Four Days and Three Nights Exploring Panjin

Pan Jin Four Days and Three Nights In-Depth Travel Guide
Budget: 6000 RMB (for 2 people) | Theme: Wetland Wonders + River Crab Feast + Hot Spring Therapy

📅 Itinerary Overview

Day 1: Arrive in Panjin → Red Beach National Scenic Corridor → Erjie Gou Fishing Village
Day 2: Dingxiang Ecotourism Area (Reed Sea Crab Beach) → Liaohe Art Museum → Panjin Night Market
Day 3: Beilu Tianyuan (Ancient Style Hot Spring Town) → Heifengguan Ancient Town Night Tour
Day 4: Liaohekou National Nature Reserve (Bird Watching) → Return Trip

💰 Budget Allocation (for 2 people)

| Item | Cost (RMB) | Notes |
|---------------|------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Transportation| 1500-2000 | High-speed train/self-drive round trip (e.g., Beijing → Panjin high-speed train about 3 hours, self-drive about 6 hours) |
| Accommodation (3 nights) | 1200-1800 | 2 nights in a city four-star hotel + 1 night in a hot spring guesthouse |
| Meals | 1000-1200 | Includes river crab feast, seafood barbecue, farmhouse dishes |
| Tickets/Experiences | 600-800 | Red Beach, Dingxiang Ecological Area, hot springs, etc. |
| Local Transportation | 400-500 | Car rental/charter (car rental recommended, about 200 RMB/day) |
| Others | 300 | River crab specialties, cultural and creative souvenirs |

🌟 Daily Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Wetland Wonders and Fishing Village Charm

Morning: Arrive in Panjin, recommend renting a car (more convenient for visiting wetland spots), check in at a city hotel (recommended Panjin Ruishi Hotel).
Lunch: Lao Yangtou River Crab Restaurant (steamed river crab + crab roe tofu, about 100 RMB per person).
Afternoon:
Red Beach National Scenic Corridor (ticket 110 RMB, best in September-October): stroll on the boardwalk, see the red carpet of Suaeda salsa and red-crowned cranes.
Erjie Gou Fishing Village (free): experience fishermen’s life, photograph fishing boats at sunset.

Dinner: Fishing Village Food Stall (garlic clams + braised sea bass, about 80 RMB per person).

Day 2: Ecology and Art

Morning:
Dingxiang Ecotourism Area (ticket 80 RMB): boat tour of the reed sea crab beach, close observation of wild river crabs.
Taiping River Scenic Belt (free): cycling or walking (bike rental 20 RMB/hour).

Lunch: Farmhouse Stewed Fish Restaurant (iron pot stewed mixed fish + corn cakes, about 60 RMB per person).
Afternoon:
Liaohe Art Museum (free): largest art museum in Northeast China, check out the industrial-style architecture.
Liaohe Folk Museum (free): learn about Panjin wetland culture.

Dinner: Panjin Night Market (recommended grilled river crab, fried river shrimp, about 50 RMB per person).

Day 3: Hot Spring Ancient Town Stroll

All day: Drive 1 hour to Beilu Tianyuan (ticket 60 RMB):
Experience ancient-style hot springs (additional 80 RMB/person), wear Hanfu for photos.
Winter offers skiing, summer has water activities.

Lunch: Rice Field Restaurant inside the park (fragrant steamed pork + crab field rice, about 70 RMB per person).
Evening: Heifengguan Ancient Town (night tour ticket 50 RMB): light show, iron flower performance.
Accommodation: Beilu Tianyuan Hot Spring Guesthouse (about 400 RMB/night, includes private hot spring).

Day 4: Bird Watching and Return

Morning:
Liaohekou National Nature Reserve (free, reservation required): birdwatching paradise (crane migration in spring, flocks of geese and ducks in autumn).
Panjin Rice Museum (free): learn about the history of “China’s Crab Field Rice Hometown.”

Lunch: Wang Baocai River Crab Hot Pot (river crab hot pot + fresh shrimp paste, about 90 RMB per person).
Afternoon: Before returning, buy river crab gift boxes (about 100 RMB/box, can be shipped) or reed weaving crafts.

⚠️ Notes

Seasonal Limits:
Red Beach’s best viewing period is mid-September to mid-October; other seasons it is green or yellowed.
River crabs are fattest from September to November; seafood can be chosen as a substitute in summer.

Transportation Tips:
Electric carts (35 RMB/person) are required inside Red Beach Scenic Area; private cars cannot enter the core area.

Money-Saving Tips:
Buy combined tickets for Red Beach + Dingxiang (about 160 RMB, saves 30 RMB compared to buying separately).
River crab market prices fluctuate greatly; recommend buying at Hu’s River Crab Market and processing yourself (about half the price of restaurants).

🦀 Must-Try Foods List

Panjin River Crab (female crabs rich in roe, male crabs thick in paste, best steamed fresh).
Crab Field Rice (even a bowl of plain rice tastes sweet and fragrant).
Clam Stewed Tofu (local clams with tender and plump meat).

If you need to adjust the itinerary (such as adding family-friendly activities or shortening hikes), just let me know! 🌾♨️