Hiking Paradise! Explore the Most Beautiful Forest Boardwalks in Liuba

Here is a concise and practical travel guide for Liuba Scenic Area, with icons highlighting key information:

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🌄 **Core Attractions Recommended**
1. **Zibai Mountain**
- **Highlights**: Alpine meadows, sea of clouds sunrise (reach the summit before 5:00 AM), Tiantan community (karst sinkholes).
- **Tips**: Average summer temperature 22°C, wear non-slip shoes; no signal at the summit, go with companions.

2. **Shizigou Ranch**
- **Activities**: Feeding cattle and sheep, horseback riding (80 RMB/hour), camping and picnicking; golden meadows in autumn, perfect for aerial photography.

3. **Zhang Liang Temple**
- **Features**: Ming and Qing dynasty architecture, strategist culture exhibition, touch the "Child-seeking Bridge" stone monkey for blessings.

4. **Lover’s Valley**
- **Experience**: 500 acres of larch forest, suspension bridge photo spots; wearing light-colored long dresses makes for better photos.

5. **Liuba Old Street**
- **Activities**: Stroll on bluestone paths, intangible cultural heritage rattan weaving experience, send postcards; night tour lights sparkle like a galaxy.

6. **Taiziling & Gaojiang Road** (Autumn only)
- **Highlights**: October’s red leaves paint the forest; “Most Beautiful Rural Road” with golden dawn redwoods, check in at the 4000-year-old ancient ginkgo tree.

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🗓️ **Itinerary Suggestions**
- **One-day tour**: Zhang Liang Temple (morning) → Zibai Mountain (afternoon) → Liuba Old Street (evening).
- **Two-day tour**:
- **Day 1**: Lover’s Valley → Zibai Mountain → Shizigou Ranch.
- **Day 2**: Taiziling hiking → Gaojiang Road self-drive → Old Street intangible cultural heritage experience.

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🍜 **Must-Try Foods**
- **Liuba Cured Meat**: Smoked with cypress branches, served with firewood tofu.
- **Chestnut Stewed Chicken**: Free-range native chicken + Qinling chestnuts, rich and flavorful soup.
- **Walnut Mo**: Freshly baked on Old Street, crispy, fragrant, and sweet (3~5 RMB each).

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⚠️ **Practical Tips**
- **Transportation**: 3.5-hour self-drive from Xi’an, or take high-speed train to Hanzhong then transfer to a bus.
- **Tickets**: Zibai Mountain ¥60, Zhang Liang Temple ¥45 (half price for students).
- **Gear**: Sun protection clothing and hats, sports shoes; big temperature difference in the mountains, bring a light jacket.
- **Best Seasons**:
- Summer (June–August): Cool escape, lush green meadows.
- Autumn (September–October): Red leaves, golden ginkgo.

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💎 **In a nutshell**:
“The beauty of Liuba lies in the rolling clouds of Zibai Mountain, the twinkling lights of Old Street, and the nostalgic aroma of cured meat on the tongue.”