Surrounded by bamboo forests and lakes, Chenzhou is calling!

Located in the southeast of Hunan Province, Chenzhou is famous for its unique Danxia landforms, alpine grasslands, lake scenery, and rich cultural history. Here's a detailed Chenzhou travel guide, covering must-see attractions, transportation, food, and recommended itineraries. --- ### **1. Must-See Attractions** 1. **Gaoyi Ridge** - **Features**: Danxia landforms meet turquoise waters, creating a magnificent landscape of red rocks and green waters. - **Tickets**: CNY 98, recommended visiting time is about 3 hours. - **Transportation**: From Chenzhou West Railway Station, take bus No. 901/902 or a taxi (about CNY 50) to the south gate of the scenic area. 2. **Dongjiang Lake** - **Features**: Famous for the "Misty Little Dongjiang River," where you can watch fishermen casting nets in the early morning, creating a picturesque scene. - **Recommended Route**: Misty Little Dongjiang River → Hougu Mountain Waterfall → Dongjiang Dam → Longjing Canyon → Doushuai Island. - **Tickets**: From CNY 85. 3. **Yangtian Lake Grassland** - **Features**: A rare alpine grassland in southern China, perfect for horseback riding, admiring windmills, viewing the lake, and taking photos. - **Best Season**: April-October, opens in mid-to-late April. 4. **Mangshan National Forest Park** - **Features**: Known for its steep peaks, sea of clouds, and hot springs, ideal for hiking and photography. - **Recommended Route**: Monkey King Village → Tiantai Mountain → General Village, tickets CNY 80 + shuttle bus CNY 52. 5. **Feitian Mountain Scenic Area** - **Features**: A combination of Danxia landforms and the beautiful Cui River, where you can take a bamboo raft tour of the Jiulong Water Village. 6. **Hidden Danxia Gems (Free)** - **Heitan Chuantan**: Explore the ruins of a cliffside bandit's lair. - **Shizitan**: A cave village on a Danxia cliff. - **Yongxing Guanyin Temple**: A hanging temple known for granting wishes. --- ### **2. Recommended Itineraries** **2-3 Day Tour** - **Day 1**: Gaoyi Ridge → Dongjiang Lake (Misty Little Dongjiang River) → Overnight stay in Zixing or Chenzhou city. - **Day 2**: Yangtian Lake Grassland → Mangshan (or Feitian Mountain + Wayao Ping Ancient Street). - **Day 3**: Hidden Danxia exploration (e.g., Heitan Chuantan, Shizitan) or Beihu cultural tour (Beihu Park, Longnv Hot Spring). **In-depth Tour (4-5 Days)** - Add hiking in Bamian Mountain, sunrise at Huilong Mountain, cycling around Bailang Lake, etc. --- ### **3. Transportation Guide** - **High-speed Rail**: Guangzhou/Changsha → Chenzhou West Railway Station (1.5-2 hours). - **Airplane**: Chenzhou Beihu Airport offers flights to Chengdu, Ningbo, and other cities. - **Local Transportation**: Attractions are scattered, self-driving or chartered cars are recommended. Some scenic areas have buses, but they are infrequent. --- ### **4. Food Recommendations** - **Qifengdu Fish Noodles**: Local specialty breakfast with red oil soup base and fresh fish fillets. - **Yongxing Roasted Chicken**: Spicy and savory, perfect with rice. - **Yao Nine Bowls**: Traditional Yao banquet dishes with unique flavors. --- ### **5. Accommodation Recommendations** - **Near Dongjiang Lake**: Convenient for viewing the morning mist, hotels in Zixing city are recommended. - **Yangtian Lake/Mangshan**: Choose homestays or forest hot spring hotels near the scenic areas. --- ### **6. Important Notes** - Some sections of the Danxia landforms are steep, wear non-slip shoes. - The best time to view the Dongjiang morning mist is 5:00-7:00 (summer). - The Mangshan shuttle bus only includes a one-way trip, pay attention to the ticket rules. Chenzhou is suitable for travel all year round. You can adjust your itinerary according to the season: flower viewing in spring, summer escapes, hiking in autumn, and hot springs in winter.