Escape 40℃! Shaanxi’s Hidden 19℃ Air-Conditioned Mountain City, Summer Down Jacket Warning!

❄️ **1. Climate and Best Travel Time**
- **Summer Cooling** (June-August): Average temperature 19℃, 6-7℃ cooler than Xi’an, bring a light jacket (large temperature difference between morning and evening).
- **Autumn Scenery Viewing** (September-October): Huangbaiyuan’s red leaves cover the mountains, rich color layers, perfect for photography.
- **Winter Ice and Snow** (January): Taibai Mountain Scenic Area free admission (until January 27), enjoy rime and snow scenes, but some areas are closed.

### 🚗 **2. Transportation Guide**
- **Long-distance Transport**:
- ✈️ Plane: Arrive at Xi’an Xianyang Airport, transfer by airport shuttle or high-speed train to Baoji South Station.
- 🚄 High-speed train/train: Arrive at Baoji South Station, transfer to shuttle bus (Baoji South Bus Station → Taibai County, about 2 hours).
- **Local Transport**:
- Self-driving preferred: Xi’an → Taibai County about 3 hours, Taiyang Highway (Taibai-Yang County) connects core scenic spots, winding mountain roads require caution.
- Scenic area shuttle: Taibai County Bus Station has buses to Huangbaiyuan and Qingfeng Gorge (limited frequency, check in advance).

### 🏞️ **3. Must-Visit Attractions**
1. **Huangbaiyuan Dajian Gorge Scenic Area**
- Highlights: Known as the “Qinling Jiuzhaigou,” magical water scenery (Bronze Wall Iron Wall, Three Walls Lock Pass), combination of walking and electric cart tours for less effort.
- Tickets: Combined ticket 90 RMB (includes electric cart), 88 RMB via app.
- Route: Take electric cart from entrance to the end, return on foot 3 km to enjoy the prime waterfall group.

2. **Qingfeng Gorge Forest Park**
- Features: 92% original forest coverage, waterfalls with significant height difference, small zoo inside.
- Tickets: Peak season 88 RMB, shuttle bus 35 RMB (recommended for 5 km mountain road).

3. **Taibai Mountain National Forest Park**
- Activities: Summer summit to see “June snow accumulation,” cable car to Tianyuan Difang (altitude 3511m); winter free admission for a limited time (January).
- Fees: Peak season ticket 90 RMB + shuttle bus 90 RMB; cable car package 310 RMB (discounts for advance official WeChat booking).

4. **Wangjiageng Town Peony Flower Sea** (limited to May)
- Hundreds of acres of red peonies in full bloom (early May), with supporting boardwalk ruins park and Three Kingdoms General’s Platform cultural sites.

5. **Hidden Gems**
- **Zhouzhi Old County Town**: Abandoned ancient county deep in Qinling, original forest + giant panda reserve, full of wild charm (1.5 hours drive from Huangbaiyuan).
- **Heguangli Fun Camping Site**: Cool camping site north of the county (20℃), stargazing and lawn concerts at night.

### 📅 **4. Suggested Itinerary**
- **3-day Summer Cooling Light Hiking**:
- **Day 1**: Arrive at Taibai County → Huangbaiyuan Dajian Gorge (stay at Huangbaiyuan guesthouse).
- **Day 2**: Qingfeng Gorge hiking → afternoon return to county for local specialties (potato pancakes, wild honey).
- **Day 3**: Taibai Mountain Tianyuan Difang cloud sea viewing → return trip.
- **2-day Autumn Photography**:
- **Day 1**: Xi’an → Taiyang Highway (Red Leaf Corridor) → Dajian Gorge (stay at Huangbaiyuan).
- **Day 2**: Ten-Mile Gallery → Zhouzhi Old County Town → return to Xi’an.

### 🍜 **5. Food and Accommodation**
- **Must-Try Foods**: Taibai cold black fungus salad, walnut cake, potato pancakes (potato flour food), chestnut stewed chicken.
- **Accommodation Options**:
- Budget in county: Taibai Hotel, Qingfeng Gorge Hotel (100-300 RMB/night).
- Unique experience: Huangbaiyuan farmhouse (80 RMB per person including meals), Heguangli tent camp (reservation required).

### ⚠️ **6. Important Notes**
1. **Cold and Slip Prevention**: Even in summer, mountain mornings and evenings can be ≤10℃, bring a windbreaker; trails are slippery in rainy season, wear anti-slip hiking shoes.
2. **Altitude Adaptation**: Some areas of Taibai Mountain exceed 3500m, avoid strenuous exercise, prepare Rhodiola (for those with weak constitution).
3. **Safety Tips**:
- Aotai Crossing Line (Aoshan-Taibai Mountain) is a high-risk hike, private crossing is prohibited.
- Drive cautiously on Taiyang Highway, prone to landslides in rainy season, check weather in advance.
4. **Discount Info**: Women’s Day (March 8) free admission for women at Qingfeng Gorge and other scenic spots.

Taibai County is an underrated “19℃ air-conditioned small city” near Xi’an, featuring original forest hiking (Huangbaiyuan/Qingfeng Gorge) + alpine wonders (Taibai Mountain snow), ideal for summer cooling and autumn photography enthusiasts.