Day 1 Hanzhong Railway Station → Yuhuangmiao Town → Gaojiang Road → Liuba Old Street
All day
Xicheng High-speed Railway, fast travel, please purchase your ticket from your departure point to Hanzhong in advance, we will wait for you at Hanzhong Railway Station.
If you are in Hanzhong City, please note the specific address when placing an order. We will pick you up in Hanzhong City between 8:20-08:40.
It is recommended that you book tickets for the Xicheng High-Speed Railway D1911 (07:11-08:34)/D6853 (07:30-09:00)/D1913 (07:20-09:12).
Pick-up at Hanzhong Station between 09:00 and 09:20. Please confirm the train number and time in advance.
We will be waiting for you at Hanzhong Station in advance. Please exit the station in time and the driver will contact you in advance.
11:30 Arrive at Yuhuangmiao Town and enjoy the 4,000-year-old ginkgo trees
This 4,000-year-old ginkgo tree is located in Shiyaoba Village (also known as Xihekou, a small place name) in Yuhuangmiao Town, Liuba County, at the entrance to a stunning rural road. Preliminary estimates indicate the tree's age is nearly 4,000 years. Its diameter at breast height is 4.4 meters, and its height is 26 meters. Forestry experts rank it third among ancient ginkgo trees in China and first in Northwest China. A space approximately 3 meters wide exists at the center of the tree, accommodating over 30 people. Every year in late October, after an autumn rain, the ginkgo leaves blanket the ground in a dazzling golden glow, towering into the sky. The stunning colors are truly captivating. It's time for lunch, so we can enjoy Liuba's specialties at a local farmhouse.
Recommended delicacies: braised chicken with ginkgo nuts, soy milk porridge, and fairy powder. I heard that the fairy powder here is rich in protein, fiber, multiple vitamins, and minerals such as calcium, iron, and phosphorus. It is very suitable for middle-aged and elderly people and people with "three highs".
Gaojiang Road: China's most beautiful mountain village tourism route
This 5-meter-wide, 39-kilometer-long road is lined with trees, primarily fir, plane trees, golden willows, ginkgo trees, locust trees, and cherry trees. Late autumn is a prime time for viewing. The uniform Metasequoia trees create two golden ribbons across the landscape. Golden needles drift in the wind, scattering across the ground. Along the roadside, fences, farmland, houses, and cattle create a sense of another world, a quaint and tranquil paradise.
Zhang Liang Temple: A well-preserved temple dedicated to Zhang Liang
Originally built during the Han Dynasty, the Liuba Zhang Liang Temple, inspired by legend that Zhang Liang practiced fasting and seclusion there, has been rebuilt and expanded throughout the ages. Backed by Zibai Mountain and surrounded by serene waters, the temple is one of the most well-preserved shrines dedicated to Zhang Liang in China. Within the temple grounds, nine ancient buildings and courtyards are inscribed on cliffs, along with numerous inscriptions, steles, plaques, and couplets. It stands as a shining pearl among my country's ancient architectural complexes.
[Liuba Old Street] Authentic Liuba cuisine is waiting for you to taste
Said to have been built during the Jiaqing reign of the Qing Dynasty, the old street's rich history is reflected in its stone-paved streets, carved doors and windows, and ornate horse-head walls. The old market still preserves the tradition of the mountain village, where mountain dwellers bring their own dried goods and local produce to market, including valuable medicinal herbs and local specialties. The signature dish, Liuba Eight Bowls, features eight steamed dishes, including crispy pork, chicken, and braised pork belly. Here, you can savor Liuba's delicacies and experience its cultural landscape. The Red Leaf Festival is underway, and beyond the food, guests can also enjoy a variety of folk performances at the long table banquet, experiencing the warmth and simplicity of the people of this hidden Qinling mountain village.
Recommended food: Mother's Home Cuisine (stewed chicken with yam, potato rice, fried rice with bacon, boiled tofu), Landlord's Wife's Private Dishes (bamboo shoots, pepper chicken, pig's trotters, fried fish), Traditional Flavor Restaurant (Liuba twice-cooked fish, roasted chicken, pig's liver soup), Liuba Eight Bowls, etc.
Day 2 Lover's Valley → Lion Valley → Huoshaodian → Hanzhong City
All day
Get up early and enjoy breakfast
Depart for Lover's Valley at approximately 09:00
Entering Lover's Valley, one is immediately struck by a sense of tranquility. The stream, clear and bright, flows freely, carrying the scent of the mountains. Here, amidst 500 acres of larch forest, the autumn sun filters through the branches, casting dappled rays of light. The stream, clear and bright, carries the scent of the mountains. Ascending along the wooden steps, crossing the suspension bridge, one inhales deeply the delicate fragrance of the pine branches, the delicate aroma permeating one's heart. Mountains, water, forests, stories, hopes, romance, and love.
Around 11:00, head to [Shizigou Ranch]
The Shizigou Ranch in Liuba County is located in Zhakou Shiyingpan Village, Liuhou Town, at the foot of Zibai Mountain in Liuba. It is said that this was the place where Zhuge Liang's troops grazed their horses during the Three Kingdoms period. Coming here, you will feel refreshed and relaxed, away from the hustle and bustle and close to nature. There are no tall buildings, and all you see are endless grassland hillsides and leisurely cattle and sheep, as if they were a series of oil paintings jumping into your eyes.
Then go to [Prince Ridge] at the appropriate time
Parking beside a winding mountain road with an average altitude of over 1,500 meters, you will find yourself in a fairyland of clouds and mist. Amidst the misty clouds, you can calmly overlook the red leaves on the mountains, and the magnificent feast of red leaves in the Liuba forest of thousands of red trees will slowly unfold.
14:00-15:00 Go to [Huoshaodian Town]
Take Shitai Road to Huoshaodian Town, where a stroll through the streets brings a sense of rural life and a remarkably fresh air. This area focuses on developing a farming culture experience park and serves as a base for youth nature development education camps. It also boasts a scarecrow theme park, a chestnut picking garden, and the Yankan Village Farming Culture Experience Park.
We will arrive at Hanzhong Railway Station at approximately 18:00, concluding this trip. If you have other travel arrangements or need to book a hotel, please refer to other local itineraries on China-TravelNote. We wish you a pleasant trip.
It is recommended that you book a return ticket after 18:30 to avoid boarding delays. If it is a holiday, please allow more time for boarding.
If you are returning to Xi'an, it is recommended that you book tickets for the Xi'an-Chengdu High-Speed Railway D1942 (18:19-19:39)/G4114 (18:51-20:15);
If you are returning to Chengdu, it is recommended that you book tickets for the Xicheng High-Speed Railway G1835 (18:21-20:52)/G1281 (18:56-21:41).
