Visit Shisi Temple in Jingning, Lishui to see the thousand-year-old ancient village and hike in the Yunzhong Daji Mountains

Traveling should be about exploring the province, with a fairy wife and a precious child at home. I am Summer Dad, who loves sharing family travel tips.

These days I have been sharing travel guides for Lingshui, Hainan. Many friends think Hainan is a bit far. For National Day, if you want to travel around Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai, today I will recommend this hidden gem in southern Zhejiang—Jingning, Lishui.

🚗 Last holiday, I took my child to hide in the She ethnic minority town of Jingning in southern Zhejiang, with ancient villages shrouded in mist, terraced tea mountains, intangible cultural heritage crafts, and wild mountain hiking. Few people, beautiful scenery, low prices, and an immersive ethnic experience for kids!

Here is a 3-day, 2-night off-the-beaten-path itinerary plus a comprehensive family travel guide👇
📍Jingning She Autonomous County, Lishui City, Zhejiang Province
Day 1⃣️ Check in at Nayun · Sky City on the Cliff, experience the family hotel’s rich children’s activities, and soak in a hot spring.
Day 2⃣️ Visit She Ethnic Window and Dajun Ancient Town, wear traditional She costumes to experience local culture, and enjoy rafting.
Day 3⃣️ Visit Shisi Temple to see the thousand-year-old ancient village and explore Yunzhong Daji to breathe fresh air.

🌿 Yunzhong Daji · The real-life Wizard of Oz
✔️ Take the kids to explore the thousand-year-old village: a 1500-year-old king cedar tree with a canopy that covers the sky, and the wooden architecture aesthetics of Song Dynasty Shisi Temple are stunning.
✔️ Snowflake Daji hike: follow moss-covered stone steps upstream, with a hundred-meter waterfall creating a rainbow—super dreamy.

🌸 In-depth She Ethnic Culture Tour
✔️ She Ethnic Window: go to Dajun Ancient Town, see the lush Song camphor trees, enjoy the She ethnic landscape during rafting, and experience the joy of cascading waterfalls.
✔️ China She Ethnic Museum: wear phoenix costumes with colorful ribbons, learn She language mountain songs, and challenge the whole family to bamboo pole dancing!

📌【Tips】
1⃣️ During National Day, it is recommended to rent a car or drive yourself; attractions are scattered but roads are good.
2⃣️ The mountain temperature varies greatly; prepare windproof jackets and mosquito repellent for children.

Compared to popular scenic spots, Jingning feels more like a paradise. My son listened to the wind with his mom under ancient trees in the village and played with stones and water under the hundred-meter waterfall. Touching the heartbeat of thousand-year-old culture with your own hands—perhaps this is the most precious meaning of family travel.

For more family travel and kid-friendly guides, check out my note collection on my homepage.