Day 1 Shanghai → Houan Village → Tiantai County
All day
07:15-07:30 Meet at the designated location of China-TravelNote
We'll depart at 7:30 sharp! The usual routine continues on the bus: icebreakers, introductions, and getting to know new friends. If you have a talent, don't be shy; this is your stage. Chat and laugh, and we'll arrive at the rooftop in no time.
Around 12:30 PM, we arrived at Hou'an Village in Tiantai County. Ten Miles of Iron-Armored Dragon stands in front of the village. The towering rock formation stretches for ten miles, creating a truly magnificent spectacle. The stone's iron-black color, resembling the scales of a black dragon, gave it the name "Ten Miles of Iron-Armored Dragon."
Around 14:00, after lunch, we began to experience the Chinese intangible cultural heritage [plant tie-dyeing]
Tie-dye your own handkerchief or scarf. Use dyes made from natural plants, Chinese herbs, flowers, vegetables, and tea leaves to dye your fabric. This natural, pollution-free process creates pure, soft colors and exudes a delicate herbal fragrance. While the colors may fade slightly after washing, they retain a tranquil, life-like quality, just like the color stained by time. It's also a great keepsake.
At afternoon tea time, we began to experience the [Bread Cellar], where you can not only bake bread, but also bake sweet potatoes, potatoes, and chicken. They are fragrant and crispy, and you can enjoy the original taste of traditional cooking methods!
Around 17:00, we went to the hotel to check in (about a 40-minute drive). In the evening, we fell asleep under the starry sky.
2nd Tiantai County → Guoqing Temple → Tiantai County
All day
Around 9:00, after breakfast, we took a bus to visit Guoqing Temple, one of the four famous temples.
Tiantai, named after a mountain, is a sacred Buddhist destination. Guoqing Temple, the ancestral home of the Tiantai sect, was founded by the eminent Sui Dynasty monk Zhiyue and is renowned worldwide. Nestled at the foot of Tiantai Mountain, it was formerly known as Tiantai Temple. Entering the forest and crossing a bridge, one encounters the temple's screen wall, inscribed with the words "Ancient Temple of the Sui Dynasty," creating a majestic atmosphere. Strolling through the temple grounds, one feels refreshed, nourished, and possessed of a celestial aura.
Around 2:00 PM, we hiked along the ancient path to ask for Zen (about a 10-minute drive).
We departed from Guoqing Temple and ascended the Xu Xiake Ancient Trail, a scenic route lined with towering ancient trees and a venerable path. This was one of Xu Xiake's three routes to Mount Tiantai. After about an hour, 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.
Standing outside the temple, you can hear the faint sound of bells in the distance mixed with the breeze, lingering in your ears; stepping into the temple, you will feel instantly free from the troubles of the world, and feel only quiet and detached.
Due to the local traffic restrictions during the National Day holiday, the pick-up and drop-off points for the Xiake Ancient Trail hike on the second afternoon will be limited. The original through-trail route will be changed to a return route. The return route will be a winding mountain road, and the mileage will be increased by 2-4 kilometers. The specific return point will be determined based on the overall physical fitness and weather conditions of the day. You can also choose to have free time at Guoqing Temple according to the specific situation of the day.
In due time, we headed to the hotel.
For dinner, you can freely enjoy the "rooftop" of your taste buds: green dumplings, flatbread, dumpling rolls, assorted cakes, nine-grain dried meats, meatballs and wheat cakes...
You can also go to the nearby Tiantai Mountain Hot Springs on your own.
Located at the foot of Tiantai Mountain and next to Guoqing Temple, the hot spring villa naturally exudes an elegant and majestic style. It has blue bricks and white walls, and is composed of surrounding buildings in the style of the Han and Tang Dynasties and an open central courtyard. It is a refreshing and comfortable feeling to splash in the warm swimming pool and look up to see the beautiful reflection of Tiantai Mountain in the water.
3rd Tiantai County → Tiantai Mountain Waterfall → Shanghai
All day
The sun is shining brightly. After breakfast, we are ready to start our exciting journey.
Around 9:00 AM, we drove to the Tiantai Mountain Grand Waterfall, also known as the Tongbai Waterfall or the Sanjing Waterfall. Many years ago, the construction of the Tongbai Hydropower Station cut off the water source, altering the original topography and bringing this natural wonder to the brink of extinction.
The main waterfall has a total drop of 325 meters and a maximum width of 90 meters. The main attractions include: nine waterfalls (the ninth waterfall: Jade Shuttle Flying Stream, the seventh and eighth waterfalls: Valley Cascades, the sixth waterfall: Hanging Waterfall Wind and Thunder, the fifth waterfall: Fairy Flowers in Langyuan, the fourth waterfall: Groups of Dragons Fighting in the Valley, the first, second and third waterfalls: Dragon Swimming Three Wells), Lingyun Plank Road, viewing platform, cable bridge, glass suspension bridge, ladder to the clouds, cliff carvings, etc., with pools of various shapes.
After lunch, we gathered to return to Shanghai. We arrived at the departure point in Shanghai around 18:00. Everyone was reluctant to leave and kissed goodbye with tears in their eyes!
