3-Day Ninghai Self-Driving Tour! Off-the-Beaten-Path Small Town Free Admission Foodie Guide

👺 Itinerary:
Day 1: Drive from Shanghai → Yancang Mountain Waterfall → Corner Restaurant → Check in at Ninghai Hanya Kaiyuan Hot Spring Resort Hotel
Day 2: Leisure at hotel (breakfast + stroll) → Longgong Village → Deep Mountain Farmhouse → Return to hotel
Day 3: Qiangjiao Town → See You Again Café → Hengshan Island → Xiangshan Noodle House → Return to Shanghai

⛱️ Must-Visit Attractions:

- Yancang Mountain Waterfall: A hidden gem in the mountains of eastern Zhejiang, not as grand as a big waterfall but full of scenic charm and wild beauty, perfect for summer cooling.
- Longgong Village: An ancient village with nearly a thousand years of history, tucked deep in the mountains, preserving its original ecological look with ancient trees, waterfalls, old buildings against a mountain backdrop, few people and beautiful scenery.
- Qiangjiao Town: Known as "Little Jeju Island" of Ningbo, you can enjoy sea breeze, take fishing boats out to sea, and the coastline is picturesque everywhere, ideal for a slow stroll.
- Hengshan Island: A small island that can be explored in 1.5 hours, with Zhenfuan Temple and Shenhai Bay as check-in spots. It has little commercial atmosphere, few tourists, and a peaceful, healing vibe.

🍜 Food Guide:

- Corner Restaurant: Listed as a must-eat in Ninghai for four consecutive years, dishes are consistently reliable. Recommended dishes include iron plate taro, scallion oil razor clams, braised mixed fish, and pickled vegetable squid, all authentic.
- Deep Mountain Farmhouse: A long-established farmhouse restaurant in Shenjuan Town with a homely flavor. Salt-baked Ninghai seafood and soy sauce duck are good, and stir-fried chicken giblets with garlic scapes is also worth ordering.
- See You Again Café: An Instagram-style café by the pier in Qiangjiao Town, with pure white decor reminiscent of Jeju Island, very photogenic, also offers light meals, a great spot to rest after exploring.
- Xiangshan Noodle House: Seafood noodles with great value and generous ingredients, more down-to-earth than trendy city noodle shops, worth trying when in Ninghai.

🏨 Accommodation Guide:
Recommended Ninghai Hanya Kaiyuan Hot Spring Resort Hotel. Located near Yancang Mountain and Ninghai Forest Hot Springs, like a hidden paradise in the mountains. Rooms have private hot springs, and mountain view hot spring rooms offer exclusive private spring experiences. A creek flows beside the hotel, blending with nature, providing a quiet and relaxing stay, with time to stroll and unwind at the hotel the next day.

💗 Other Tips:

- Tickets: Almost all attractions are free, only Hengshan Island requires 70 RMB per person (includes admission + boat ticket).
- Parking: All attractions offer free parking, convenient for self-driving.
- Transportation: About 3.5 hours driving from Shanghai to Ninghai. Local attractions are best connected by self-driving for flexibility and ease.
- Time: Allocate 1.5 hours for Hengshan Island on the third day, no need to rush; spend more time at the hotel on the morning of the second day to enjoy the mountain leisure.