Hunan·Yueyang·Changde·Yiyang｜3-Day Authentic Local Experience

Why choose this route?

✔ 1-hour high-speed rail access: Round trip from Changsha in a day
✔ Wallet-friendly prices: ¥50 per person can stuff you full
✔ Crowd-free attractions: Hidden gems favored by locals

📅 3-day 2-night itinerary
Day1 Yueyang: Dongting Lake + Yueyang Tower

🚄 Transport: Changsha South → Yueyang East (30min high-speed rail, ¥69.5)
🍜 Breakfast: Slurp noodles at Yueyang Station (¥6, lard-mixed noodles are heavenly)
🏞️ Morning:
Yueyang Tower (¥70 ticket, free entry if you recite "Memorial to Yueyang Tower"!)
Baling Square for Dongting Lake views (free, stunning sunset)

🦢 Afternoon: Junshan Island (¥60 boat ticket, see wild elk)
🐠 Dinner: Dongdan Fat Brother BBQ (¥40, must-try beef skewers)

Day2 Changde: Liuye Lake + River Street

🚄 Transport: Yueyang East → Changde (1hr high-speed rail, ¥99)
🍲 Breakfast: Changde beef noodles (¥8, round noodles absorb flavors better)
⛵ Morning: Cycling around Liuye Lake (¥20 rental, Qingdao-like lakescapes)
🎡 Afternoon: Dahe & Xiaohe Streets (free, perfect for hanfu photos)
🦆 Dinner: Yang Yongsheng Huangniubeef (¥50, authentic spicy Changde cuisine)

Day3 Yiyang: Anhua Ancient Tea-Horse Road

🚌 Transport: Changde → Yiyang (2hr bus, ¥50)
🍵 Morning: China Dark Tea Museum (free, taste authentic Anhua tea)
🐴 Afternoon: Horse riding on Tea-Horse Road (¥80, cobblestone path feels magical)
🍢 Dinner: Maliang Night Market (¥30, must-try Yiyang spicy hotpot)
🚄 Return: Yiyang → Changsha (40min high-speed rail, ¥40.5)

💰 Actual costs (2023 September prices)
Item Cost Money-saving tip
High-speed rail ¥309 Book early-bird tickets
Accommodation ¥400 Choose chain hotels
Tickets ¥210 Student discounts available
Food ¥450 Follow where locals eat
Total ¥1369 Much freer than group tours!

❤️ Local tips
Visit Yueyang Tower early: Beat tourist crowds for perfect photos
Add toppings to Changde noodles: ¥3 intestines tastier than beef
Buy ¥30/jin Anhua dark tea: Perfect for personal consumption

🚩 Avoid scams
Use official Dongting Lake boats (¥60/person at proper docks)
Skip River Street souvenirs (same as Yiwu products)
Negotiate Tea-Horse Road horse riding price upfront (prevent last-minute hikes)