Day 1 Shanghai → Songyang Old Street
All day
Theme song for this route: Mayday's "Starry Sky"
07:15
[Secret Realm Appointment: 07:15 - 13:30]
07:15-07:30 Meet at the designated location of China-TravelNote. Don't be late. Depart on time at 07:30!!!
07:30
On the way, the tour leader began to explain the itinerary, and the team members introduced themselves to each other. The tour leader led everyone to interact and laugh along the way. (The journey is long, and we will stop at two service areas to provide tourists with food and rest.) (There may be traffic jams on holidays, so please be aware of this.)
1:30 PM
[Paddling time: 13:30-16:00]
Arriving near Songyin Creek in Songyang, we took a short break and prepared for a while of paddling.
2:00 PM
Arriving at the stream, Songyin Creek, like a ribbon, its waters flowing clear and emerald. It is the largest tributary of the upper Oujiang River and the mother river of Songyang, Lishui. We each picked up our own kayaks. While touring Songyin Creek, we could also gaze out over Dushan. For the people of Songyang, seeing Dushan is synonymous with seeing Songyang. If you're not in the water, you can simply stroll along the stream and experience the slow pace of life in Songyang.
4:30 PM
We went ashore in time, changed clothes and set off for the hotel (about 10 minutes drive)
5:30 PM
【Wandering in the Old Street: 17:00 - Falling asleep】
After checking in, we'll each explore Songyang Old Street at our leisure. With its 1,800-year history, Songyang Old Street still boasts a variety of traditional shops, maintaining a coexistence of indigenous residents and businesses. It's known as the "living Qingming Riverside Scene." We'll explore Songyang's local specialties like lantern-shaped dishes, water-pulled noodles, and pancakes, savoring the charm of Old Town. (There's also the local specialty Songyang Banquet and Fenglu Meal, which we can sample together. Afterward, we can rent a local shared electric scooter.)
Day 2 Songyang Old Street → Songxuan Ancient Road → Chenjiapu Village → Pingtian Village → Xingchen Mountain
06:00
Good Morning Beauty: Getting Up - 09:00
The happiness of a small town comes from a bowl of steaming hot breakfast in the alley in the morning! Not only that, breakfast is also an important business card of a place. How can you miss the morning in Songyang?
09:00
[Village First Apprentice: 09:00 - 13:00]
Under the arrangement of the tour leader, we checked out and gathered, and drove to the starting point of today's hike. Today we are going to walk the Sidu Township hiking line, a hiking route that connects culture and history: walking on the original ecological stone paths and stone steps, along the way there are gurgling streams, lush forests and bamboos, visiting the original villages of Songyang, and witnessing the changes of history!
09:30
Arrived at the starting point of the hike, Songxuan Ancient Trail, a very primitive ancient trail that represents the simplicity of Songyang! After a little preparation, we set off immediately
10:30
We hiked to Chenjiapu Village, a quaint and tranquil secret place, built in a stepped manner against the mountain. The residential architecture is full of unique charm. These old buildings are mostly made of mud, wood, bricks and stones. The typical stepped layout shows the wisdom and artistic talent of the ancients. There are also popular online check-in stores such as Pioneer Bookstore and Askaji. We will give you some time to explore slowly.
11:30
Continue along the ancient trail and slowly explore the tranquility!
13:00
We arrived at Pingtian Village, the end point of the hike. Built on the mountain, Pingtian Village still retains its "village, terraced fields, and landscape" architectural layout. Many of the old houses in the village have been renovated by famous designers. Pingtian Village is also more artistic than other villages. We rested here for a while and prepared lunch.
2:00 PM
[Appointment with the Stars: 2:00 PM - 6:00 PM]
After lunch, we set off for the Xingchen Mountain Campsite in due time (the drive takes about 2 hours, and you need to change to a small car in the middle, which is included in the fee. Due to limited local vehicle resources, if there are too many people, two rounds of transfers will be provided, and the waiting time is about 30-45 minutes) (the mountain road is winding, so friends who are afraid of motion sickness should prepare motion sickness medicine). This is a starry sky landscape site listed in the "First Batch of Weather and Climate Landscape Sites in the Country" released by the China Meteorological Association, and the stargazing conditions meet the silver standard of the International Dark Sky Park.
4:00 PM
Arriving at Xingchen Mountain Campground, we checked into our camping area and set up our tents. You can also visit the Starry Sky Museum on the top of the mountain! (P.S.: The campground provides showers with 24-hour hot water, toilets, a sink for washing dishes, and more.) (With the recent drop in temperature, it's recommended to bring your own sleeping bag for warmth. Rentals are available at the campground for 30 RMB each.)
Enjoy the free time in the camp, we can enjoy the slow time of camping under the canopy~
5:00 PM
[Starry Sky Story: 18:00 - Falling asleep]
At the camp, we'll start living the life we've always dreamed of. We can choose to have a camp BBQ or bring our own ingredients to cook a delicious mountain meal. After dinner, we can chat about life's interesting stories, play a hearty board game, or, of course, have a special bonfire at Xingchen Mountain! (Special offer) (The camp also features outdoor movie screens, so interested tourists can also watch movies.)
10:00 PM
Guided by our tour guide, we slowly ascended the mountaintop, following the moonlit forest path. This is the perfect spot for stargazing and moon-watching on Xingchen Mountain! The night sky is dazzling, and with a bit of luck, you might even see a shooting star. This tour also includes a photography guide who will be on hand to take photos of the starry sky.
Day 3 Xingchen Mountain → Ruoliao Primeval Forest → Shanghai
06:00
[Waking up: Get up-08:30]
I wonder how all the tourists slept under the starry sky. Anyway, the second day's itinerary has begun. Tourists who get up early can enjoy the fresh air of the camp and prepare a breakfast for themselves (the camp also provides breakfast, which needs to be reserved in advance).
08:30
[Exploring the Primeval Forest: 09:00 - 12:00]
After getting up and having breakfast, we gather and set off to Ruoliao Primeval Forest (about 0.5 hours by car).
09:00
Arriving at Ruoliao Primeval Forest, a national AAAA-level tourist attraction and a rare natural oxygen bar in East China, with a forest coverage rate of 95%, and a climate that is cold in winter and cool in summer, let us shuttle between the lively mountains and rivers and stroll through the wild primeval forest. Every breath we take will soothe our mind, nourish our brain, and cleanse our heart and lungs.
We took the Ruoliao Valley tour route, which featured the best sections of the primeval forest. Along the way, we passed many scenic spots such as Yuhuatan, Qinshuitan, Jiudi Waterfall, Yinquan, and Longxiaowentian. The clear water of the Bitan Lake was visible to the bottom, the gurgling springs were melodious, and the fish swam away without a trace.
12:00
After the hike, we returned to the visitor center for a delicious meal of local farm-style cooking. Using simple ingredients, slow-cooked over a stove, we savored the flavors of Songyang's natural landscapes, evoking the purest memories we cherished. It was truly heartwarming and satisfying! (AA dinner)
13:00
Return: 13:00 - 20:00
After a hearty meal, we set off back to Shanghai
8:00 PM
Arrived in Shanghai, reluctant to leave, ending the perfect starry sky journey!
