Day 1 Shanghai → Rooftop → Guoqing Temple
All day
Meet at the designated China-TravelNote location at 7:00 AM and sign in.
Board the bus and depart at 7:15 AM. The tour leader engages everyone in conversation along the way, creating a lively atmosphere.
At 11:30 AM, we exit the highway and enjoy lunch and a rest at a farmhouse near Guoqing Temple.
At 12:30 PM, we head to the renowned Jiangnan temple, Guoqing Temple. Built in the 18th year of Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty, this exceptionally tranquil temple boasts a unique tranquility. We stroll through the grounds, enjoying the unique peace and tranquility, and perhaps even a moment of quiet meditation.
At the appropriate time, we gathered at the temple and ascended the Xu Xiake Ancient Trail, along towering ancient trees and a venerable path, offering breathtaking scenery. This was one of Xu Xiake's three routes to Mount Tiantai. After about two hours, we arrived at the Zhizhe Pagoda. Legend has it that when Master Zhizhe founded the Tiantai Sect on Mount Tiantai, he preached here to the five hundred arhats. So, we decided to pay our respects to the Zhizhe Pagoda. The view from here is breathtaking, with views of the rolling mountains of Tiantai Mountain. It was truly inspiring!
At 5:00 PM, we met up with the bus and departed for the county seat.
At 5:45 PM, we were accommodated at the hotel. In the evening, we were free to find food in the county seat, or we could gather for a meal.
Day 2 Tiantai → Qianyang Ancient Village → Huangnan Ancient Road → Shanghai
All day
After breakfast at 7:30, the group set out (leaving early to avoid the crowds).
At 8:30, we reached the ancient trail entrance and embarked on a splendid bluestone path, bathed in the spring breeze and lined with towering maple trees. We took our time, taking photos as we went. We first ascended, stopping at pavilions and ancient bridges for rest along the way. After about 1.5 hours, we reached the summit, where a large terrace, the Jigong Temple, and an old village nestled in the mountains seemed secluded from the world. We ate some snacks there.
The descent then began, and the scenery was a stark contrast to the previous ascent. From above, the vast expanse of terraced fields surrounding the ancient village created a visual feast, reminiscent of Yuanyang Dragon's Back. The entire hike took about 5 hours, slightly shorter than the Huihang Ancient Trail.
(The autumn scenery along the ancient trail changes dramatically depending on the temperature and weather: early November
brings crisp, clear skies, mid-to-late November brings pleasant autumn colors, and early December brings breathtaking autumn.) Around 1:00 PM, we exited the Huangnan Ancient Trail and reunited with our bus for the return trip back to Shanghai.
We arrived back at our departure point in Shanghai around 6:30 PM, and our wonderful journey came to a hasty end. We all shared a tearful goodbye, still feeling a sense of elation.
