Qingyang 4 Days 3 Nights! The Red Memories of the Loess Plateau and Autumn Romance

"Can you believe it? Hidden in eastern Gansu is the 'Number One Loess Plateau'—Qingyang! Here, not only is there a red holy land more pristine than Yan'an, but also lamb meat featured on the show 'A Bite of China' and embroidered sachets that 'talk.' In 4 days, I walked from the apple orchards of Dongzhiyuan to the Qin Straight Road at Ziwu Ridge, listened to old party secretaries tell stories of Nanliang in cave dwellings, and encountered the smiles of Northern Wei Buddha statues at Beishiku Temple. This itinerary, costing about 800 yuan per person, helps you avoid all the internet filters and experience the rough yet most touching style of eastern Longdong."

🌟 Must-Visit Attractions

1️⃣ Beishiku Temple

One of Gansu’s four major grottoes, with 308 existing niches and 2,126 statues, especially the Tang Dynasty "Amitabha Buddha Cave" (21 meters high), which is the most stunning.

💡 Tip: Few visitors after 4 PM, perfect lighting for photography; special cave ticket 45 yuan/person, guided tour 100 yuan/group.

2️⃣ Nanliang Revolutionary Memorial Hall

Core of the Shaanxi-Gansu border revolutionary base, free admission (reservation required), AI face swap experience with "Liu Zhidan-style military uniform photo," and a 4D theater recreating the base’s founding history.

3️⃣ Zhouzu Tomb Forest Park

A 4A-level scenic area, climb 800 steps to overlook the entire Qingcheng city, the Huangdi Neijing Thousand Family Stele Forest is perfect for calligraphy lovers, ticket 40 yuan.

4️⃣ Huanzhou Ancient City

A must for night tours! Lingwu Terrace light show recreates the prosperity of the Song Dynasty frontier, copper pot lamb hotpot (60 yuan per person) paired with yellow wine, and intangible cultural heritage shadow puppetry starts every night at 7 PM.

5️⃣ Ziwu Ridge National Forest Park

A "natural oxygen bar" on the Loess Plateau, hiking the Qin Straight Road ruins, golden hills in autumn, recommended to drive there.

🍜 Food Guide: Taste of Qingyang

🔸 Huan County Lamb

Recommended "Gao Family Courtyard" clear water stewed lamb, tender and without gamey taste, dipped in garlic vinegar sauce, about 80 yuan per person.

🔸 Qingyang Saozi Noodles

Must-try at "Ma Family Old Brand" in Xifeng District, sour soup fermented with wheat bran, saozi contains ten ingredients, soup and noodles served separately ("bridge-crossing saozi" ritual), 15 yuan per bowl.

🔸 Zhenyuan Sugar Oil Cake

Mobile stall at Zhenyuan County morning market (5:30-7:30), filled with brown sugar and walnut, crispy outside and soft inside, paired with almond tea, 5 yuan per set.

🔸 Earth-warmed Pot

Winter special at Dongzhiyuan farmhouse, medicinal broth base with pork belly, tofu, vermicelli, heated by charcoal, about 40 yuan per person.

🚗 Transportation Guide

✈️ External Transport

High-speed rail: Xi’an North → Qingyang Station (2 hours, second class seat 163 yuan), Lanzhou West → Qingyang Station (3 hours, 215 yuan).
Flight: Qingyang Xifeng Airport offers routes to Beijing/Shanghai/Xi’an, airport shuttle to city center 30 minutes (20 yuan).

🚕 Local Transport

Car rental: 200 yuan per day on average, recommended self-driving the Dongzhiyuan loop (good road conditions).
Bus: Routes 1 and 2 in Xifeng District cover main attractions, fare 2 yuan.

🏡 Accommodation Recommendations

Type Recommended Hotel/B&B Price (/night) Features
City Convenience Qingyang Hotel (4-star) 400 yuan Cave-themed suite, breakfast includes donkey meat and yellow bread
Scenic Immersion Nanliang Red Town B&B 150 yuan Kang heated cave bed, listen to Liu Zhidan stories at night
High-end Resort Baima Tianchi Hot Spring Hotel 600 yuan Volcanic rock hot springs, overlooking Tianchi Lake
Budget Near Longdong College "Yuanshang Renjia" 80 yuan/person Independent courtyard + kang heated room, paper-cutting experience

📝 Travel Tips

Best Season: September-October (apple harvest + autumn scenery), April-May (Ziwu Ridge locust flower festival).
Ticket Discounts: Present high-speed rail or flight ticket to get free admission to Zhouzu Tomb and Longxi Valley first gate (valid within 7 days).
Clothing Advice: Red clothing suits Nanliang Memorial Hall photos, hiking shoes essential (Ziwu Ridge has many mountain trails).
Souvenirs: Qingyang sachets (Qihuang health sachets, mosquito repellent and calming), Huan County yellow wine (slightly sweet, pairs well with lamb to cut greasiness).

"Are you ready to unlock the surprises of the Loess Plateau in Qingyang?