Day 1 Various locations → → Tonglu Secret Territory → Yanzhou Prefecture
·morning
Departing from Hangzhou: Suggested time: 8:30-9:00, within the Hangzhou Ring Road, door-to-door pick-up service is provided (customers specify 1 pick-up point, residential area or hotel)
High-speed rail departure: Preferred: Tonglu Station around 10:00 (closer to the scenic area), alternative: Hangzhou East Station around 9:00 (large station with more trains)
·afternoon
--Follow Deng Chao and Sun Li to explore the hidden gems of Tonglu--
Visit the hidden ancient longevity village of Shishe Village and try the intangible cultural heritage snack "rice sieve" and fresh Luci River delicacies. The stone-built village is surrounded by mountains on four sides and water on three sides, offering stunning scenery. Walk along the Maling Ancient Trail and experience the tranquility of life nestled between the mountains and water. Clear streams flow by, and in the summer, you can enjoy a refreshing dip in the water while fishing. The village also boasts the Saxiu Coffee and Bookstore, where the owner curates fascinating monthly exhibitions featuring books, art, coffee, and wine. It's a truly delightful place.
Visit the secluded valley of Qinglongwu, an architectural art village. Check out the "A New Old House: Rural Recycling" (Observation Tower), a building featured at the 16th Venice International Architecture Biennale. Here, you'll find China's first rural capsule bookstore, Yanjiyou Capsule Bookstore. The design-focused Yanjiyou Bookstore is characterized by its "never copycat" aesthetic. With its 7-meter-high glass curtain wall and multi-level, staggered structure, this valley, far from the bustling city, allows art to awaken the countryside. Grab a cup of coffee, read, and unwind.
Drive out of the mountains to see the real scenery of "Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains". This place is known as the Little Three Gorges of the Fuchun River, which shows its beautiful scenery. Strolling along the riverside greenway is like walking in a landscape painting.
--Fuchun Riverside Internet Celebrity Cafe--
Take a break at Jiande's internet-famous café, Sunset Spring River. Included in your price: choose one of two: a latte (hot or iced) or iced Spring River Sunset sparkling water. Here, you'll be ready to capture Instagram-worthy photos in no time.
--Visit the ancient city of Yanzhou and experience the culture of the Song Dynasty--
Visit Meicheng, the Yanzhou prefecture that once governed thirteen counties in western Zhejiang. It's said, "There are two and a half plum blossoms in the world: one in Beijing, one in Nanjing, and half in Yanzhou (Meicheng). This ancient city, with over 1,800 years of history, is the birthplace of the spirit of "making contributions and establishing virtue." The old streets are lined with archways, and the air is thick with the atmosphere of everyday life. Climb the ancient city walls and ascend the towers to gaze at the confluence of the three rivers (Xin'an, Lan, and Fuchun), the vastness of the mountains and the mighty rivers, and delve into the millennia-old culture of this ancient city.
Discover Jiande delicacies here: renowned tofu buns, stick fish, Yanzhou dried vegetable duck, Jiande salty rice dumplings, and more. The ancient town also boasts the internet-famous restaurant Yanzhou 31st Road, housed in a renovated old factory building, offering a nostalgic retro feel that transports you back to the 1980s and 1990s.
After a day of sightseeing, check in to your B&B/hotel
·night
--Night Tour of the Ancient City-- (Accommodation Package 1: B&B in the Ancient City, included in this itinerary)
--Riverside BBQ-- (Accommodation Package 2: Xixia Qingye B&B, includes this itinerary)
--Dreamlike Xin'an River Night Cruise-- (Accommodation Package 3: Wyndham Hotel, included in this itinerary)
In the evening, head to the Dreamy Xin'an River Night Cruise Pier (taxi transfer required) to experience the dazzling lights of the Xin'an River under the night sky. The Xin'an River maintains a temperature between 12-17°C year-round, warm in winter and cool in summer. The unique temperature difference between the water and air creates a spectacular spectacle - the White Sand Mist.
Note: The boat departs at 20:00. If you are late and cannot play, no refund will be given
Day 2 Meicheng → Qiandao Lake
All day
In the morning, you can go to the Xin'an River on your own, or climb the city tower to watch the confluence of the three rivers and encounter the magnificent Xin'an fog.
After breakfast, we will set off upstream along the Xin'an River to reach the Thousand Island Lake in Xiushui. Today we have two options for you to choose from (choose one of the following itineraries).
1. For tourists who are physically fit and love outdoor sports, we choose the Vibrant Thousand Island Lake Tour (climbing + cycling + kayaking)
First, we went to Menggutang Cultural Park to look for historical traces, climb Kuixing Tower and enjoy the beautiful scenery of lakes and mountains.
Afterwards, we arrived at the Cycling Station to collect our cycling gear, check and adjust our bikes, and learn about cycling safety precautions. We then set off for a leisurely cycling tour along the Greenway surrounding the lake, enjoying the stunning scenery. (The cycling time is free and relaxing, covering the highlight of the Qiandao Lake Cycling Greenway: from Muxin Valley Station to Shangjiangbu Viewing Platform. The round trip is approximately 20 km, with good road conditions and ideal for taking photos. The total cycling time is approximately 2 hours.)
At noon, we came to Chun'an's Little Chongqing [Qilon Lane] for lunch. There are authentic local restaurants here. We checked in at the authentic Qiandao Lake Fish Restaurant (Shizijie Main Branch) and felt the hustle and bustle of the city.
In the afternoon, we went to the Water Park and kayaked in the water paradise, getting up close and personal with the enchanting beauty of the Thousand Islands Lake.
2. For tourists who enjoy leisure and vacation, we choose the Charming Qiandao Lake (cruise + island landing)
Around 9:00 am, depart from the central lake area pier by boat and sail through the beautiful mountains and waters.
Climb to the Meifeng Observation Deck for a panoramic view of over 300 islands. Explore Meifeng Island, Yule Island, Longshan Island, and Moonlight Island for a fun and relaxing experience. (Total tour duration approximately 6 hours, with lunch free on one of the islands.)
After completing one of the above two trips,
Check in at the Qiandao Lake Internet-famous Lighthouse and experience the speed and passion at the racing theme park.
If you still have time, head to Fuwen Township, the home of the film "My Hometown and Me." This popular film features a dazzling primary school in the standalone segment "The Last Lesson," which captivated the audience. This isn't a special effect; the school actually exists. Dubbed "China's Most Beautiful Rural School," the renovated Fuwen Central Primary School, with its stunning green hills from afar and rainbows from up close, has become a fairytale-like dream castle for children, reminiscing about their childhoods. (External visits and filming within the school grounds are permitted, but admission fees are at your own expense.)
End the Qiandao Lake trip in time and return to the B&B/hotel to rest.
Day 3 Meicheng → Lanxi Youbu Ancient Town → Jiande High-speed Railway Station
All day
Today, after breakfast, we went upstream along the Lanjiang River to Lanxi, known as the "Chaoshan of East China", to catch some fireworks.
Visit Youbu Ancient Town, one of the "Four Millennium Ancient Towns in Zhejiang Province". 99% of tourists don't know about Youbu Ancient Town, but the residents have been drinking morning tea there for hundreds of years.
The local morning tea tradition is rooted in its nearly millennium-old dock culture. Since Youbu became a dock during the Eastern Jin Dynasty, shops have flourished, boats have been plying the waters, and merchants have flocked to it. Its connection to the Qianjiang River system has earned it the reputation of "the first port in the upper reaches of the Qianjiang River." To evoke this vibrant past, consider the five bridges across the stream: Taiping Bridge, Yong'an Bridge, Yongji Bridge, Yongfu Bridge, and Laoxi Bridge. These bridges, each unique in appearance and imbued with an ancient charm, resemble the rings of time that define Youbu Town.
In the morning, stroll along the quaint and lively morning tea street. Have a cup of tea and listen to the veteran tea drinkers recount their past and present experiences in Youbu.
You can also visit the interesting Camera Museum, the Three Dog Soy Sauce Garden, and the Glass Palace and Youbu Art Bookstore, walk across one ancient bridge after another, and see many old crafts that are gradually becoming memories: making hand beam scales, ironwork, cotton-flossing, and barbering...
At noon, we started with a bowl of authentic beef noodles and were fed with Lanxi delicacies:
1. Beef noodles, the noodles must be hand-rolled, the soup is rich and refreshing, and the noodles are chewy and springy, which will make you ecstatic at first taste!
2. Chicken Cake, as a representative of Lanxi cuisine, it will make you marvel at how food with scallions as the main ingredient can be so captivating and you will be captivated by it in an instant!
3. When you bite into the tofu skin glutinous rice balls, you will find the skin is tender and the filling is bouncy, with the delicious soup filling up your mouth. This unique and magical experience can only be found in Lanxi!
4. Meat sinker, full of meat, it tastes so fresh when you take a bite!
5. In the summer, two things you absolutely can't live without are water noodles and crystal cake. Whether paired with honey water or ice milk, a refreshing bite of crystal cake will completely erase the scorching sun!
6. There are also six-fingered shortbread and so on.
The trip ended around 14:00 in the afternoon and we started our return journey.
High-speed train departure: Arrive at the high-speed train station around 3:30 PM (please allow an extra hour on holidays). Possible departure times include: Jinhua Station, Jiande Station, Tonglu Station, or Hangzhou East Station (we will arrange your itinerary and drop-off based on your scheduled high-speed train).
Disbandment in Hangzhou: Arrive in downtown Hangzhou at approximately 17:00
