvenir shopping in Huangshan City. Stamp collectors can visit the Old Street Post Office to collect Tunxi Ancient Street’s signature postcards for stamping. Or you can stroll through the old streets, selecting a string of cultural trinket bracelets that suits you.
How to Get to Tunxi Ancient Street
Located in the heart of Huangshan City’s Tunxi District, Tunxi Ancient Street is very accessible from Shexian County and Huangshan City. The most straightforward way is to take a direct bus high-speed rail line 1 from Huangshan North Station for about 30 minutes at a cost of CNY 5 yuan, then get off at Commercial City Station. After a five-minute walk, you’ll arrive directly at Tunxi Ancient Street.If you’re departing from downtown Huangshan City, you can take bus routes 5, 8, 12, or 21 to the Commercial City Station. After getting off, it’s a 5-7 minute walk to Tunxi Ancient Street. The fare for these buses is only CNY 1 yuan.Discover Tunxi Old Street with Easy Tour China
Your tour through the breathtaking landscapes of Huangshan City deserves perfect planning. With Easy Tour China, you will not only enjoy a specialized experience of Tunxi Old Street but also an experience that blends the majestic natural wonders of Huangshan Mountain with the profound cultural heritage near by Tunxi Old Street, such as Tangmo Village and Hongcun and Xidi Village. Here are some suggested itineraries within Tunxi Old Street.
