Who understands! Shooting stunning Jiangnan poetic scenes in Xianju ancient village

Location info📍
In Lizhai Village, Tianshi Town, Xianju County, Taizhou🏞, hidden in a mountain hollow next to the Shenxianju Scenic Area! It’s a 40-minute drive from Xianju High-Speed Rail Station, along the way you can see golden rice fields and babbling streams. When you get close, the small courtyard with blue tiles and white walls pops out from the green trees, instantly recognizable～

Nearby attractions🎈
- Shenxianju Scenic Area: 15-minute drive🚗, ticket 120 RMB (one-way cable car 65 RMB)🎫! The internet-famous "Ruyi Bridge" is a must-shoot spot; when mist swirls around the bridge, it feels like stepping into a fairyland. Also, "Fozhang Peak" and "General Rock" offer breathtaking hiking experiences🌫～
- Lizhai Ancient Village: 5-minute walk👣, free🆓! Ming and Qing dynasty ancestral halls and stone slab roads are full of charm. In the early morning, you can see grandmas drying rice, and in the evening, hear grandpas chatting while fanning themselves. The lively local atmosphere is amazing🏡～
- Danzhu Leisure Valley: 25-minute drive🚗, ticket 50 RMB🎫! The creek water is so clear you can see little fish🐟. It’s super refreshing to step in the water during summer. The bamboo forest along the way shades the sky, making it easy to take forest-style photos without searching for angles～
- Gongyu Rock: 30-minute drive + 1-hour hike🚶, free🆓! A hidden "Jiangnan Shangri-La," with terraced fields stacked with stone houses. At sunrise, the sea of clouds flows over the mountain peaks, looking ten times more beautiful in person than in photos🌄～
- Gaoqian Ancient Residence: 20-minute drive🚗, free🆓! The wood and stone carvings in the old courtyard are exquisite. Wearing a Hanfu and standing in the courtyard instantly makes you the star of an ancient-style photo shoot🏮～

Room facilities🛏
The mountain view room I stayed in was so touching! The mattress is from DeRUCCI🛌, soft but not sagging, sleeping one night wiped away all the hiking fatigue; toiletries are A'Fume green tea scented🍃, showering feels like soaking in a bamboo forest; the hairdryer is Dyson💨, super fast for long hair～ The room has a natural wood bookshelf (filled with many essay books📚), a rattan table lamp, and a huge floor-to-ceiling window facing the green mountains. Lying in bed, you can watch the clouds drift by; the balcony has a small tea table with bamboo chairs. Brewing a cup of local green tea in the morning and listening to birdsong is 100 times more pleasant than an alarm clock🍵! The minibar offers free soda and dried Xianju peaches🍑, and even the slippers are thick cotton ones, super soft to step on～

Photo tips📷
- Homestay courtyard: before 10 a.m.🌞, sunlight spills on the bluestone slabs. Wearing a light blue long dress standing under the pomegranate tree with white walls as the background, the Jiangnan vibe is instantly maxed out～
- Room floor-to-ceiling window: around 4 p.m., draw the semi-transparent curtain and shoot a side profile of sitting by the window reading a book. The light and shadow are so soft it looks like a filter✨, your friends will flood your social feed asking where you took it～
- Danzhu creek: wear shorts and step in the water💦, have friends capture the moment water splashes up, with the bamboo forest behind, the forest-style energetic vibe is off the charts～
- Shenxianju Ruyi Bridge: go before 9 a.m. (to avoid crowds), wear a bright yellow top standing by the bridge, with green mountains and mist as the background, the photo is super eye-catching📸～
- Lizhai Ancient Village: walk in the old alley, capture a shot when you turn back and smile, with old wooden doors and red lanterns as decoration, the local life vibe is very strong～

Important tips⚠
- Peak season (April-May for Shenxianju azaleas blooming, October-November for autumn scenery) must book rooms 20 days in advance❗ Mountain view rooms are snapped up crazily. Last time I waited 3 days to get a booking😭～
- Big temperature difference between morning and night in the mountains🌡, even in summer bring a light jacket🧥, it can be a bit chilly watching the morning mist～
- Don’t forget to check the weather before going to Shenxianju! Rainy days have beautiful mist but slippery roads; sunny days offer clear mountain views, both have their charm～
- Self-driving is most convenient, the homestay has free parking🅿️; taking the bus requires two transfers from Xianju county town, which is a bit tiring～
- Homestay dinner must be booked one day in advance🍲! The local chicken soup is super fresh, plus bamboo shoot braised pork and stir-fried creek fish, all local flavors, enough for 2-3 people～