Day 1 Shanghai → Fenghua → Shanghai
07:00
7:00-7:15 Meet at the designated location of China-TravelNote
07:15
Depart on time (no waiting for late arrivals!)
11:00
We arrived at the Xikou hiking starting point around 11:00, and after warming up we started hiking!
Along the way, we passed through a large peach blossom forest. It must be spectacular here in spring. A touch of red instantly gave us an autumn atmosphere. In this comfortable and romantic season, red maples, Chinese tallow trees, wild chestnuts, yews, and persimmons are full of autumn elements, just like the world in the ancient poem "Tingxia Lake". The shimmering waves in the distance echoed with the red maples. I wanted to freeze the gentleness hidden in autumn forever, so I went to "Mujiawan" to explore this uninhabited village. After passing the village, I could already see the "Qianzhang Rock Waterfall" in the distance. We rested here. Tourists should not be stingy with their cameras to record the beautiful scenery in autumn.
12:30
We will choose a place at the right time to start our road meal, and everyone can share the delicious food!
Along the way, you can see the Maitreya Buddha statue in the distance at Xuedou Temple, also known as Xuedou Zisheng Zen Temple (located northwest of Xikou Town, Fenghua District, Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province). It is located on Xuedou Mountain in Xikou Town. Built during the Jin Dynasty at the mouth of the Qianzhangyan Waterfall, it was known as the Waterfall Courtyard. During the Tang Dynasty, it became known as the "Shifang Zen Temple." During the Song Dynasty, Emperor Renzong dreamt of traveling to Xuedou Mountain, prompting Emperor Lizong to inscribe the inscription "Famous Mountain in a Dream." The abbot of Xuedou Temple, Master Guangwen, carved a stone and built a pavilion to the south, named the "Imperial Writing Pavilion." Literati throughout history have described Xuedou Mountain as "the most beautiful of all the Four Ming Mountains."
On the return journey, the golden Maitreya Altar nestled in the mountains offers a unique charm. We then gathered at the final stop, the Zifulv Temple, home to China's largest circumambulation sutra repositories. The temple's architecture is distinctive, with soaring eaves, carved beams, and painted rafters. Every detail showcases the wisdom and exquisite craftsmanship of the ancients. The Main Hall is a solemn and majestic awe-inspiring golden Buddha statue radiating a compassionate light.
4:30 PM
After the hike, we arrived at Zhejiang Buddhist College. The bus had been waiting for us for a long time, so we boarded it and headed back to Shanghai.
8:00 PM
Back to Shanghai, where we started, we kissed goodbye with tears in our eyes and said we'll meet again next time.
