Long Shang Jiangnan, Tianshui is very sweet

【Chengdu→Tianshui】4 days 3 nights guide: Explore Long Shang Jiangnan for 6000 RMB, all-inclusive tips for food, accommodation, and transportation!
“Tianshui, just the name sounds magical!” This city hidden in eastern Gansu, known as the "Little Jiangnan of Long Shang," is clearly in the Northwest, yet it is green and shaded with trees and flowing springs all year round. Fuxi drew the Bagua here, Nüwa mended the sky here, and the hometown of the famous Three Kingdoms general Jiang Wei is also here—【history buffs, scenery lovers, foodies】, just close your eyes and go!

1. Itinerary Overview
Days: 4 days 3 nights (suitable for a weekend + 2 days off)
Budget: 6000 RMB for couples (including flights + accommodation + food & drinks + tickets)
Transportation: Round-trip flight (Chengdu→Xi’an→Tianshui, best cost performance)
Suitable for: Couples who love photography, cultural history, and value for money

2. Transportation Guide (Key to saving money!)
1. Outbound:
Chengdu to Xi’an: Book special fare tickets in advance, round trip about 800 RMB/person (Spring Airlines/West Air, watch luggage allowance)
Xi’an→Tianshui: Take high-speed train from Xi’an North Station (1.5 hours, many trains), second class seat 92.5 RMB/person
Tip: If direct flight tickets to Tianshui exceed 1200 RMB, definitely choose “Xi’an transfer,” saving over 800 RMB for two!
2. Return: Return the same way, Tianshui South→Xi’an North→Xi’an Airport→Chengdu
3. Local transportation:
City: Taxi starting fare 6 RMB, Didi is more convenient
Remote scenic spots: Rent a car! Shenzhou Car Rental about 150 RMB/day (book via app in advance, avoid unlicensed taxis at train stations)

3. Daily Itinerary & Highlights

Day 1: Arrive in Tianshui→Fuxi Temple→Tianshui Ancient City Night View
Morning: Fly from Chengdu to Xi’an (choose early flight), eat a roujiamo at Xi’an North Station then transfer to high-speed train
Afternoon: After arriving at Tianshui Station, taxi to hotel to drop luggage, then head straight to 【Fuxi Temple】(ticket 20 RMB)
Recommended: The first temple of Huaxia, Guatai Mountain looks like a fairyland when shrouded in mist! Red walls and ancient trees perfect for Hanfu photos
Evening: Stroll 【Tianshui Ancient City】, the atmosphere is amazing when lanterns light up, don’t miss the street snack “Guagua” (buckwheat jelly)! Spicy but not overpowering
Accommodation: Choose “Qinzhou District Mountain View Homestay,” open the window to see greenery, hear birdsong in the morning (off-season 200 RMB/night)

Day 2: Maijishan Grottoes→Xianren Cliff Sunset
All day: Charter a car or self-drive to 【Maijishan Grottoes】(ticket 90 RMB + sightseeing bus 15 RMB)
Highlights: The “Oriental Sculpture Museum” on the cliff, the 133rd cave’s “Little Novice” smile heals for a thousand years!
Tip: The grottoes are steep, wear sneakers! Ignore wild guides at the entrance, join tour groups for better explanations
Evening: Drive 20 minutes to 【Xianren Cliff】, wait for sunset at the West Cliff viewing platform! Sunset lights up the Danxia landform, couple silhouettes are legendary
Dinner: Back in the city, try “Tianshui hot pot,” copper pot filled with cured meat and meatballs, broth is fresh and meat tender (50 RMB per person fills you up)

Day 3: Nanguo Temple→Hu Family Residence→Yuquan Temple
Morning: 【Nanguo Temple】(ticket 20 RMB), Du Fu once wrote “Old tree in empty courtyard” here, thousand-year-old cypress roots intertwined, best photo spot at the east viewing platform
Noon: Descend and eat “Jiangshui noodles” (sour and refreshing) + “Ranran” (stir-fried cold noodles), small shops taste more authentic
Afternoon: Visit 【Hu Family Residence】(free), a Ming Dynasty wealthy merchant’s mansion, exquisite wood carvings, bamboo shadows in the backyard are very artistic
Evening: Climb 【Yuquan Temple】 to see panoramic Tianshui, the whole city is gilded at sunset

Day 4: Jiezi Hot Springs→Return
Morning: Take shuttle to 【Jiezi Hot Springs】(ticket 80 RMB), natural hot springs under snowy mountains, skin feels silky after soaking
Noon: Eat “Bianshi” (Tianshui style wontons), filling with chives and tofu, light and not greasy
Afternoon: Buy some Sichuan peppercorns (Tianshui specialty, very fragrant), “carved lacquer crafts” (don’t buy in scenic spots, go to small shops in the city)

4. Food Highlights (Stuff yourself for 30 RMB per person)**
1. “Guagua”: texture like a mix of jelly and gluten, chili oil is the soul
2. “Jiangshui noodles”: fermented sour soup with hand-pulled noodles, perfect for summer cooling!
3. “Hot pot”: copper pot bubbling, great for sharing, broth can be drunk three bowls
4. “Lard box”: crispy and savory, perfect breakfast with apricot tea (almond tea)

5. Pitfall Guide (Lessons learned the hard way)
1. Car rental: Record video when picking up the car! Especially check tires and scratches to avoid disputes when returning
2. Shopping:
Recommended: Sichuan peppercorns, carved lacquer (city center commercial mall is half the price of scenic spots)
Avoid: Scenic spot “antiques,” medicinal herbs (hard to tell real from fake)
3. Photography:
- No flash photography in Maijishan Grottoes
- Must-shoot: Fuxi Temple morning mist, Xianren Cliff sunset, Nanguo Temple ancient cypress
4. Accommodation:
- Mountain view rooms in Qinzhou District, sea view? Tianshui has no sea! But hot spring hotels are worth a night
- Check reviews carefully for homestays, beware of “photo traps”—look for real photos!

6. Cost Breakdown (for 2 people)
- Round-trip flights: 1600 RMB
- High-speed train + local transport: 500 RMB
- Accommodation (3 nights): 600 RMB
- Tickets + sightseeing bus: 500 RMB
- Food + snacks: 1200 RMB
- Car rental + fuel: 400 RMB
- Shopping + miscellaneous: 500 RMB
Total: 5300 RMB (700 RMB left to upgrade accommodation or have a fancy meal!)

7. Blogger’s Ramble
Tianshui is a city for slow travel, “no need to rush through attractions”! Sleep in naturally every day, visit ancient sites during the day, climb mountains to watch sunsets in the evening, and noodle slurping while strolling the ancient city at night—this kind of lazy trip is exactly what couples should have.