Day 1 Various locations → → → Chenzhou ★ All-day gathering day
All day
Today is the gathering day for activities.
Tourists from all over the world can choose their own means of transportation and check in at the designated hotel with "China-TravelNote + Name".
Recommended itinerary|
The eighteenth blessed place in the world - Chenzhou, also known as "Fucheng", is close to Guangdong Province. Hunan culture and Lingnan culture are integrated here. It is also a popular tourist city in recent years!
Tourists who arrive early can climb Suxianling, the first of the eight scenic spots in Chenyang, to admire ancient sites such as Suxian Temple and Sanjue Monument, stroll along the steps where the Chinese women's volleyball team has trained, climb to the top to overlook the whole picture of Chenzhou, and take photos and check in.
At night, visit Yuhou Street to experience the vibrant lights of southern Hunan's "Along the River During the Qingming Festival" and admire the charm of its ancient architecture. The nearby Heping Night Market is also bustling and bustling. Once Chenzhou's golden port for business, it has now transformed into a vibrant night market and foodie destination.
Don’t miss out on the delicious food when you come to Chenzhou!
Qifengdu Fish Noodles is a traditional delicacy. Its red broth, fresh fish, and smooth noodles bring back the authentic flavors of Hunan. For those who can't handle spicy food, be sure to ask the restaurant for a mild or no spicy option. And remember to choose the dry-cut noodles for a more chewy flavor!
Roasted chicken is a typical Hunan home-cooked dish with a spicy flavor. There is a legend about it that the great Ming Dynasty traveler Xu Xiake used roasted chicken to cure malaria.
Alternatively, you can first arrive in Changsha for sightseeing, and then take the high-speed train from Changsha to Chenzhou. The last train that night is at 20:58, which takes only a little over an hour.
The hotel will not move for two consecutive nights~ You can enjoy it
Day 2 Chenzhou → Shuangqiao Reservoir → Gaoyiling → Chenzhou
·morning
After breakfast, we will head to Shuangqiao Reservoir, a hidden gem. Once we reach the reservoir, we will take an off-road vehicle and head deep into the canyon.
Shuangqiao Reservoir is known as the real-life "Zelda" game world in Hunan. It only reveals its mountains and water during the dry season (January to March each year), presenting the Danxia landform that is billions of years old. At other times, the canyon is hidden beneath the calm water surface.
The canyon's bottom is moist, fertile, and covered with green grass. Walking through the valley floor feels like walking on the pristine land where dinosaurs roamed in ancient times. From the valley floor, you can admire the spectacular Danxia landforms on both sides of the canyon. The crimson rocks exude a mysterious and sacred aura.
You can also stand on a high place and overlook or take aerial photos of the canyon and meadow. If you have a drone, you can bring it with you, it will produce great photos!
Return in time for lunch
·afternoon
In the afternoon, we took a bus to Gaoyiling, the "corner forgotten by God".
Gaoyiling is an original Danxia scenic spot newly developed in recent years. Its landscapes include Danya Peak Village, Tanxue, Wall Valley, Guanxia, etc. It is the most prominent representative and symbol of beauty of Chenzhou Danxia landform. In recent years, it has gradually become popular on major social platforms.
Visitors can traverse the trails, feeling the texture of the rocks up close, and ascend to a height for panoramic views of the mountains and rivers. The interplay of the red sandstone and emerald green waters of Monitor Lizard Lake creates a striking visual impact. The Dragon's Back Ridge, resembling a winding dragon with its exposed back and steep cliffs on either side, offers a thrilling and adventurous experience.
If the Danxia landforms in the northwest are majestic and desolate, then the Danxia in Chenzhou, Hunan, has a touch of the southern elegance and vitality. The mountains and lakes are intertwined like pleated skirts dancing, and the cliffs are naturally formed with wave-like stone patterns, which are magical and spectacular.
As the sunlight softens in the evening, it's the perfect time to photograph the sunset. Standing on Meilitan, watch the puddles dot the mountainside like scattered jasper. Take out your camera and capture the stunning scene.
Tourists who like a challenge can experience the Danxia via ferrata, walking on the rock face and enjoying the beautiful scenery from different angles.
After the tour, we returned to Chenzhou City. Tourists who didn’t eat well yesterday can continue to find food freely tonight.
Day 3 Chenzhou → Wenshi Yao Township → Reshui Town → Rucheng Incense Dragon
·morning
After breakfast, we came to Wenshi Yao Village, an ancient village with a history of more than 500 years.
Wenshi Yao Township was first built during the Hongzhi period of the Ming Dynasty. It is one of the ancient villages with the most intact original ecology among the existing ancient buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties.
Here, we'll experience the intangible cultural heritage of tie-dyeing, choose your favorite patterns, and create your own unique tie-dye piece. Tie-dyeing typically uses blue and white as the main color scheme, using contrast to create a sense of simplicity.
You can also experience the tea-making in the Song Dynasty and feel the slow life of the Song people. Make a cup of tea and draw a painting that you can drink.
Afterwards, we can stroll through the streets and admire the well-preserved ancient village buildings. If we are lucky, we can also see the ancient and unique Yao dances such as bamboo pole dance and long drum dance, and feel the enthusiasm.
·afternoon
After lunch we will head to Reshui Town, which is known as the "No. 1 Spring in South China".
The hot springs here are high in temperature and high in quality. The rare radon hot springs are rich in various beneficial minerals, offering anti-inflammatory, sedative, analgesic, and desensitizing properties. The open-air park features the Red Army Pool and the She Nationality Natural Bathing Area, offering a wide range of activities and convenient access, eliminating the need for crowds. Enjoy a foot bath or a swim in the open-air hot springs wherever you are!
While enjoying the hot springs, you can also experience special activities such as boiling eggs, boiling peanuts, and boiling sweet potatoes in hot springs, and taste the unique flavors. You can also visit the hot spring museum to learn more about hot springs and broaden your horizons.
·night
After a short break in Reshui Town, we will head to Rucheng to hunt for the incense dragon.
The Rucheng incense dragon is a unique folk activity during the Spring Festival and the highlight of our trip. The incense dragon is a national intangible cultural heritage with beautiful shape and exquisite craftsmanship.
Once lit, the dragon comes to life, shimmering in the night like a real dragon. The performance is grand in scale, with spectacular movements and lions guarding the procession. These performances will be held in villages across Rucheng. We'll chase the most lively and spectacular incense dragon parades, experience the "chain dragon" firsthand, and soak in the rich New Year atmosphere.
I can’t stress this enough: the incense dragon show is not to be missed! The incense dragon show is not to be missed! The incense dragon show is not to be missed!
Return to Rucheng Hotel in due time
4th Tianru City → Mangshan → Mangshan Hot Spring Hotel
All day
After breakfast, we will head to Mangshan Mountain and climb up to see the rising mountains.
Mangshan National Forest Park, hidden in a secret place on the border between Hunan and Guangdong, is the best-preserved virgin forest at the same latitude on Earth and a paradise for nature lovers.
Mangshan is also known as the first mountain in China that doesn't require climbing! Standing at 1,800 meters, it boasts a painless climb, featuring a Yunhai Cable Car, a Space Elevator, and a barrier-free plank road. The 140-meter-high Wandering Earth-style Space Elevator whisks you to the summit in just 49 seconds! The entire route is barrier-free and child- and elderly-friendly, making it a perfect family outing.
At popular attractions such as the Golden Whip Pillar, Small Tiantai, Yaotai Welcoming Guests, Reflection Pool, Wangyuetai, and Wandering Valley Camp, you can enjoy the magnificent scenery of rime, Welcoming Pine, heart-shaped reflections, and the mountains in northern Guangdong. If you are lucky, you can even see the Mangshan Sea of Clouds. Any shot you take will be a New Year blockbuster.
·night
After the trip, we will go to the platinum five-star resort hot spring hotel - Mangshan Forest Hot Spring Hotel.
The hotel is located within Mangshan National Forest Park, where forest coverage reaches 99%, creating a natural oxygen bar. Mangshan Hot Springs is also the highest-altitude hot spring in the Huguang region, a rare and high-quality alpine hot spring. Enjoy it!
No. 5 Tianmangshan Hot Spring Hotel → Chenzhou
All day
In the morning, you can sleep peacefully until you wake up naturally, or enjoy the relaxing time of soaking in the hot springs.
The hotel's hot spring area is exquisitely laid out, with more than 60 special hot spring pools, including red wine and milk hot springs; jungle suspension bridges, Balinese bird nests, cliff-top infinity hot spring pools, waterfall mountain spring baths are waiting for everyone to explore!
Depart from Mangshan Forest Hot Spring Hotel at around 12 noon
Arrive at Chenzhou High-speed Railway Station at approximately 3:00 pm. Please book tickets after 3:30 pm!
