Danxia Wonders · Millennium Earthen City · Slightly Tipsy Romance of the Four Crossings of the Chishui River

🌿 【Northern Guizhou Exploration】Zunyi → Xishui (3 days 2 nights) Self-Driving Escape from the City Guide

📅 Itinerary Overview

Theme: Natural Wonders × Red Heritage × Poetic Living

Suitable for: Self-driving travelers / Culture enthusiasts / Photography lovers / Light outdoor adventurers

Keywords: China Danxia Valley | Earthen City Ancient Town Slow Time | Chishui River Wine River | Karst Forest Secret Realm

🚗 Day 1: Zunyi → Xishui · Entering the Earth's Danxia Folds

- ⏰ Morning: Depart from Zunyi (about 2.5h drive via Hangrui Expressway to Rongzun Expressway, good road conditions) → Head straight to China Danxia Valley Scenic Area (core area of Xishui National Forest Park).
- 🎯 Activities: ✔️ Recommended light hiking route: Scenic area entrance → Jiufeng Mountain loop (3km wooden plank road, see Jurassic relic plants like Cyathea). ✔️ Visual highlights: Lotus Terrace Viewing Platform (Danxia red cliffs + sea of clouds in one frame), Wuzhu Peak (columnar Danxia wonder). ✔️ Photography tips: After rain clears, red rocks and green trees look like an oil painting! Bring a telephoto lens to capture rock wall details.
- 🍲 Lunch: Try Xishui tofu skin hotpot at a farmhouse restaurant inside the scenic area (rich bean flavor, paired with wild mountain vegetables).
- ⏰ Afternoon: Drive 40 minutes → Earthen City Ancient Town (a living museum on bluestone slabs).
- 🎯 Immersive experience: ✔️ Stroll through the Four Crossings of the Chishui Memorial Hall complex (free! Feel the military wisdom of the Long March). ✔️ Explore the Salt Transport Culture Exhibition Hall, touch the history of the millennium-old wharf. ✔️ Drink a bowl of covered bowl tea at an ancient street teahouse, listen to elders tell stories of the "Eighteen Gangs" underworld.
- 🌙 Overnight: Recommended to stay in Earthen City! Choose a riverside stilt house guesthouse → 📍Qingwa Courtyard (window view of Chishui River) or 📍Chunyanggang Inn (renovated century-old house).

🍷 Day 2: Earthen City → Xijiu Town · Slightly Tipsy Journey on the Left Bank of Chishui River

- ⏰ Morning: Wake up in the morning mist of Earthen City → Hike the Chishui Riverside Trail (free! Morning light on the wine steamer sculpture is stunning) → Drive south along Chishui River Valley Tourist Road (1h, picturesque scenery).
- 🎯 Destination: Songjiao Museum (Xishui’s iconic wine culture landmark). ✔️ Immersive exploration of Song Dynasty brewing site, seal your own custom wine jar. ✔️ Climb the viewing platform: overlook Chishui River and the continuous distilleries, the air filled with the aroma of wine!
- ⏰ Afternoon: Deep into Xishui Karst Secret Realm → Feigezi Scenic Area (1h drive, navigate to "Feigezi Forest Park").
- 🎯 Off-the-beaten-path activities: ✔️ Water road self-driving (summer only! Drive through creek streams, splashing water is super healing). ✔️ Hike the forest oxygen bar plank road, look for Davidia involucrata and southern yew trees.
- 🌙 Overnight: Return to Xishui County town → Recommended 📍Xishui Hotel (established four-star) or design-style 📍Qingwatai Resort Hotel.

🌲 Day 3: Explore Peach Blossom Land → Return to Zunyi

- ⏰ Morning: Drive 1h → Swan Pond Scenic Area (high mountain lake known as "Northern Guizhou’s Little Jiuzhaigou"). ✔️ Hike the forest trail around the lake (about 2h, lake water emerald green like jade). ✔️ Rent a kayak to paddle in the lake center (seasonal opening, enjoy tranquility).
- 🍲 Lunch: Lakeside farmhouse bamboo tube rice + smoked pork ribs (authentic smoky flavor!).
- ⏰ Afternoon: Choose one return trip bonus (choose one based on time): Option A (culture): Visit the Sanchahé Shu Han cliff tomb group (Eastern Han stone carvings hidden in the forest). Option B (local life): Visit Xishui specialty market → bring back rock honey, red millet crisps, ancient tree black tea. ⛽ Finally navigate back to Zunyi (about 3h), ending the healing journey.

📌 Blogger’s Thoughtful Tips

1. Transportation: ✅ Self-driving is best (car rental platforms 200-300 RMB/day), Xishui attractions are scattered, charter about 500 RMB/day.
2. Tickets: Danxia Valley 80 RMB | Earthen City free (some museums charge) | Songjiao 60 RMB | Feigezi 40 RMB.
3. Food radar: 🔥 Must-try: tofu skin hotpot, sweet potato rice balls, pickled spicy fish, Xishui lamb noodles. 🍶 Souvenirs: Songjiao cultural creative wine, Earthen City sweet potato silk candy.
4. Dressing advice: Wear bright colors (red/white) in Danxia area for better photos! Bring Hanfu or linen-cotton style for the ancient town.
5. Rainy season tips: July-August is rainy, prepare waterproof shoes + raincoat, be cautious when playing in rivers.

✨ Copy-worthy Quotes (can be used as blog endings)

"From Zunyi southward, the Chishui River cuts through the chest of Danxia, growing wrinkles of ancient towns and the soul of wine.
Xishui’s three days are a narrative poem embraced by karst forests and lit by the lights of Earthen City."

💡 Blogger Creation Tips:

- Photo highlights: Close-ups of Danxia Valley rock walls + Earthen City night scenes + water road driving videos.
- Interaction topic: "Which corner of Xishui do you most want to check in? Comment to win local specialties!"
- Traffic secret: Make the guide map into segmented nine-grid + self-driving route animation to increase saves.

✅ This guide can be directly copied and published. If you need a long article or short video script for WeChat official account, tell me the platform style, and I will customize it for you immediately! 🚀

Guizhou Off-the-Beaten-Path Travel

Post by Iliana Runolfsdottir | Aug 1, 2025