Day 1 Suzhou → Youfu Ancient Town → Longyou Grottoes → Jiangshan Hotel
07:00
Meeting point 1: 07:00-07:10, intersection of Jintang Street and Zongguantang Road (near Exit 6 of Pinghe Road Station on Metro Line 2. Self-driving cars can park at Yaosheng Building, capped at 20 yuan/day)
Meeting Point 2: 07:30-07:35, Suzhou City Toll Station (G1522 Changtai Expressway Entrance), 200 meters south, waiting for the bus under the elevated road (if you drive, you can park at Huadong Decoration City, the maximum fee is about 25 yuan/day)
12:30
We arrived at Youbu Ancient Town. This ancient town is famous for its snacks: meat dumplings, chicken cakes, meat pancakes, tofu dumplings, copper coin pastries, and fried square rice dumplings. The variety is dazzling, and the street vendors are overflowing with fragrance. It's impossible to try them all!
2:30 PM
After eating and shopping, we gathered on the bus and continued on our journey.
3:00 PM
Arrive at the Longyou Grottoes, hailed as the "Ninth Wonder of the World." Over 50 caves are scattered across several square kilometers of mountainside. Since their discovery in 1992, the mysteries surrounding their formation have ranged from storing troops and grain, to sacrificial ceremonies, and stone quarrying. While the Longyou Grottoes offer a glimpse into ancient splendor, they also hold a wealth of unfathomable mysteries.
5:00 PM
Gather on the bus and proceed to Jiangshan City Hotel for check-in.
6:00 PM
Arrive in Jiangshan City, check in, and quickly explore the delicious food in Jiangshan, Quzhou. The director of "Flavorful Origins" commented that "every dish is delicious"!
We went to bed early in the evening and look forward to Jianglang Mountain tomorrow!
Day 2 Jiangshan City → Jianglang Mountain → Nianbadu Ancient Town
09:00
After breakfast, we will depart for the famous World Heritage Site [Jianglang Mountain]. Jianglang Mountain is known as "the most majestic and beautiful mountain in the world, and the most beautiful mountain in the southeast". It is famous for its majestic and unique "Three Stones" and has become a "landmark" of Jiangshan since the Tang Dynasty.
Preparing to climb the mountain, we first arrived at the Eighteen Bends, each offering a unique view, like entering a maze. Just beyond the bends lies a thousand-year-old temple. A gentle mountain breeze sweeps away the mist, creating a sudden, open view. The faint sound of the Kaiming Zen Temple bells drifts in. Here, body and mind find peace, and worldly concerns fade away. I wish to transform into a mountain plant, taking root deeply, listening to the mountain's whispers and swirling with the valley's streams, swirling through the long river of time. Nearby are Jianglang Academy and Great Man Peak. After a short rest, we headed towards "One Line of Sky."
Long stone steps stretch forward, like a dragon whose end is never seen. Walking through them brings a chill that chills the spine. Standing tall among the boulders atop the mountains, it is perpetually shrouded in clouds and mist, a scene of endless change. It truly deserves to be called the most beautiful "slit of sky" in China. If you have the energy, you can challenge the Langfeng Sky Tour! Climb to the summit of Langfeng Peak!
5:00 PM
Descend the mountain and head to Nianbadu Ancient Town. Located in the heart of three provinces, Nianbadu boasts a well-preserved collection of Ming and Qing dynasty architecture. Known as a "dream lost in the mountains," it remains hidden and unknown. Through millennia of integration, the town's architecture blends Hui-style horse-head walls, Zhejiang-style roof ridges, Gan-style eaves, and Fujian-style brick walls. Fengxi River flows through the town from north to south, and from its reflection, the whitewashed walls and black tiles ripple on the water, creating a unique and captivating scene.
After checking in, we strolled through Nianbadu, a place with a 99% resemblance to ancient towns across China. Nianbadu is that "1%." It's a place packed with snacks, with a leisurely network of streets and waterways. Its charm awaits you to experience firsthand.
Rest early, tomorrow we will go to Xianxia Ancient Trail for a light hike~
Day 3: Nianbadu Ancient Town → Xianxia Ancient Road → Suzhou
09:00
In the morning, you can get up early and stroll freely in the ancient town to experience the quiet and leisurely time.
Start from Nianbadu Ancient Town and arrive at the starting point of the Xianxia Ancient Trail.
The Xianxia Ancient Road, known as the "key to the southeast and the throat of Fujian", winds its way through ancient villages and lush green mountains and rivers, passing on legendary stories and folk customs of the past.
The cobblestone road that passes through the mountains and forests has different charm in the woods, on the hillsides, beside the ridges, and under the stone passes, making us linger and unable to extricate ourselves from the beautiful scenery.
Xianxia Pass is hidden deep in the bamboo forest. After thousands of years, the foundation stone is still neat and solid. Thinking of the golden weapons and iron horses that existed thousands of years ago, which have now turned to ashes, I suddenly feel insignificant.
After passing the first checkpoint, you can climb up the winding ancient road to the top of the mountain. This section of the ancient road is the best preserved in the scenic area. When you climb up and look into the distance, the continuous peaks in the background are the magnificent Xianxialing Mountains. When you see the second checkpoint, it means you have reached the top of the mountain. Looking around, you will see lush forests and bamboos, and lush greenery, which is soothing to the body and mind. All tiredness will disappear. At the southern end of the mountain, stands the third checkpoint. After passing the third checkpoint, you will see the fourth checkpoint of Xianxia in just a few minutes.
13:00
After lunch at the exit of the ancient road, we took a bus back to Suzhou.
7:30 PM
When we returned to Suzhou, everyone was reluctant to leave and kissed goodbye with tears in their eyes.
