Anhui Huangshan Spider’s Belly: A Small, Undiscovered Earth Village – Buying a Traditional House for 600,000 Yuan+
Continuing mynan journey today.
Many friends envy us travel bloggers, believing they could travel every day and live a truly comfortable life. However, as many travel bloggers have said, you've only seen the surface gloss, not knowing the difficult struggles behind it. Of course, you choose your own path, and there's nothing to complain about. Whether it's perilous challenges or happy moments, it's your own choice.
Two days ago, after finishing the shoot at Stone Stomach (Shidian) , I suddenly wanted to visit Spider's Belly. After all, a friend had told me many times before about this place – was it worth going? Or should I go and see for myself?
Spider's Belly is located on a mountain in Wuyang Township, Shanghe County, and is a high-altitude earth village inhabited by the Yao clan. About 200 years ago, a Yao clan group arrived by boat and discovered that the mountain's shape resembled a spider's web, which they considered a good omen, so they migrated here, giving rise to the Spider's Belly earth village.
To reach Spider's Belly, you can search for 'Spider's Belly' or 'Meicun Earth Village' – both will take you to the destination. However, the first few kilometers into the mountain are a significant challenge for most people. There are multiple 180-degree turns, the roads are narrow, and the slopes are steep. If you're a beginner, you probably won't even dare to drive. So, if you're a beginner or don't have experience driving on steep mountain roads, I don't recommend coming to Spider's Belly.
In Spider's Belly village, there are many ancient earth buildings, many of which have become historical landmarks. However, for ordinary tourists visiting Spider's Belly, there may not be much to do. Yesterday, a netizen went and complained directly to me – the road is narrow and difficult to walk, and there aren't many scenic views. It's a rip-off.
However, if you are a photographer with an eye for beauty, Spider's Belly is still worth visiting. In Spider's Belly, you need to learn to find shooting spots – the only abandoned school nearby is a good spot. In addition, in the village's highest sunflower field, it's also a great place to take photos. And on the way to the school, there are houses with peach trees, and the peach blossoms are in full bloom, perfectly complementing the earth buildings.
Another beautiful sight of Spider's Belly should be when the sun just rises, surrounded by clouds and mist. At that time, the earth buildings are enveloped in clouds, which is very beautiful. Unfortunately, I waited for an entire night at Spider's Belly, hoping to see the clouds, but nothing happened, and I had to give up.
If you are a seasoned traveler who enjoys self-driving or photography, Spider's Belly is a good choice. If you are a novice driver or a casual tourist, there's no need to go to Spider's Belly.
However, hearing from a local friend, someone once wanted to develop Spider's Belly, but the price of earth buildings and land exceeded 600,000. I don't know if it's true or not.
