Tachuan Village
Tachuan Village, which is also known as Tashang, is situated at the foot of Yellow Mountain and is only 2 kilometers away from Hongcun Village of Anhui Province in China. Tachuan is a glamorous intermontane village and has been celebrated as one of the most picturesque villages in China. Besides, Tachuan Village in Anhui, Fragrant Hill in Beijing, Kanas in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, and Miyaluo in Sichuan Province have become known as the four marvelous scenic spots with the most beautiful autumn scenery in China.
As Tachuan Village is located at the foot of the mountain and pervaded by local residences with upturned eaves, seen from afar, it is just like a tower(pronounced Ta in Chinese), which stands high in the mountain valley. This is the origin of “Ta”. Besides, there is a clear stream that flows through the village, bringing the village an infinite nimbus. This is the origin of “Chuan”. So the village is named Tachuan.
Highlights
Trees
Tachuan Village is situated at the foot of a towering mountain and near a rippling river. When you arrive at the entrance to the Tachuan Village, a large number of huge ancient trees will come into view. The trees are so huge and towering that they even blot out the sky and cover the sun with luxuriant foliage. There is a great variety of trees there, such as camphor trees, Chinese Torreya trees, and maple trees.
The old towering trees with a long history of hundreds of years seem to tell people the vicissitudes of the history of Tachuan. Coming into the midst of the ancient forest, people can feel the simplicity, harmony, beauty, and freshness of Tachuan Village. Due to the unique natural environment and a variety of trees, these ancient trees at the entrance of the village are in an infinite variety of forms.
Going through the ancient forest, you can see Tachuan Village with lots of ancient local residences in front of you.
Photography
The best time to visit Tachuan is from October to November, when the mountains are covered by colorful leaves. As a large number of towering trees abound in this area, the red leaves of the trees are the most charming autumn scenery in Tachuan when autumn comes. The leaves of Tachuan turn green, yellow, and red at different times, providing a wonderful place for photography.
Especially in late autumn, the leaves of the trees in Tachuan turn dark purple gradually and then turn deep red. You will feel that you are surrounded by color and beauty. In the early morning, when Tachuan is enshrouded in the morning mist, it's a good opportunity for people to take a unique, striking photograph of the whole village.
Tachuan is a photography resort for people because they can take perfect and marvelous photos from any angle here, enjoying the resplendent colors of autumn in Tachuan. So Tachuan Village is an ideal tourist attraction for photographers and amateur photographers from all over the world. What’s more, the tourist photography festival is held in the middle of November every year.
Besides, the vast stretches of fields, the lovely and undisturbed village, and the trees of gorgeous colors make autumn in Tachuan Village uniquely spectacular.
Local Specialty
Laba Tofu (腊八豆腐) is a local specialty with features of local flavor. Laba means the eighth day of the twelfth month of the traditional Chinese calendar, and it is when the Spring Festival (traditional Chinese New Year) comes near. Every year on this day, households in every family at Tachuan Village dry the tofu under the sun, which is called “Laba Tofu”.
The Laba tofu is made from quality soybeans. The local people cut the tofu into different shapes, like round or square pieces, and wiped them with saltwater. A hole is scooped in the middle but not through the tofu, and salt is put into the hole. Then it is baked in the sun till the water dries up and the salt is absorbed into the tofu. Laba Tofu tastes soft, salty, and fragrant.