First Stop of Summer Vacation: Chenzhou! Let's go to this "Southern Hunan Small City"

🌄 Summer in Chenzhou | Misty Danxia × Grassland Star River

Who understands! The morning mist here writes poetry 🌫️

Xiao Dongjiang's fishing nets cast gold × Gaoyiling's red dragon lies on the waves

Key points!! Yuhou Street travels through the Ming and Qing dynasties, Wayao Ping Ancient Ferry explores with sculling, unlocking Southern Hunan beyond textbooks!

June Exclusive: Best viewing period for Misty Xiao Dongjiang 💧, Yangtian Lake's green carpet unfolds, Gaoyiling's Danxia is even more vibrant after rain!

🚉 How to Get There

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🚄 High-speed rail to Chenzhou West Railway Station (approx. 1.5 hours from Guangzhou/Shenzhen)
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🚗 Self-driving: approx. 3.5 hours from Guangzhou/Shenzhen (navigate to "Dongjiang Lake Tourist Center")
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✈️ Flight: Transferring to high-speed rail from Changsha/Guangzhou airports is more convenient

📅 3-Day Itinerary: From Morning Mist to Star River

Day 1: Grassland Awakening | Hobbit × Cloud Pasture

▫️ 9:00

→ Arrive at Chenzhou West Railway Station by high-speed rail, rent a car/charter a car directly to Yangtian Lake Grand Grassland (1.5-hour drive)

✅ Must-do:

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Check in at the Hobbit House, interact with sika deer/alpacas
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Ride horses across the green waves (￥50/lap), wildflowers adorn the slopes in June
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New experience: Grassland makeup photos, take oil painting-like blockbusters (scenic area provides costumes)
▫️ Noon
→ Taste High Mountain Mushroom and Free-Range Chicken Soup at the grassland restaurant (inside Yangtian Lake scenic area, incredibly fresh)
▫️ 15:00
→ Drive to a hotel by Dongjiang Lake (recommend "Xinbo Hotel", misty river visible from the window)
▫️ Night
→ Suspension Bridge BBQ Night Market (by Zixing Dongjiang Suspension Bridge, grilled Dongjiang Culter + iced bayberry juice)
🏨 Accommodation: Boutique B&B in Dongjiang Lake area

Day 2: Misty Wonderland | Net Casting × Danxia Red Cliffs

▫️ 5:30

→ Misty Xiao Dongjiang (Scenic area opens at 6 AM! Wait at Observation Deck No. 2 for fishermen to cast nets, morning mist like flowing ink wash painting)

▫️ 8:00

→ Longjing Gorge (waterfall group with extremely high negative oxygen ions, seek the "Rainbow Waterfall" spectacle)

▫️ Noon

→ Dongjiang Lake Salmon Feast (outside the scenic area, "live swimming salmon", five ways to eat one fish, sashimi is the freshest)

▫️ 15:00

→ Gaoyiling Danxia (even more beautiful after rain! Walk the Dragon's Back Glass Skywalk, drone view is stunning)

▫️ Magic Hour

→ Mahuangqiu Grand Canyon (Free! Drive through 6 km of Danxia road, sunset dyes the valley red)

▫️ Night

→ Yuhou Street Time Travel (bluestone slabs reflect neon, listen to Chenyang Lantern Folk Tunes + intangible cultural heritage paper-cutting experience)

Day 3: Ancient Ferry Mystery | Cui River Rafting × Mining Town Memories

▫️ 9:00

→ Feitianshan Jiulong Water Village (take a bamboo raft on Cui River, see Shiziling Hanging Coffins + Danxia water erosion patterns)

▫️ 11:00

→ Wayao Ping Ancient Ferry (drink Lei Cha at Ming and Qing dynasty shops, new boardwalk for river and gorge in one frame)

▫️ Noon

→ Roast Chicken Street (Wulidui Road, crispy spicy chicken skin + soup mixed with noodles, a soulful way to eat)

▫️ 14:00

→ 711 Time Town (explore "China's First Meritorious Uranium Mine for Nuclear Industry", passionate industrial style)

▫️ 16:00

→ Before returning, shop for Chenzhou's Four Treasures:

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Qifengdu Fish Noodle seasoning packet with explosive spiciness (supermarket ￥10/bag)
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Intangible Cultural Heritage Guidong Yellow Ciba (vacuum-packed, suitable for frying or grilling)
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Dongjiang Dried Fish (freshly grilled at the Suspension Bridge Night Market)
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Mineral Crystal Specimens (a must-buy in the City of Chinese Ornamental Stones)

🌟 Key TIPS

1️⃣ Photography Code

Spot Best Time Secret Tip
Xiao Dongjiang Fisherman Casting Net 6:00-7:30 Observation Deck No. 2, use 200mm telephoto to capture the golden arc
Gaoyiling Dragon's Back 16:00-18:30 Danxia is fiery red after rain, wear non-slip shoes!
Yuhou Street Quexian Bridge After 20:00 lights up Low angle to shoot lantern reflections + Chen River ripples

2️⃣ Food Cues

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Fish Noodle Scene:
→ For breakfast, head to Nanhu Road Rice Noodle Street (Qifengdu Fish Noodles with red oil soup base + pickled long beans)
→ For late-night snack, try Dashuxia Fish Noodles (Feihong Road, a legendary spicy dish that closes at 4 AM)
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Hardcore Flavors:
→ Yuhou Street Sanjia Taste Restaurant (red oil pig ears + sour soup yellow catfish)
→ Laodong Road Gaoxing Local Cuisine Restaurant (stir-fried tomatoes with mooncakes! A dark cuisine that's surprisingly delicious)

3️⃣ Pitfall Avoidance Guide

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🚫 Must-read to avoid being ripped off:
→ For Dongjiang Lake salmon, choose "live swimming fish", drain water before weighing!
→ Chartered car price reference: Chenzhou West Railway Station - Yangtian Lake ￥200/car, Dongjiang Lake - Gaoyiling ￥150/car
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☔ Rainy Season Tips:
→ June is rainy, Danxia trails are slippery, prepare non-slip shoe covers + disposable raincoats
→ Misty Xiao Dongjiang requires a temperature difference of 8℃ or more to form mist, check the weather forecast in advance!

💡 Hidden Gems

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Blue Tears alternative: Night rafting on Xiao Dongjiang to encounter fireflies (late June to July)
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Free observation deck: Bailang Lakeside Road "Changyingtou Pier", 270° lake view
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Local experience: Book bamboo raft singing at Wayao Ping Ancient Ferry (local fishermen sing Southern Hunan folk tunes)

The magic of Chenzhou is the golden arc drawn by fishing nets in the morning mist of Xiao Dongjiang, the wild wind sweeping past your ears on the slopes of Yangtian Lake, and even more so, the lantern folk tune drifting from the teahouse on Yuhou Street late at night. Three days are too short, just enough to hide a glowing summer dream in the folds of the Danxia red cliffs.

Appendix: 24h Chenzhou Stomach Challenge Chart

⏰ 6:00 Nanhu Road Qifengdu Fish Noodles

⏰ 9:30 Dashuxia Explosively Spicy Fish Noodles (for warriors only)

⏰ 12:00 Dongjiang Lake Live Swimming Salmon Sashimi

⏰ 15:00 Yuhou Street Rice Dumpling Cake

⏰ 19:00 Wulidui Road Roast Chicken

⏰ 22:00 Suspension Bridge Night Market Grilled Dongjiang Culter