Live Your Best Lives
Located in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, Nanjing is a key tourist destination in East China's Yangtze River Delta region, encompassing countless breathtaking natural beauty. To explore this region, take advantage of these three exclusive self-driving itineraries from Nanjing, showcasing new and exciting ways to explore the region.
Nanjing - Tunxi - Zuyuan Village - Muli Village - Nanping Village - Wuli Village - Xixi South Village, the distance is about 540 kilometers (if returning to Nanjing from Xixi South, it is 880 kilometers).
Collect the hidden villages of Huizhou and unlock different niche ways of playing in Huizhou.
Self-driving route map
Shouzhuo Garden and Tao Yuanming's former residence. Shouzhuo Garden Scenic Area is located in Tao Village, Yi County, which is known as a "paradise on earth". It is located 6 kilometers away from Yi County, at the site of Chiling Village (Tao Village), where the descendants of Tao Yuanming lived. The "Shouzhuo Garden Scenic Area" featuring Hui-style architecture has been restored and rebuilt on a larger scale.
Ticket price: 80 yuan/person
Opening hours: 8:00-16:30
Location: Yi County, Anhui Province
Shouzhu Garden
Nanping, a large ancient village with a history spanning over a thousand years, is located southwest of Yi County, Anhui Province. It is characterized by its typical Hui-style architecture, its layered, winding alleys, and its ancestral halls of various sizes.
Ticket price: 43 yuan per person
Opening hours: 07:00-17:30
Location: Southwest of Yi County, Anhui Province
Nanping Village
Every March, bamboo shoots sprout, willow trees sprout, and peach blossoms fill the air. By early June, the trees are laden with tempting fresh peaches, filling the orchard with fragrance. Being there is often a place where one can't help but linger. The ancient village roads and Zhongshan Reservoir set off the beautiful rural scenery of Wuli.
Area: 1.6 square kilometers
Region: Huangshan City
Peach Blossom Forest, BY LIKE Wang Baoding
Zuyuan Village, nestled on the hillside of Chajiaojian at an altitude of 685 meters, was built in the Song Dynasty. It has an excellent ecology, flowing springs and waterfalls, white walls and black tiles, and ancient Hui style. The village has historical and cultural landscapes such as water mouths, ancient bridges, ancient houses, ancient trees, and Sixianling. It is especially famous for its thousand-year-old yew. There are more than 100 acres of terraced fields, and it is one of the top 100 photography spots in Huangshan City.
Area: Xikou Town, Xiuning County
Ancestor
Located on the hillside of Kuzhujian Mountain at an altitude of nearly 1,000 meters, it is the highest village among the ancient towns of Huizhou. It was built in the late Ming Dynasty and is one of the highest mountain villages in Huangshan City. The people are simple, friendly and enthusiastic.
The village is entirely built in the Hui style, with houses extending in a terraced pattern from south to north, following the mountain's slopes. In recent years, Muliqiao has gradually come to the fore, attracting a large number of photography enthusiasts with its stunning sea of clouds.
Admission: Free
City: Xikou Town, Xiuning County, Huangshan City, Anhui Province
Muli Knob Sea of Clouds, BY Sanse
Known as the "richest place in She County," this area was a gathering place for Huizhou merchants and the most prosperous region in ancient Huizhou. The ancient village of Xixinan is well-preserved, with numerous Ming and Qing dynasty buildings. Remains of the "Eight Scenic Spots of Fengxi" and "Ten Gardens of Xinan" are still clearly visible, and buildings depicted in the classic novel "Jin Ping Mei" can still be found.
The thousand-year-old ginkgo trees, the five-hundred-year-old osmanthus trees, and the two-hundred-year-old Podocarpus trees are thriving and have unique ornamental value.
Best time to travel: All seasons, spring and summer are best
Region: Huangshan City, Anhui Province
Xixi South
Tips:
The self-driving route from Nanjing to Anhui, a trip to Huizhou villages, has a suitable climate in all seasons. It passes through hilly and mountainous terrain along the way, so the driver needs to have certain experience in driving on complex road conditions.
The winding mountain roads and primitive mountain roads are quite bumpy, so please pay attention to driving safety. Some villages involved in this route have complex terrain and require a short hike to reach the village. You can contact a local guide for guidance.
Nanjing - Huangfu Mountain - Dalius Grassland - Hongshixia - Huangzhai Grassland - Tianquan Lake - Hongze Lake, the journey is about 459 kilometers (round trip from Nanjing).
China-TravelNote has a collection of niche destinations: East China's "New Zealand". You can enjoy the Danxia landforms and the niche northern Anhui without flying to the northwest.
Self-driving route map
The total length of the rafting is about 2 kilometers, with a total drop of about 30 meters. The dam at the starting point of the rafting has a drop of 6 meters to provide hikers with a "warm-up" experience. Then they go through the arch bridge, enter the forest, and drift through more than ten large and small ponds and dams. Surrounded by towering trees, they pass through the forest at high speed or slowly.
Ticket price: 160 yuan per person
Opening hours: Late April to early October, 8:00 - 16:00
Address: Next to Huangfushan Forest Farm, Quting Village, Daliushi Town, Nanqiao District, Chuzhou City, Anhui Province
Drifting, BY Making
Dalui Grassland, originating in the 1950s, was established under the personal care of Premier Zhou Enlai. It is the largest pasture in eastern China and serves as a breeding base for New Zealand sheep. As a productive pasture, it has not been developed for tourism, preserving its pristine beauty.
Location: Daliu Town, Nanqiao District, Chuzhou City, Anhui Province
Area: more than 8,000 mu
Dalius Grassland
The unique Danxia landform, characterized by vast expanses of red rock valleys, is perpetually shaped by wind and water, creating a unique and lifelike appearance. The legendary Wave Valley at 32°N offers a glimpse into the eons-old Danxia landforms without having to travel to the Northwest, and marvel at the wonders of nature.
Admission: Free
Location: Central Jianghuai
Dahengshan
"The sky is vast, the wilderness is boundless, the wind blows the grass low, and cattle and sheep can be seen." Here, enjoying the charming scenery of the "Bashang" grassland is no longer a luxury. The vast grasslands are lush with water and grass, and the views are expansive. The undulating terrain is beautiful, and the herds of cattle and sheep on the ground contrast beautifully with the egrets in the sky. In spring, the grasslands are lush and green, and the nearby lakes sparkle, brimming with vitality.
Address: Dahuangzhai, Jianxi Town
Opening hours: 9:00-21:00
Huangzhai Ranch
Tianquan Lake offers a variety of scenery throughout the year, with each morning and evening bringing a unique and dynamic atmosphere. In spring, the gurgling stream and waterfowl frolicking on the surface create a lively and unique scene. In summer, despite the scorching sun, the lapping of waves brings a refreshing feeling, and overnight stays in the mountains are cool and comfortable. In autumn, the mountains are covered with red flowers and fruits. In winter, heavy snow falls, like a crystal-clear fairy tale world.
Location: Xuyi County, Huai'an City
Unique landscape: In late autumn, numerous brightly colored redwoods stand tall in Tianquan Lake, forming a unique landscape painting.
Tianquan Lake
The Hongze Lake Wetland Reserve, East China's largest wetland scenic area, provides a bird habitat. Flocks of birds fill the air, their clear calls incessant, and the sounds of cranes and storks playing in the water create a breathtaking spectacle. Nearly 200 species of birds visit the area each year to overwinter or make a stopover.
Tickets:
60 yuan/person in peak season (March-November), 45 yuan/person in off-season (January-February, December)
Location: Sihong County, Suqian City, northern Jiangsu Province
Area: 350,000 mu
A wonderful journey to northern Jiangsu and northern Anhui, where the grasslands are undeveloped and rarely visited; the lakes here are unparalleled and fascinating; everything here is so magical yet natural: redwood forests, Danxia Mountains, forest rafting, primitive pastures, leave yourself some time, drive on this pastoral road, facing the wind and the world as your companion, free and easy.
Nanjing-Yangzhou-Xinghua-Wuxi-Wuzhen-Hangzhou, the journey is about 613 kilometers (6 cities in East China).
Accompanied by flowers all the way, this is a relaxed and free self-driving route, allowing you to explore the classic East China and check in at the Qianqiu Fendai.
Self-driving route map
Slender West Lake
To enhance the contrast between reality and illusion, the Slender West Lake Scenic Area places buildings close to the water's edge, creating clear and complete reflections. For example, the Qingyan Room and Xiangxue Pavilion have platforms rising from the water, seemingly floating above it. The Shugang Chaoxu main hall stretches out in front of the building. Not only are the spring flowers in full bloom here, but the architecture is also delightful, making leisurely time here a delight.
Tickets:
120 yuan/person in off-season, 150 yuan/person in peak season
Ticket sales time: 6:30-17:30
Best time to travel: March to June every year is Yangzhou's Fireworks March Economic and Trade Tourism Festival, and this period is also the most beautiful time for the Slender West Lake.
Slender West Lake
Viburnum
Garden
Unique Jiangnan gardens are not only found in Suzhou; Yangzhou's Geyuan Garden also possesses a unique charm. One of China's Four Great Gardens, this private garden, built in the residence of a Yangzhou salt merchant during the Qing Dynasty, is renowned for its abundant bamboo plantings. Its most distinctive feature is the design and construction of its "Four Seasons Rockery," which features rockery that changes color throughout the seasons.
Tickets:
45 yuan/person in peak season, 30 yuan/person in off-season
Opening hours: 8:00-16:30
Garden
Lizhong Forest Park
Raft through the river and witness vast expanses of pond cypress and metasequoia trees rising tall from the water, a scene of pristine greenery and beauty. A rafting excursion combined with a hike creates a perfect natural oxygen bar, perfect for city dwellers to reconnect with nature.
You can enjoy the delicacies of northern Jiangsu waterside in the red-paste wooden fishing village in the park. If you come during the autumn when hairy crabs are fat and tender, you can also taste authentic Xinghua red-paste hairy crabs.
Tickets:
Adult ticket + raft 80 yuan. Children under 1.5 meters can purchase children's ticket (ticket + raft)
Opening hours: 8:00-17:00
Location: East of Shunchuan Road, Lizhong Town, Xinghua City, Jiangsu Province
Lizhong Forest Park
Qianduo Rapeseed Field
During the Qingming Festival every year, the "Duo fields" surrounded by water in the Qianduo Scenic Area are covered with golden rapeseed flowers, creating a magnificent and charming scene of "rapeseed flowers blooming all over the ground".
The saying "the river has thousands of bends, its waters are clear, and every field is covered in yellow flowers" perfectly captures the essence of the cauliflowers grown in Xinghua's Duotian. The "Xinghua Longxiang Taro" grown there became a household name in the TV series "A Bite of China," and other local delicacies like braised pork with taro and tofu with crab roe are also mouth-watering.
Ticket price: 90 yuan/person
Opening hours: 7:00-17:30
Location: Qianduo Town, Xinghua City, Taizhou City, Jiangsu Province
Qianduo Rapeseed Field, BY Happy Shura
Yuantouzhu, a peninsula lying on the northwest shore of Taihu Lake in Wuxi, is named for the large rocks jutting out into the lake, resembling a tortoise with its head raised. As one of the world's three most popular cherry blossom viewing spots, it's the only one, alongside the Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Garden in Japan and the Washington, D.C., Cherry Blossom Garden, where visitors can enjoy the cherry blossoms without leaving the country. It's also the best cherry blossom viewing spot in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai.
There are more than 30,000 cherry trees in the park, with more than 100 varieties. During the peak blooming period, visitors seem to be surrounded by pink and white cherry blossoms, which is a beautiful sight.
Tickets:
105 yuan (Daytime ticket, including ferry, 8:00-17:00) 80 yuan (Nighttime ticket March 22-April 7, 17:00-21:00)
Address: No. 1, Yuanzhu Road, Binhu District, Wuxi City
Cherry blossom viewing period: mid-March to early April (Cherry Blossom Festival March 22-April 7)
BY Zishui Qingbo
After more than 2,000 years of vicissitudes, it still retains its original water town style, with exquisite wood and stone carvings on beams, columns, doors, and windows. Compared to West Gate, East Gate is smaller and more compact, making it a great place for self-driving tourists to take a day or two to appreciate the charm of this ancient water town.
While appreciating the authentic water town scenery, you can also enjoy the pleasure of sightseeing, shopping and gourmet food.
Tickets: East Gate 110 yuan, West Gate 150 yuan, combined ticket (including East Gate and West Gate) 190 yuan
Suitable season for visiting: All year round
Location: Northern end of Tongxiang City, Zhejiang Province
BY Jianghu Yan
The famous West Lake's ten scenic spots, embellished with one mountain, two pagodas, three islands, three embankments, and five lakes, create a breathtakingly beautiful interplay of nature and culture. The Three Pools Mirroring the Moon, featured on the reverse of the one-yuan RMB banknote, also reflects West Lake's special place among China's scenic spots.
Tickets: Free for West Lake Scenic Area
Opening hours: Open all day
Leifeng Pagoda, BY Game of Thrones
West Lake, BY Zhang Li Vision
This classic spring floral tour explores East China's most beautiful flower paths, discovering the places you'll most want to take your loved one to this spring, and effortlessly enjoying a panoramic tour of Jiangnan. Unlike adventurous self-drive tours, this more leisurely route is perfect for the whole family, avoiding backtracking and focusing on the most beautiful sights, saving you time and effort.
The ancients said, "Looking south of the Yangtze River, spring is not yet old, the wind is gentle and the willows are slanting. Try to climb up to the Chaoran Terrace and look, half a moat of spring water, a city of flowers, mist and rain darken thousands of houses."
Jiangnan is a region of such beauty. The three driving routes listed above only scratch the surface of the delights around Nanjing. For even more unexpected adventures, discover them by simply going out and taking the road yourself. I look forward to seeing and sharing your experiences!
