Summer Swap Plan: 2-Day 1-Night Road Trip from Changsha to Yongzhou – Trade 200km for a Refreshing Mountain & Water Escape

Summer Swap Plan: 2-Day 1-Night Road Trip from Changsha to Yongzhou – Trade 200km for a Refreshing Mountain & Water Escape

📍Address: Yongzhou City, Hunan Province (covering Lingling District and Shuangpai County, with core attractions distributed in Lingling District and Yangming Mountain area of Shuangpai County)

🚗Transportation Guide

- Driving Route: Downtown Changsha → Jinggang'ao Expressway → Quannan Expressway → Yongzhou East Interchange, approximately 300km in total, taking about 4 hours (recommended departure at 6am to avoid expressway congestion).
- Local Transport: Attractions in Yongzhou city center are concentrated with convenient parking; Yangming Mountain Scenic Area offers shuttle buses, and self-driving vehicles can access core attraction parking lots.

🌞Itinerary (2 Days 1 Night)

Day 1: Changsha → Yangming Mountain (Cool Forest Retreat)

- Yangming Mountain National Forest Park (🕙Opening Hours: 8:00-17:30)
- 🖼Environment: Primitive forest at 1,300m altitude, average summer temperature of 23°C, with bamboo groves and streams weaving through the mountains, feeling over 10°C cooler than Changsha.
- Must-Do:
- Wade in the icy waters beneath Huangjiangyuan Waterfall – perfect for water gun play.
- Boat on Wanhe Lake, where green mountains reflect on the surface, and watch sunset paint the sky at dusk.
- 💰Ticket: ¥65/person
- Dinner Recommendation: Farmhouse dishes at the scenic area entrance (🍽Rating: ★★★★☆)
- Must-try: Yongzhou Blood Duck (stir-fried duck with blood, spicy and flavorful) and Stir-fried Bamboo Shoots (freshly dug, sweet and crisp).
- 💰Cost: ¥60-80/person
- Accommodation: Mid-mountain homestay at Yangming Mountain (🖼Environment: Wooden structure with bamboo views from windows, falling asleep to insect sounds)
- 💰Price: ¥200-400/night (including breakfast for two)

Day 2: Liuzi Temple → Return to Changsha

- Liuzi Temple (🕙Opening Hours: 8:30-17:00)
- 🖼Environment: Ming-Qing dynasty architecture along Fool's Creek, adorned with ancient stone tablets exuding literati charm.
- Experience: Follow guides to hear stories of Liu Zongyuan's exile to Yongzhou, then sit by Fool's Creek for half an hour watching flowing water.
- 💰Ticket: ¥30/person
- Lunch Recommendation: Heluo Restaurant in Lingling Old Street (🍽Rating: ★★★★☆)
- Savor a pot of perilla-flavored river snails with Yongzhou rice noodles – tangy and appetizing.
- 💰Cost: ¥30-50/person
- Depart at 2pm, arriving back in Changsha by evening.

💰Total Cost Reference

- Transport: Fuel + tolls ~¥400 (split among 4 people: ¥100/person)
- Tickets: ¥95/person
- Food & Accommodation: ~¥300-500/person
- Total: ¥500-700/person

✨Reflections

Swapping Changsha's summer heat for Yongzhou's coolness in just two days was absolutely worth it! Wading in Yangming Mountain's streams as sunlight filtered through bamboo leaves, I suddenly understood the meaning of "exchange" – not escape, but experiencing summer differently. The tranquility of Liuzi Temple reminded me how ancient scholars found poetry even in adversity. Can't wait to explore another corner of Yongzhou for my next summer swap adventure.