National Geographic Highly Recommends! 2 Hours from Hangzhou to the Last Jiangnan Secret

🌥️The sea of clouds drifts over the bamboo forest, the coffee in hand steaming warmly, and beneath my feet are the scattered yellow clay walls of a 600-year-old ancient village—at this moment, I finally understand why National Geographic calls Songyang "the last secret of Jiangnan."

📖 Ancient Village Walking Guide
1️⃣ Yangjiatang Village → Jiangnan’s Potala Palace
🌇 At dusk! The sunlight gilds the rammed earth walls, an old farmer leads cattle past the 350-year-old "Couple Tree" at the village entrance, and every snapshot looks like a National Geographic masterpiece.
💡 Tips: Arrive before 7 to avoid crowds, free parking available.

2️⃣ Songzhuang Village → National Geographic Cover Ancient Bridge
💧 A stream runs through the village, the reflection of the 600-year-old stone arch bridge is picturesque, hide away in the "Taoye Homestay" book bar for a hand-brewed coffee, and listen to villagers pounding clothes under the bridge—time slows down here.

3️⃣ Chenjiapu Village → Artistic Universe on the Cliff
📚 Order a "Mountain Mist Latte" (38 RMB with a complimentary book voucher) at the Vanguard Bookstore, take a diagonal shot of the bookshelf and sea of clouds from the second-floor terrace; visit the woodworking shop to buy a pine-scented soap, and send a postcard of the sea of clouds from the post office.

4️⃣ Hidden Gems
🌾 Youtian Village: 400-year-old Masson pine guarding rice fields, a paradise for sketch artists
🏘️ Tanghou Village: A symphony for perfectionists! Symmetrical rammed earth houses with a natural vintage filter
🎋 Shanlong Village: Step into the bamboo forest theater and listen to the rustling of wind through bamboo leaves

🗺️ Itinerary
✨ 2 Days 1 Night Highlights
🛤️ Day 1: Hangzhou → Lishui High-Speed Rail (1.5h) → Songyang Urban-Rural Bus (12 RMB) → Yangjiatang at dusk → Overnight at Xikeng Village’s "Cloud Quest" (cliffside pool stargazing)
🌱 Day 2: Chenjiapu Bookstore sea of clouds → Damu Mountain Tea Garden tea picking → Return trip

🍜 Foodie Hits!
🍜 Baixian Noodle House: Firewood-cooked hand-pulled noodles with fermented rice wine pork intestines
🐔 Xu Ji Salt-Baked Chicken: Whole chicken wrapped in rice paper, traditional salt baking, juicy when torn open
⚠️👉 Avoid: Chen Village’s popular coffee is low cost-performance, better to drink villagers’ 10 RMB homemade tea

💡 Latest Tips
🚗 Transportation: 2.5h self-drive from Hangzhou, high-speed rail to Lishui Station → rent a car/charter, check village bus schedules with "Songyang Transportation Travel"
🎟️ Tickets: Ancient villages are all free! Huang Family Courtyard wood carvings 30 RMB

⚠️ After rain, the bluestone slabs can be slippery! Wear non-slip shoes and bring cash (some vendors only accept cash), spray mosquito repellent all over—mountain mosquitoes are fierce.