Day 1 Ningbo → Zifeng Village → Maohuo → Lijiakeng → Ningbo
All day
Gather at the south gate of Yager Gymnasium from 8:00 to 8:30 and depart on time after signing in.
Along the way, we interacted with each other under the guidance of the tour leader, introduced ourselves and explained the itinerary. There was laughter and joy all the way! Before we knew it, we arrived at Siming Mountain.
We arrived at the starting point around 10:30 AM. The small village was populated by only a few elderly residents, with harvested corn hanging outside to dry. The air was filled with the scent of autumn, a scene reminiscent of Tao Yuanming's "A distant village warms with warmth, smoke lingers in the market-place. Dogs bark in the deep alleys, cocks crow atop mulberry trees." After packing our belongings, we set off along the country road.
We journeyed through the core area of Siming Mountain, stopping for a moment to experience the vibrant outdoors, as if transported to an oil painting. We arrived at Maohuo Ancient Village, renowned for its photography. At the entrance to Maohuo, towering ancient trees tower over the land. Villagers report that there are over a hundred of these trees, three of which are over 800 years old. Starting in November each year, Maohuo is bathed in a golden glow. The route was easy and simple, perfect for photography. Everyone enjoyed a relaxing and enjoyable journey, capturing photos along the way.
At noon, we had a simple meal at Maohuo. There are many local vendors here. Fried rice cakes and pepper and salt potatoes are local specialties. You can try them!
We continued our journey after lunch. The colorful autumn leaves dotted the mountains, including golden ginkgo leaves, red maple trees, and dark golden pine trees. Every shot was like a painting.
Passing through Zhangxi, we arrived at Lijiakeng, a historic village nestled high in the mountains. Secluded yet poetically beautiful, its houses nestled against the hillside, streams flowing through them. Deep within the Siming Mountains, Lijiakeng Village seems to echo the artistic conception of Wang Wei's "Autumn Dusk in the Mountain." The village's narrow alleys offer glimpses of the towering green mountains as you pass through them. Siheyuan (quadrangle courtyards) in the architectural style of the Ming and Qing dynasties are scattered throughout the village, separated by towering gables and adorned with carved brick plaques.
Get on the bus at Lijiakeng around 16:00 and return to Ningbo!
We returned to the starting point around 18:00, and everyone was still reluctant to leave, so they kissed goodbye with tears in their eyes!
