Wenzhou｜At the Foot of Yandang Mountain, Accompanied by a Stream

Yandang Mountain is truly an excellent choice for a trip around Hangzhou! This time, I specially came to the mountains for the weekend because I was drawn to a homestay with a floor-to-ceiling window in the living room, and I didn’t expect to be completely healed by this fairyland 💚

🏡 Favorite Homestay: A Stunning Secret Hidden in the Same Landscape as "Nirvana in Fire"
It’s a 2.5-hour drive from Hangzhou. This homestay is located in the core area of Yandang Mountain but avoids the tourist crowds. The most stunning feature is the 270° panoramic floor-to-ceiling window in the living room, with ink-wash painting-like layers of mountains outside. It’s especially dreamy on rainy, misty days. Sitting on the tatami, sipping tea, you can daydream all day long~ The host also prepared brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, making it a divine experience to write calligraphy facing the mountain view!

🌿 Must-Do Activities:
1. Lingfeng Night View (15-minute walk)
Recommended after dinner. The silhouette of the strange peaks under the moonlight looks just like a Zhang Daqian ink splash painting. Be sure to try the night tour commentary in the scenic area; the myths from the Classic of Mountains and Seas are super interesting.

2. Fangdong Glass Walkway (20-minute drive)
A transparent walkway built on a cliff. On sunny days, you can overlook the entire Nanxi River. Wearing Hanfu for photos is absolutely beautiful (not recommended if you’re afraid of heights).

3. Dalongqiu Waterfall (shuttle service can be arranged by the homestay)
The water volume is huge during the rainy season. Standing at the bottom of the 50-meter waterfall is very shocking. Bringing a transparent umbrella for photos adds more artistic atmosphere.

🍵 Local Experiences:
• You must try the Yandang Maofeng tea provided by the homestay! Brewed with mountain spring water, it has a distinct sweet aftertaste.
• In the morning, you can pick wild vegetables with the housekeeper, and at noon, enjoy freshly dug bamboo shoots stir-fried with cured meat.
• Nearby farmhouse’s wheat cakes stuffed with seaweed and dried shrimp are a hidden delicacy.

📌 Practical Tips:
• Best seasons are May-June (azalea sea) and September-October (colorful forests).
• There is a big temperature difference in the mountains, so bring a light jacket.
• Booking scenic spot tickets through the homestay can save queuing time.
• For self-driving, an SUV is recommended as some mountain roads are narrow.

This window made me understand why the ancients said, "Not visiting Yandang is a wasted life." Next time, I want to try the starry sky room with a private hot spring~ 🌌