Langzhong Ancient City: A Millennial Secret Realm That's Severely Underrated!

Friends, I've discovered a treasure of an ancient city where time stands still!
It's less commercialized than Lijiang and more authentic than Fenghuang.
It's the "No. 1 Fengshui City" where CCTV comes to film.
It's the hometown of the Three Kingdoms where Zhang Fei was stationed for 7 years.
Here's a fresh 2-day, 1-night guide for you!

🔥Hot Spots:
✅ An ancient city that has been a "living fossil" for 2,300 years without changing its name
✅ The only 5A ancient city among China's four major ancient cities that is low-key and niche
✅ The Tai Chi Bagua pattern surrounded by the Jialing River is super stunning
✅ It's perfectly harmonious to stroll through the ancient buildings of the Tang, Song, and Ming and Qing dynasties in Hanfu

📸 Photo Spots with a 100% Success Rate (Personally Tested):
1️⃣ Zhongtian Tower Rooftop: Get a panoramic view of the Bagua formation from an aerial perspective
2️⃣ Huaguang Tower Wharf: The orange river surface at dusk is breathtakingly beautiful
3️⃣ Langzhong Ancient City - Zhuangyuanfang Archway: The red wall and bamboo shadows come with a Chinese-style filter
💡Tips: Contract an empty alley at 7 am to take atmospheric blockbusters

🍜 Langzhong Cuisine:
✔️ Baoning Vinegar Foot Bath + Vinegar Drink (Open a new world!)
✔️ Zhang Fei Beef with Crispy Guokui (Local people line up at the old store)
✔️ White Sugar Steamed Bun with Saozi (Carbohydrate lovers are ecstatic)
📍 Must-Eat: Li's Kitchen/Huaguang Inn Private Kitchen

✨ Hidden Gems:
⚡️ Night tour of the Jialing River to see the light show
⚡️ Experience the ancient imperial examination at the Gongyuan
⚡️ Find an intangible cultural heritage inheritor to learn shadow puppetry

🚅 Transportation Guide:
▫️ Bullet Train: 3 hrs from Xi'an/2 hrs direct from Chengdu
▫️ Self-driving: 3 hours direct from Chengdu to the ancient city parking lot
🏡 Accommodation: Qiang Tui Ranfang Inn/Huazhu Langyuan has a view of the blue tiles from the window

📍 Location: Langzhong Ancient City
💰 Ticket: CNY 110 for a general ticket (single attractions are more cost-effective)