Day 1 Hangzhou → Dongping Ancient Road → Persimmon Village → Duze Old Street → Hangzhou
All day
In the morning, we will gather at Hangzhou Huanglong Seafood Stall for check-in and departure. On the way, the team leader will introduce himself and the team members, explain the itinerary and interact with each other in the car, and the whole journey will be filled with laughter and joy.
Around 10:30, we started hiking and set foot on the Dongping Ancient Road. This is an ancient Tang Dynasty official road that has gone through thousands of years of wind and rain. It has a total of 1,118 bluestone steps. It is simple and heavy. Whenever you step on it, you will always be greeted by a vicissitudes of history.
Arrive at Dongping Persimmon Village. For a perfect spot to enjoy autumn and pick persimmons, Dongping Ancient Village, nestled in the mountains of Qubei, Zhejiang, is a must-see. With its ancient Tang Dynasty official road, clusters of millennia-old persimmon trees, and mountains covered in persimmon trees, the tranquility of this place can only be truly appreciated in person. The village is small, with only about 70 households. Yet, tourists from all over the country frequently venture here for photography and leisure. The village boasts 1,500 persimmon trees, including approximately 150 ancient maple trees and 50 ancient camphor trees. Looking west from the village, lush grasses attract birdsong, while verdant mountains exude endless beauty. Layers of terraced rice paddies paint the autumn fields like vibrant paintings. Foodies can also pick a few persimmons to take home and try some dried persimmons (purchase and dried persimmons are at your own expense).
You can dine at your leisure in the village. In the afternoon, you can continue to wander around the village, take photos, visit the village's B&Bs, and sit down for afternoon tea. Enjoy a relaxing weekend!
After descending the mountain, drive to the nearby Duze Old Street. Developed during the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty, it was known as "a place with thousands of households and ten thousand people," serving as a crucial post station connecting to Jiande and Quzhou. You can visit the Nankong Bookstore and the exhibition hall dedicated to Xie Gaohua and the Tongshanyuan spirit. Of course, the old street's food is a must-try. Enjoy Xie Ji osmanthus cakes, Fatty's egg cakes, crispy pastries, fried dough sticks, and Baoxian handmade wontons (made and cooked fresh, from a shop over 40 years old). And don't forget to try the sausage. Narcissus sausage is to Quzhou what hot pot is to Chongqing: both are synonymous with the city. There are two types: glutinous rice sausage and rice milk sausage. The local custom is to drizzle soy sauce over the cooked large intestine and eat it directly. The plump, glistening pig intestines burst open with a delicious bite. The glutinous rice sausage has a chewy texture and a long-lasting aftertaste, while the rice milk sausage is more delicate, leaving a delightful sensation. Only children make choices, of course we have to eat both enemas!
We regrouped around 4:30 PM and boarded the bus back to Hangzhou, disbanding at around 8:00 PM back in Huanglong. Everyone was still reluctant to leave and kissed goodbye with tears in their eyes!!!
