You can absolutely trust Tonglu's summer!

Tonglu County, under the jurisdiction of Hangzhou City in Zhejiang Province, is located in the northwest of Zhejiang. Situated in the middle reaches of the Qiantang River, it is primarily hilly and mountainous with scarce plains, featuring a subtropical monsoon climate with four distinct seasons.

🏨 Accommodation: We chose the Tonglu Fuchun River Sky City Homestay. The surrounding environment is excellent, nestled in a village with a stream just a short walk away for water play. It's also right by a tributary of the Fuchun River, and a short drive away, you can see the Yan Ziling Fishing Platform. The homestay has its own swimming pool and offers dinner (reservation required). There are even live singers performing!

[Car] Transportation: Driving from Shanghai to Tonglu takes about 3.5 to 4 hours—not a short distance. If taking the train, arrive at Tonglu Station, and it's about 23 km by taxi to the hotel.

[RoundNails] Itinerary:
DAY 1: Shanghai → Homestay → Nearby water play → Return to the hotel for rest and dinner.
DAY 2: Homestay breakfast → Shanwanwan Drift, which includes the Huizhou Ancient Trail, Sky Walk, Glass Drift, and Canyon Drift → Yaolin Fairyland.
DAY 3: Shishe Village stream trekking → Head to Qiandao Lake.

We chose Shanwanwan mainly because it's close, and with elderly family members, we couldn't handle the OMG-level activities. Tianzidi was too far and out of the way. The kids just wanted to try the glass drift, so this was the most budget-friendly option. You can pick other activities based on your preferences. You can drive up to the starting point, but hiking the ancient trail adds more charm—it's not too long, just remember mosquito repellent and sunscreen.

Check out my next post for the video version!

Qiandao Lake isn't far from Tonglu, so if you have extra time, you can visit both. After all, summer is all about staying in the water!

Post by Morgan Nicholas Nick | Jun 4, 2025