Summer Road Trip to Nanshan Bamboo Sea Resort

Route Planning

• Day 1: After arriving in Liyang, head to Tianmu Lake Scenic Area. Take a boat tour around the lake and visit attractions like the Zhuangyuan Pavilion, Odd Stone Museum, and Colorful Butterfly Valley. Enjoy a clay pot fish head lunch at Tianmu Lake Hotel. In the afternoon, proceed to Nanshan Bamboo Sea. You can take the mini train to Longevity Square, then switch to a cable car to reach Jiming Village to see giant pandas, or take the ropeway up the mountain and hike to the summit of Wuyue First Peak. After descending, experience the bamboo rafting on the emerald waters.

• Day 2: In the morning, hike at Yixiantian Scenic Area to admire attractions like Yunlong Waterfall, Yixiantian (One-Line Sky), Water Dripping Through Stone, and the Big Stone House. After lunch, return or visit other points of interest.

Attraction Highlights

• Tianmu Lake Scenic Area: A national 5A-level scenic spot featuring lake views, bamboo forests, and hot springs. Activities include boat rides and tea-picking. Ticket price (including boat ride) is around ¥180.

• Nanshan Bamboo Sea: Also a 5A-level scenic area with 35,000 acres of bamboo forest. Visitors can take mini trains and cable cars, and even see giant pandas. Ticket prices: ¥50 (off-peak), ¥70 (peak season).

• Yixiantian Scenic Area: Located along the Zhangli Ancient Trail, this bamboo-covered area offers cool temperatures and must-see spots like Yunlong Waterfall, Yixiantian, Water Dripping Through Stone, and the Big Stone House. Currently, the area is free to enter.

Local Eatery Recommendations

• Tianmu Lake Hotel·Flavor Bistro: Near Tianmu Lake, rated 4.8, specializing in Jiang-Zhe cuisine with rich traditional flavors.

• Fish & Water Affection·Farmhouse Cuisine (Tianmu Lake Branch): Inside the Tianmu Lake scenic area, rated 4.9, known for authentic Su-Zhe dishes.

• Fish Banquet Tower: Near Tianmu Lake’s archway, with a pleasant ambiance. Signature dishes include Tianmu Lake fish head soup and tofu with fish roe and fish maw.

• Wisteria Garden (Nanshan Bamboo Sea Branch): Close to Nanshan Bamboo Sea, famous for Liyang-style stuffed liver and stir-fried wild bamboo shoots with pork.

• Happy Homeland: Located in Nanshan Bamboo Sea, operating for 22 years, offering Liyang’s "Three Blacks and Three Whites" delicacies like fish head soup, white celery, white tea prawns, and black rice.

Transportation Guide

• To Tianmu Lake:
- From Shanghai/Suzhou: Take Hu-Ning Expressway → Xi-Yi Expressway → Ning-Hang Expressway, exit at Liyang South, and drive 8 km to reach.
- From Nanjing: Take Ning-Hang Expressway, exit at Liyang South, and head south 8 km to the scenic area.
- From Hangzhou: Take Hang-Ning Expressway, exit at Liyang South, and drive 8 km south.

• To Nanshan Bamboo Sea:
- From Shanghai: Take Hu-Ning Expressway, switch to Xi-Yi Expressway at Wuxi North, then enter Ning-Hang Expressway. Exit at Liyang East, turn right onto Chengdong Avenue, and follow Zhuhai Avenue for 21 km.
- From Nanjing: Take Airport Expressway to Ning-Hang Expressway (toward Hangzhou), exit at Liyang East, and follow the same route.

• To Yixiantian Scenic Area: Navigate to Qianyuan Village in Yixing. After arrival, turn left into the parking lot. From there, walk about 3 km to the scenic area.

Parking Information

• Tianmu Lake: Parking fee is typically ¥15 per entry.
• Nanshan Bamboo Sea: Parking available on-site; fees subject to local rates.
• Yixiantian Scenic Area: Qianyuan Village has ample parking spaces.
• Internal Transport: For Yixiantian, navigate to its parking lot (~2 km from the site). Shuttle rides cost ¥20/person round-trip, or walk. For Tianmu Lake and Nanshan Bamboo Sea, take tourist shuttles or taxis.

Accommodation Picks

• Luxury Lakeside: Hantian Resort, hillside lakeside access with hot springs.
• Hot Spring Retreat: Yushui Hot Spring Resort Hotel, private hot spring rooms overlooking bamboo sea.
• Budget-Friendly: Nanshan Bamboo Sea Inn, within walking distance to bamboo forest, family rooms available.