Live Your Best Lives
As a true outdoorsman, I've always been drawn to camping. It's the closest way to nature, allowing us to feel the breath of the planet's arteries, right next to Mother Earth. Looking up, we can see the stars, waking up to the crimson sun—it's the most freeing way to enjoy life, and the most romantic way to live. So, what are some great camping spots in East China? Let A-nao share his thoughts!
Xianju Gongyu is renowned for its majestic peaks, with a multi-tiered topography and an elevation of 800 meters. The entire Gongyu mountain range stands majestically, imposing and vast. Beneath Gongyu lie layers of terraced fields, dotted with old villages. Currently undeveloped, it has become a rising hotspot for outdoor activities in Zhejiang Province. In the secluded village of Gongyu, we savored the sumptuous cuisine featured in "A Bite of China 3." Amidst the ethereal morning mist and the vast starry sky, we felt the grandeur of nature.
Camping in this paradise, returning to primitive times, and being a "cave man" for once is a unique little beauty.
Tips:
Hiking time: about 7 hours
Hiking distance: about 14 kilometers
Hiking altitude: about 300 meters
Hiking conditions: The first day's hike is about 3 hours; the second day's hike is about 4 hours
(Pictures from the Internet)
Near Maxiaoling in western Zhejiang, East China, lies a classic hiking route with an average elevation of over 1,300 meters. Known as the Three Peaks Crossing, it boasts expansive views and breathtaking scenery along the entire ridgeline, making it a popular autumn and winter hiking destination for hikers in East China. Baizhangling, one of the peaks, sits at an elevation of 1,334 meters. Inaccessible by car and rarely visited, it's a place where only a few villagers carry supplies and set up camp to provide basic provisions for hikers. Far from the hustle and bustle of the big city, Baizhangling offers a tranquil retreat where the only feeling is the solitude of the soul.
The only option here is camping. When camping becomes the only option and we compromise with nature, we can experience the purification of body and mind that camping brings. This is another kind of freedom.
Tips:
Hiking time: about 14 hours
Hiking distance: about 23 kilometers
Hiking altitude: cumulative climb of about 1,600 meters
Hiking conditions: Mainly dirt mountain roads, about 8 hours of hiking on the first day; about 5 hours of hiking on the second day
(Pictures from the Internet)
Kuocang Mountain lies west of Zhangjiadu Town. Its main peak, Mishailaang, stands at 1,382 meters, making it the highest peak in eastern Zhejiang. Climbing the mountain reveals a vast expanse of water, giving it the name Kuocang. As the first rays of sunlight to reach southeastern Zhejiang, Kuocang Mountain offers an ideal sunrise viewing spot. Standing before the Century Dawn Monument, we hope for good fortune along with the sun's rays. This area is home to China's fourth-largest wind farm, with 33 snow-white windmills forming a pristine belt. The staggered array of windmills, interwoven with the towering peaks, creates a breathtaking landscape. Year-round, the Kuocang mountains are shrouded in mist, creating a vast sea of clouds that resembles a flowing silk ribbon, contrasting with the azure sea and blue sky. This truly captivating mountain and sea spectacle is likened to a scene of "a woman wrapped in silk, half-covering her face, her delicate beauty captivating."
Kuancang Mountain is definitely an excellent choice for camping. We set up the tent under the windmill, lying in the tent and looking up at the starry sky. The Milky Way and the windmill complement each other, creating a harmonious picture of nature and technology, which is particularly beautiful.
Tips:
Hiking time: about 3 hours
Hiking distance: about 14 kilometers
Hiking altitude: cumulative climb of about 1,200 meters
Hiking conditions: Mainly dirt mountain roads, about 5 hours of hiking on the first day; about 3 hours of hiking on the second day
(Pictures from the Internet)
Tianhuangping, atop Jiangnan Tianchi Lake, lies at the southern tip of Anji County. Home to the Tianhuangping Pumped Storage Power Station, the largest in Asia and second in the world, it was also the filming location for the bamboo scenes in the Oscar-winning film "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon." Tianhuangping is a national stargazing base. On clear nights, you can lie in your tent and count shooting stars, sleeping among the stars. The ecological environment is excellent, and at an altitude of nearly 1,000 meters, telescopes can observe stars up to magnitude 20 (the higher the magnitude, the dimmer the star), making it easy for astronomers to spot the Milky Way. The bamboo sea, at an altitude of 1,000 meters, is an ideal camping spot. The adjacent power station, once filled with water, creates a shimmering, emerald waterscape resembling a "Heavenly Lake," a uniquely charming spectacle where the starry sky and lake intertwine. Camping between two "galaxies," we couldn't quite place the line between heaven and earth.
Tips:
Hiking time: about 4 hours
Hiking distance: about 8 kilometers
Hiking altitude: cumulative climb of about 300 meters
Hiking conditions: mainly ancient trails
(Pictures from the Internet)
Dongbai Mountain, the highest peak in central Zhejiang, is one of the Seven Famous Mountains of Zhejiang Province. It boasts a meadow-like landscape rarely seen in Jiangnan. Standing at 1,195 meters, it offers moderate intensity, scenic views, and a truly enjoyable hike. Climbing to the summit of Taibai Peak offers breathtaking views of the vast expanse of the sky and earth, with windmills swaying at the summit. This hike is recognized as one of Zhejiang's top ten outdoor trails! From the small village at the foot of the mountain, the path winds its way up through lush forests, twisting ancient vines, stone bridges, ancient Torreya grandis trees, and alpine tea plantations. The sunrises and sunsets are especially spectacular. Spring and autumn are Dongbai Mountain's most beautiful seasons. The vast alpine meadows are a rare sight in East China, and the ethereal Dongbai Lake is a popular destination for hikers and photographers in East China.
Dongbai Mountain is an excellent camping site. There is a reservoir not far away and a small temple next to it. You can feel the atmosphere of fireworks. Under the moonlight at night, we talked about life and ideals. The faint sense of happiness was the most charming.
Tips:
Hiking time: about 8 hours
Hiking distance: about 15 kilometers
Hiking altitude: cumulative climb of about 1,200 meters
Hiking conditions: 5 hours of mountain hiking on the first day; 4 hours of stair hiking on the second day
(Pictures from the Internet)
The Huihang Ancient Trail, consistently ranked among the top ten hiking routes in East China, is a must-try for outdoor enthusiasts in the region and the starting point for many. Combining culture, history, and scenery, this area is a must-see. The trail offers a comfortable and safe experience, making it a classic entry-level hiking route for outdoor enthusiasts. As the saying goes, "If you don't cultivate yourself in your previous life, you're born in Huizhou; at the age of thirteen or fourteen, you're thrown out." Only by venturing out from this mountain path could the people of Huizhou escape poverty. Ultimately, they journeyed into the world along this very mountain road. Let's retrace our steps and experience the joys and sorrows of those times.
We chose to camp along the route that the Huizhou merchants took, as if we had returned to that romantic era. We connected with the ancients and experienced the hardships that the ancient Huizhou merchants had to endure and their unwavering pursuit of their dreams.
Tips:
Hiking time: about 7 hours
Hiking distance: about 15 kilometers
Hiking altitude: about 700 meters to 1000 meters
Hiking conditions: about 4 hours on the first day; about 3 hours on the second day
(Pictures from the Internet)
Pingxiang, Jiangxi, is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts. Free from commercial elements, hikers can experience the pure joy of hiking. The world's most magnificent, bizarre, and extraordinary sights often lie in remote and treacherous locations. Only by exploring Wugong Mountain on foot can you truly understand the meaning of Xu Xiake's description of "walking among the colorful clouds." This is Wugong Mountain. "Thousands of peaks rise like emerald jade hairpins, the Five Ridges rival Wugong Mountain. The sunrise is like a golden shroud, and visitors walk among the colorful clouds." This is precisely what this place captures. The scenery here is magnificent, especially renowned for its meadows, seas of clouds, sunrises, and galaxies. The alpine meadows, reminiscent of grasslands, and the endless, breathtaking sea of clouds form a romantic ink painting, inspiring nothing less than imagination.
Wugong Mountain is a fantastic camping spot. Pitch a tent amidst the beautiful alpine meadows and gaze up at a starry sky, shrouded in a sea of clouds. It feels like you've descended into the heavens, experiencing the feeling of being a god. As the sun slowly rises, we open the tent and admire the breathtaking scenery.
Tips:
Hiking time: about 20 hours
Hiking distance: about 23 kilometers
Hiking altitude: about 1800 meters
Hiking conditions: about 6 hours on the first day; about 11 hours on the second day; about 3 hours on the third day
(Pictures from the Internet)
East China offers countless mountain ranges worthy of exploration, and camping offers even greater possibilities. Embrace the natural world and live in harmony with nature. Experience the beauty and freedom that can't be found in lodging. Are you ready to enjoy camping?
