Successfully followed the trend! This time, I stepped into a fairyland of rainy-day hiking!

🚶‍♂️ I just have to rave about this ultimate "follow-the-trend" experience!

This time, I defined it as—a spontaneous fairyland hiking adventure in the rain. Wandering through layers of tea fields, with babbling streams underfoot and lingering mist overhead, the feeling was straight out of a textbook depiction of "misty Jiangnan"! 🌿

🌱 My "strategist" was the super-popular "Two Step Road" App, which recommended the Nine Creeks and Eighteen Gullies route. Following the navigation, I plunged headfirst into this rain-washed green world.

Parking 🗿 is a skill here. Don’t wait until the last minute—reserve a parking spot near Nine Creeks a day in advance via the "Cloud West Lake" mini-program, or you’ll just have to watch others drive away.

Once inside, finding a spot can feel like a treasure hunt. Or, for a hassle-free option, park at the Jiuxi Buckingham Hotel—just 4 yuan for 4 hours, an unbeatable deal! Then take a taxi or bus to the Nine Creeks entrance. Easy peasy. 💫

🌟 Strongly recommend bringing two pairs of shoes: one sturdy pair for hiking, and one comfy pair of sandals or flip-flops (Crocs are a rainy-day lifesaver!).

For the Nine Creeks and Eighteen Gullies section, walking in sandals is a blast—cool splashes and direct contact with the stream water, so refreshing! The earlier Shili Langdang section is better paved, so hiking shoes are safer. This combo maximizes the experience! At Nine Creeks, you’ll likely end up wading in the rain—either that or awkwardly carrying your shoes, which is no fun. 👐

🗺 I recommend going clockwise:
Tackle Shili Langdang first, letting your hiking shoes get a bit damp, then transition to Nine Creeks and Eighteen Gullies. If you do it the other way around, wet feet on Shili Langdang’s trails? Ouch—no one wants that.

No worries about hunger or thirst. Snacks, drinks, and hot sausages are sold by vendors along the way. Tired? Pop into a teahouse, sip some tea, and soak in the views. So lighten your load—just bring a water bottle. 👣

🌳 Why especially recommend coming in the rain?
Because! This is the soul of the route!
Sunny days are for scenery;
Rainy days are for atmosphere.
With misty rain and swirling fog, the whole world quiets down—just the sound of water and your footsteps. This "misty Jiangnan" vibe? Priceless!

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 If you’re bringing kids, pick either Nine Creeks or Shili Langdang based on their stamina.

If your little energizer bunny can handle it, congrats—completing the whole route will leave them exhausted but deeply satisfied, guaranteed to sleep like a log afterward! 🌻

This "follow-the-trend" trip? Totally worth it! Rainy Nine Creeks is my hiking fairyland. 🌈