After Zaotai Village, we’re driving around the Huangshan (黄山) area, which is surrounded by dozens of historical towns, and we’re trying to pick the least touristified ones. Today we’re in Yuliang (渔梁村), a village dating back to the Sui Dynasty (1500 years ago) — a town that started to become wealthy around 600 years ago, as the main port for Huizhou Merchants.

The key attraction of the village is a millennium-old dam that blocks the river. The dam consists of hundreds of interlocked stones, and is used to regulate the waterflow. Today — since the water is low — it only flows to the furthest gap. It used to help for transport and military purposes, but right now though, a few ayis wash their mops and vegetables in the water — and tourists take pictures.